| Description |
Target Audience: Rehabilitation team members, including
orthotists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, and pediatric orthopedists.
Level: Intermediate – Pre-course readings are assigned.
This intermediate-level program features an overview of
somatosensory function and development, the role of postural control in movement acquisition and physiologic adaptation,
skeletal modeling mechanisms and influences, and ideal and pathomechanical features of orthopedic development of the trunk and lower extremity. The content pertains primarily to the torso and lower limb segments proximal to the foot.
Normal developmental events are related to:
· The operations of the somatosensory system
· Postural control acquisition and body weight management
· Biomechanical influences of full-term gestation
· Functioning postural and limb joint alignment
· Elements of Sahrmann’s approach to analysis of the Movement System
· The process of physiologic adaptation of bone, soft tissues, and the sensorimotor cortex
Deformity development is discussed in relation to:
· Spasticity
· Ligament laxity
· Premature birth
· Movement strategies in the presence of inadequate postural control and innate righting
reactions
· Use history in postural malalignment
· Skeletal modeling errors
Management strategies are related to:
· Body weight distribution onto the functioning base of support
· Functioning joint alignment and related muscle lengths
· Weakness
· Skeletal modeling potential
· Musculoskeletal assessment findings.
Selected musculoskeletal assessments are described and the
implications of their findings are brought to therapeutic and
orthotic management planning with the goal of optimizing
functioning postural alignment and control in order to optimize
musculoskeletal and sensorimotor use history.
Proposed management strategies include tuned ankle-foot
orthoses and TheraTogs™ Orthotic Undergarment and
Strapping Systems. The relevance of the findings obtained in the musculoskeletal assessment to target selected
interventions is made evident in videotaped cases.
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