Building Better Balance

Course Description

There are many reasons why patients experience dizziness and balance impairments. This course will teach you how to confidently assess and treat patients with balance impairments.

Course material includes an overview of how the sensory systems (somatosensory, vestibular, visual, and auditory) and contributing elements of the central nervous system relate to balance dysfunction. You'll develop an understanding of the way sensory input is coordinated and implemented to achieve and maintain postural control. This course will allow you to utilize relevant information from each system to apply effective manual therapy techniques and create a comprehensive balance training program for your patients. After taking this course, you'll be able to treat straight forward patients with BPPV in 1-3 sessions with appropriate assessment/education/treatment.

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What people are saying!

I have a much better understanding of how to approach vestibular disorders. I also have a more well-rounded way of thinking about balance dysfunction in general and an array of treatments. Very informative course.

Chicago, IL

Taking basic exercises and seeing new ways of making them more or less difficult for patients along with manual techniques to improve patients’ mobility for better function.

Detroit, MI

It was nice to have repetition of information and plenty of practice time. I appreciated how the instructor would go around and make sure everyone understood manual techniques and provide suggestions.

Boise, ID

Top Takeaways

BPPV made easy!
Understanding the "why" behind balance exercises.

What makes this course great?

This course will teach you how to develop a comprehensive approach for assessment and custom treatment plan for patients with balance impairments.

Course Objectives

At the completion of this seminar, the participant will be able to:

Correctly perform 12 relevant manual therapy techniques which may improve postural control or address impairments associated with balance dysfunction
Verbally identify signs and symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Correctly perform the Dix Hallpike test and the Canlith Repositioning Maneuver to address posterior/anterior semicircular canal dysfunction
Correctly perform the Supine-Roll test and the Appiani Treatment to address horizontal semicircular canal dysfunction
Correctly perform five tai chi forms or exercises
Correctly perform at least 20 exercises which may promote the development of strength, power, flexibility, and balance
Develop a comprehensive balance rehabilitation regimen

Course Instructors

Justin Diebold

PT, DPT, CIMT

Justin received his Bachelor’s in Integrative Physiology in 2012 from the University of Colorado - Boulder, where he played trumpet in the Golden Buffalo Marching Band. He went on to complete his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Michigan - Flint in 2016. As a Certified Integrated Manual Therapist, Justin is credentialed through Great Lakes Seminars to assess mechanical dysfunction and to treat with a comprehensive approach. He uses this approach to treat patients with orthopedic, balance, and vestibular impairments. He is passionate about high quality patient education to promote patient autonomy and motivation. He is a clinic director of an outpatient orthopedic clinic in Southeast Michigan. Justin loves to play music and enjoys spending his time camping and hiking with his wife and two dogs.

Course Outline

Saturday

7:30am

Breakfast

8:00am

Lecture: Postural control overview, anatomy and physiology of balance systems

10:45am

Lecture: BPPV

11:30am

Lab: Muscle strength/power training, Tai-Chi

12:00pm

Lunch (on your own)

1:00pm

Lab: BPPV treatment and nystagmus overview (oculomotor exam, Hallpike-Dix, Canalith Repositioning Maneuver, Supine Roll Test, Appiani Treatment)

2:00pm

Lab: Joint mobilization (AA, OA, rib cage)

3:15pm

Lab: Lower extremity joint mobilization - Hip (extension/neutral)

3:45pm

Lab: Lower extremity joint mobilization - Knee (patellofemoral joint, tibiofemoral joint)

4:30pm

Lab: Review and speed mobilization

5:00pm

Lab: Review of evidence-based literature

5:30pm

Adjourn

Sunday

7:30am

Breakfast

8:00am

Lab: Review and speed mobilizations (suboccipital group, trunk - anterior cervical/thorax)

9:30am

Lab: Lower extremity joint mobilization (ankle - distal tibiofibular joint, talocrural joint)

10:00am

Lab: MFR (pectoralis major, knee - articularis genu, lower leg - gastrocnemius and soleus)

11:30am

Tai Chi

12:00pm

Lunch (on your own)

1:00pm

Lab: Tai Chi sequence/group instruction

2:00pm

Lab: Balance basics

2:30pm

Lab: Strength/Power Training

4:00pm

Case Presentation, independent thinking and facilitated group review

4:30pm

Question/answer session, post test, course evaluation

5:00pm

Adjourn

Course PDF

Course Brochure PDF

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