• Online Asynchronous Education

    10.5 hours of online learning about Functional Neurological Disorders

  • Online Question & Answer Sessions with Course Faculty

    2, 1-hour Q & A Sessions at 7:00 PM ET on October 21st and November 12th, 2025

  • Online Mentoring Sessions with Course Faculty

    2, 1-hour Mentoring Sessions at 7:00 PM ET on December 2nd and December 16th, 2025

  • Online Community of Practice for One Year

    Online networking and meetings quarterly for one year (optional)

  • Library of Tools and Resources

    Online tools and resources to support translation to clinical practice, including a reading resource library, education, assessment, and treatment resources!

Course Description


Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) are one of the top five reasons people seek evaluation in neurology clinics. Despite this high prevalence, FND remains poorly understood, presenting significant challenges for physical therapists in various practice settings. 

FND is recognized as a brain network disorder, characterized by disruptions within and across brain networks. Diagnosis relies on "rule-in" signs with high sensitivity and specificity, distinguishing it from other conditions. Emerging neuroscience has revealed that individuals with FND often experience impairments in several areas, including prediction, attention, interoception, and agency. 

Physical therapy is a first-line treatment for motor FND, supported by consensus guidelines and emerging evidence from randomized controlled trials. However, inconsistencies in entry-level physical therapy curricula have left many clinicians grappling with clinical questions and a need for effective strategies to manage this complex patient population. This course will equip participants with foundational knowledge and clinical reasoning frameworks to enhance the assessment and management of FND, grounded in current and emerging evidence. 


Objectives

This course offers a comprehensive approach to understanding and managing FND, equipping participants with the tools to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care. Participants will: 

  • Explain the pathophysiology of FND effectively to patients and colleagues. 

  • Perform accurate assessments, integrating biopsychosocial principles into both subjective and objective evaluations. 

  • Utilize clinical reasoning frameworks to create personalized, effective plans of care for individuals with FND. 

  • Screen for common comorbidities such as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and understand how to adjust care plans accordingly. 

  • Identify when and how to refer patients to other allied health professionals for optimal outcomes. 

Course curriculum

    1. Course Overview

    2. Course Agenda

    3. Course Handouts

    4. Synchronous Meeting Room (Zoom)

    5. Pre-course Survey

    6. Functional Neurologic Disorders - Course Overview

    1. History of Functional Neurologic Disorders - Part 1

    2. Knowledge Check: History of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1

    3. History of Functional Neurological Disorders - Part 2

    4. Knowledge Check: History of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2

    5. History of Functional Neurological Disorders - Part 3 - Contemporary Issues

    6. Knowledge Check: History of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 3: Contemporary Issues

    7. Diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorders - Part 1

    8. Knowledge Check: Diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1

    9. Diagnosis of Functional Neurologic Disorder - Part 2

    10. Knowledge Check: Diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2

    11. Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders - Part 1 - Predictive Processing

    12. Knowledge Check: Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1: Predictive Processing

    13. Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2: Brain Networks

    14. Knowledge Check: Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2: Brain Networks

    15. Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 3: Core Mechanisms in Functional Neurological Disorders

    16. Knowledge Check: Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 3: Core Mechanisms in Functional Neurological Disorders

    17. Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 4: Why do Functional Neurological Disorders happen?

    18. Knowledge Check: Pathophysiology and mechanisms of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 4: Why do Functional Neurological Disorders happen?

    19. Evidence for treatment models of Functional Neurological Disorders - Part 1

    20. Knowledge Check: Evidence for treatment models of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 1: What has been done specific to PT?

    21. Evidence for treatment models of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2: What have we learned from other conditions?

    22. Knowledge Check: Evidence for treatment models of Functional Neurological Disorders Part 2: What have we learned from other conditions?

    1. Introduction to Asssessment

    2. Knowledge Check: Introduction of Assessment

    3. Subjective Assessment Overview

    4. Knowledge Check: Subjective Assessment Overview

    5. Outcome Measures

    6. Knowledge Check: Outcome Measures

    7. Objective Assessment: Motor Control Treatment - Part 1

    8. Objective Assessment: Motor Control Treatment - Part 2

    9. Knowledge Check: Motor Control

    10. Objective Assessment: The Sensory System

    11. Knowledge Check: The Sensory System

    12. Objective Assessment: Autonomic Nervous System

    13. Knowledge Check: Autonomic Nervous System

    14. Objective Assessment: Putting It All Together: A Case Example

    1. Ways to explain Diagnosis to Patients

    2. Knowledge Check: Ways to explain Diagnosis to Patients

    3. Motor Control Treatment Part 1

    4. Motor Control Treatment Part 2

    5. Knowledge Check: Motor Control Treatment

    6. Autonomic Treatment

    7. Knowledge Check: Autonomic Treatment

    8. Sensory Treatment Part 1: Sensory Training

    9. Knowledge Check: Sensory Treatment Part 1: Sensory Training

    10. Sensory Treatment Part 2: Sensory Regulation and Feedback

    11. Knowledge Check: Sensory Treatment Part 2: Sensory Regulation and Feedback

    12. Management of Episodic Symptoms and Functional Seizures

    13. Knowledge Check: Management of Episodic Symptoms and Functional Seizures

    14. Discharge Planning/Managing Relapses

    15. Knowledge Check: Discharge Planning/Managing Relapses

    16. Treatment Case Study: Putting it all together

    1. Dual Diagnosis

    2. Knowledge Check: Dual Diagnosis/Common Comorbidities

    3. Future Directions

    4. Knowledge Check: Future Directions

    5. Treatment program development

    6. Knowledge Check: Treatment Program Development

About this course

  • $479.00
  • 64 lessons
  • 10.5 hours of video content

Registration, Pricing, and CEUs

Registration is $479 per person. The fees cover the online course, 4-hours of online meetings with faculty, 1-year membership to the community of practice, and several tools and resources to help clinicians implement high-intensity gait training in clinical practice.

Discounts are available for > 5 registrations from the same organization. Please contact [email protected] for details.

This course is approved by the Indiana Physical Therapy Association for 14.5 hours of continuing education credit for each of the following: online course (10.5 CEUs), online discussions (2.0 CEUs), online mentoring (2.0 CEUs). Approval number 006987887C3091.

Participants are responsible for transferring CEUs for approval in other states

Questions

Please email [email protected] for more information.