CE172: Walk the Walk: High Intensity Gait Training in Rehabilitation

More than 17 years could pass before the evidence that is published today is used in the care of rehabilitation patients. Knowledge translation (KT) is a process to expedite the use of evidence in clinical practice and includes the generation of new knowledge and the clinical implementation of established evidence. Research suggests that use of KT processes, such as the Knowledge-to-Action Framework, may facilitate successful implementation efforts. Multi-component KT interventions that target barriers to evidence-based practices have a greater impact on clinical practice than education courses provided without additional interventions.

When delivering gait training interventions to individuals with stroke, specific training parameters, including the amount, intensity, and variability of specific task-specific practice, can profoundly influence motor learning and patient outcomes. In addition, it is critical that clinicians use standardized measures to determine a patient’s prognosis and measure change over time.

This training program provides an innovative solution to facilitating implementation of High-Intensity Gait Training into clinical practice. The program uses a variety of evidence-based strategies to maximize the use of high-intensity gait training by the program participants. Knowledge translation strategies included in this program are:

• Online course on high-intensity gait training and measurement related to gait training
• High-Intensity Variable Gait Training knowledge tools (i.e. cheat sheets)
• Three online discussion sessions to answer questions about content (3, 1-hour sessions)
• Three post-course online group mentoring sessions (3, 1-hour sessions)
• Participation in an online community of practice for one year which will offer implementation support from peers and experts. (online group and a 1-hour meeting each month for a year; 12 hours total)

Dates

Online Course Delivery

August 4, 2025

Q&A Sessions (8 p.m. ET)

• September 10, 2025
• September 24, 2025
• October 15, 2025

Mentoring Sessions (8 p.m. ET)

• October 29, 2025
• November 5, 2025
• November 19, 2025

CEH

18.75

Cost

$539

• Register Online & Pay by Credit Card
• Register by Mail and Pay by Check or Voucher

Program Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

• explain one reference that provides the rationale for the importance of providing gait training at high aerobic intensities.
• explain one reference that provides the rationale for the importance of allowing patients to learn from errors will providing high-intensity gait training.
• explain one reference that provides the rationale for the importance of providing task-specific gait training to improve gait after stroke.
• given the findings of an evaluation of a person with stroke, describe 3 high-intensity gait training activities that could be provided.
• explain how to safely monitor a patient’s heart rate during a 30-minute high-intensity gait training session.
• predict the potential outcome of a patient with stroke based on the results of the Berg Balance Scale
• given the findings of an interim assessment that includes 3 standardized measures collected on a person with stroke, justify whether the patient should continue to receive high-intensity training during physical therapy.

About the Institute for Knowledge Translation

Research indicates that traditional methods of providing education, such as in-person and online continuing education courses, may improve knowledge and skill but they do very little to change the care provided in clinical practice. The Institute for Knowledge Translation (iKT) provides an innovative and evidence-based solution to maximize the impact of education and quality improvement efforts. The iKT offers a variety of evidence-based knowledge translation programs, from comprehensive educational packages to help individuals build knowledge to comprehensive solutions to assist healthcare organizations in improving clinical practice. 

Course Outline

Community of Practice Sessions

The iKT Walk the Walk Community of Practice meets for 1-hour, once a month at 8 p.m. ET. Meetings typically occur on the first Monday of the month (10 times per year). The meeting format includes a presentation on research or application of research to clinical practice, followed by a discussion. Participants are asked to submit questions prior to the meeting. The registration for the Walk the Walk course includes a 1-year members to the Community of Practice. After the first year, clinicians can renew with a paid membership.

Faculty

T. George Hornby, PT, Ph.D.

T. George Hornby PT, Ph.D., FAPTA, is a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Indiana University and the director of the Locomotor Recovery Laboratory at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana. Dr. Hornby’s work is focused on optimizing rehabilitation interventions to improve lower extremity function in patients with stroke and spinal cord injury, with a primary focus on restoration of walking ability. By integrating both quantitative and clinical measures of motor function, Dr. Hornby’s work aims to understand the biomechanical and physiological impairments underlying limitations in locomotor activity in these populations, and the relative efficacy and mechanistic basis of specific interventions to enhance function. Recently, his activity has focused on direct translation of his research to clinical practice in rehabilitation. Dr. Hornby has co-authored over 90 research publications in scientific journals. He is PI or Co-PI on active R01, DOD, and NIDRR center grants, with both national and international collaborations. He is also the Director of Research for the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy.

Jennifer Moore, PT, D.H.Sc., NCS

Jennifer Moore PT, D.H.Sc., NCS is an advisor to the South Eastern Norway Center for Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation and the founder of The Institute for Knowledge Translation. Her current work and research is focused on the selection and implementation of evidence-based practices within hospital systems and across networks of hospitals in the United States and in Norway. Previously, Dr. Moore was the Clinical Practice Leader of Neurologic Physical Therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where she conducted implementation projects within all levels of care. She also created the Rehabilitation Measures Database, which is a free, online repository of summaries of psychometric properties and clinical utility of over 400 assessments used in rehabilitation. Dr. Moore is an author of the APTA sponsored Clinical Practice Guideline on a core set of outcome measures for neurologic physical therapy, and was the Guest Editor for the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy Special Issue on Knowledge Translation.

Chris Henderson, PT, Ph.D., NCS, GCS

Chris Henderson, PT, Ph.D., NCS, GCS is an Assistant Research Professor within the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Medicine and the Director of Innovation for the Institute of Knowledge Translation. He has his Ph.D. in Biomechanics and Movement Science, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, and Masters of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware. He has also completed a Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency jointly supported by the Clement J Zablocki Veterans Affairs Hospital and Marquette University. Dr. Henderson’s work is focused on optimizing the rehabilitation of individuals following acute onset neurologic injuries and translating evidence-based interventions into routine neurologic physical therapy.

Jennifer Lotter, PT, DPT, NCS, D.H.Sc.

Jennifer Lotter, PT, DPT, NCS, D.H.Sc., obtained her doctoral degree from the University of Indianapolis. After earning her terminal degree, she took a position in the physical therapy program at Brenau University as an Assistant Professor. While she attended the University of Indianapolis, she worked at the Locomotor Recovery Lab at Indiana University and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana as a research and clinical physical therapist. Dr. Lotter has been involved in several projects that have focused on improving locomotion in those with various neurological diagnoses and has been involved with high-intensity gait training implementation at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana on the stroke team. Dr. Lotter has co-authored publications focused on high intensity gait training and has presented findings from the Locomotor Recovery Lab nationally. She is also a Moving Forward Task Force member with the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, focusing on clinicians embracing evidence-based practice. She has presented nationally on behalf of the task force.