Aquatic Therapy Options for Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Disabilities & the Medically Fragile

Aquatic Therapy Options for Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Disabilities & the Medically Fragile is organized by Texas Children's Hospital and will be held from Oct 06 - 07, 2018 at Blue Lagune Therapy - Aquatic & Land Physical Therapy, Katy, Texas, United States of America. This CME Conference has been approved for a maximum of 19 CCUs.

Course Description:
This course is designed to demonstrate the advanced skills necessary to bring aquatics to the child, adolescent, and adult with cerebral palsy, developmental delay, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, muscular dystrophy or other medically fragile or profoundly involved conditions.

Includes findings from published literature to help convince skittish medical personnel (and parents) of the benefits of aquatics. Shows therapists the “nuts and bolts” of teaching techniques to parents and caregivers. Offers insight into "where to go next" for the therapist who has tried everything he or she knows and has run out of ideas. Provides tips on working with the medically fragile infants, children and adults with medical devices (ventilator tubes, IVs, g-tubes, and oxygen) in and around water. Includes information on reimbursement for aquatic therapy, both at the infant, child and adult level.

Course Objectives:
• Identify 3-4 indications and medical prerequisites for selecting infants, children, adolescents and adults for aquatic therapy. Defend the use of therapy/community pools as an appropriate setting for Birth-3 therapy interventions. (lecture)
• Recognize 2-3 potential risks or adverse events which might occur with the use of aquatic therapy with the medically fragile or profoundly involved patient and propose methods of preventing adverse events (lecture)
• Justify 1-2 potential benefits of aquatic therapy for each developmental realm: Feeding, Movement, Socialization, Sensation (lecture)
• Synthesize a 3-minute verbal “case” for providing aquatic services for children with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, developmental disabilities and more. Be able to identify, locate, and critique research to bolster your case. (lecture)
• Choose proper equipment, determine appropriate water temperature, and incorporate procedures for working with children with the above conditions (lecture/land lab).
• Demonstrate the appropriate methods of documentation and insurance billing for aquatic therapy services (lecture)
• Propose a sample home program for parents/caregivers who wish to incorporate sensory tasks in the shower, bathtub or community pool. Collaborate with parents regarding where they can obtain additional training materials (lecture)
• Demonstrate1-2 aquatic therapeutic movements, tasks, or exercises designed to:
> increase strength
> improve ROM
> improve oral motor skills
> normalize sensory input (vestibular, visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive)
> normalize tone
> improve head and trunk righting
> encourage play, verbalization and social interaction
> improve posture, weight-bearing, balance, gait, and proprioception
> normalize transitional movements (lab)
• Progress a specific aquatic task from a lower level of function towards increased independence (lab)
• With a partner, design and implement a 15-minute aquatic treatment plan (including equipment selection) for 1-2 of the following diagnoses: (lab)
> Cerebral Palsy
> Developmental Delay
> Osteogenesis Imperfecta
> Muscular Dystrophy
> Others who are medically fragile or severely and profoundly involved

Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.