CE194: Does walking practice improve quality of life in all individuals with chronic incomplete SCI and ABI?

There has been a significant focus in research and practice on the impact of higher intensity gait training (HIT) for individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury and stroke. While stepping practice provides more opportunity for motor return and maximizing available resources, is HIT valuable for all patients with chronic neurological disease? Some patients may benefit but improvement in ambulation measures may not necessarily equate to improved quality of life (QoL). Clinical prediction rules for ambulation can help clinicians determine who will benefit versus when to shift focus to an alternate treatment strategy. The purpose of this session is to discuss the primary QoL concerns in these two patient populations, the supporting evidence for a complex relationship between physical activity and improved QoL, and discuss the intersection and gaps between the two. Attendees will be invited to actively contribute ideas from clinical experience on what strategies and interventions can support QoL while working towards maximizing functional mobility with available resources. Cases will be presented for attendees to apply shared decision-making principles to guide discussions with patients regarding best evidence to develop a plan of care.

Date & Time

Asynchronous

Location

Virtual

CEHs

2

Cost

$100 Clinicians / $20 Students & Residents

Learning Objectives

  • Review current literature about the primary quality of life (QoL) concerns in these two patient populations.
  • Discuss how function following higher intensity gait training (HIT) relates to QoL in individuals post incomplete spinal cord injury and stroke.
  • Explain development, purpose, and value of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) and clinical prediction rules (CPR) for ambulation prognosis.
  • Compare-contrast patient cases to determine plan of care taking CPG, CPR, and QoL into consideration.
  • Apply shared decision-making principles to guide discussions with patients regarding best available evidence to develop a plan of care.

Speakers

Wendy Romney, PT, DPT, Ph.D., NCS

Wendy Romney, PT, DPT, Ph.D., NCS is an Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University, teaching courses on examination and treatment of patients with neurological disease and medically complex issues. Dr. Romney’s research focuses on knowledge translation and improving the use of outcome measures in PT practice. She continues to practice at Gaylord and the Center for Excellence in Neurologic Health at Sacred Heart. She is the Director of Practice for the ANPT, a member of the SCI EDGE, and a past member of the KT Taskforce for the Outcome Measure CPG.

Andrea Oberlander PT, DPT

Andrea Oberlander PT, DPT is a Associate Clinical Professor at Sacred Heart University, where teaching responsibilities include examination and intervention for individuals with neurological and complex medical pathologies. Her clinical expertise is in the inpatient setting, with a particular interest in stroke and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Andrea continues to practice at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in CT, where she was previously the Team Leader of the brain injury unit, and at the Center for Excellence in Neurologic Health at Sacred Heart University treating individuals with neurologic and medically complex diagnoses. She holds a Stroke Certified Rehab Specialist certificate.