Modalities for the Upper Extremity On-Site Training

This on-site training class is also available as Public Schedule Seminar.

This seminar is designed to educate clinicians in the use and understanding of commonly used modalities and their applications for a variety of clinical conditions.

Course Description/Agenda

The use of modalities as an adjunct to other therapeutic interventions often expedites and enhances patient outcomes. This seminar is designed to educate clinicians in the use and understanding of commonly used modalities and their applications for a variety of clinical conditions. Lecture will address the theoretical basis and efficacy of each modality, physical properties (parameters) of the devices, the body’s physiological response to stimulation, indications and contraindications, and application techniques. Case scenarios, demonstrations, and significant amounts of lab time following presentations will allow the participants to integrate the information for use with patients upon return to the clinic.

Course Objectives

Identify the physical characteristics of electricity and how stimulus parameters are selected to evoke the desired clinical outcome.
Describe the physiological and neurophysiological changes that occur with the application of modalities.
Identify the indications, contra-indications, theoretical rationale, and efficacy of the various modalities.
Demonstrate the appropriate choice and application of each modality to meet a variety of patient treatment goals, including decreasing pain, relieving muscle spasm, muscle re-education, strengthening, and tissue repair.
Describe the integration of electrical modality protocol within the context of the overall treatment plan for various patient conditions.
Document treatment and effectiveness of the selected modality.

Course Agenda/Schedule

DAY 1

8:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 Ultrasound Basics
(terminology, parameters, physiological response of tissues, pre-cautions, contraindications, application and efficacy)

9:45 Electrotherapy Basics
(terminology, parameters, waveforms, physiological response of tissues, precautions and contraindications)

10:15 Break

10:30 Electrotherapy Basics (continued)

12:00 Lunch (on your own)

1:00 Introduction to Devices (equipment, settings, electrode considerations)

2:15 Break

2:30 Introduction to Devices (continued)

2:45 Electrotherapy for Pain Control (Indications, theory, device selection, technique, documentation)

4:15 Lab Session - TENS Device

5:30 Questions & Adjourn

DAY 2

8:00 Electrotherapy for Pain Control (continued)
- Interferential Therapy

8:30 Lab Session - Interferential Therapy Device

9:00 Electrotherapy for Muscle Dysfunction
(indications, theory, technique, & documentation)

10:15 Break

10:30 Electrotherapy for Muscle Dysfunction (continued)

10:45 Lab Session (NMES)
– Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulators

12:00 Lunch (on your own)

1:00 Electrotherapy for Tissue Repair
(indications, wound healing process, wound classification, theory, device selection, technique, documentation)

2:15 Break

2:30 Electrotherapy for Tissue Repair (continued)

3:00 Lab Session and Demonstrations
– High Voltage Pulsed Current (HVPC)
– Iontophoresis

4:00 Considerations in the Clinic and with the Home Program

5:00 Questions & Adjourn

Faculty

Susan Lee Klonne, OTR/L is an author, clinician and educator with 30 years of clinical and administrative experience in rehabilitation. She co-authored the chapter on modalities in Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction, 4th edition edited by Catherine Trombly and was a prominent figure in the development of the law describing the use of modalities by OTs in Georgia. She has been teaching seminars nationally on electrotherapy topics for the past 16 years in addition to holding adjunct faculty positions at both the OT and PT programs at the University of South Alabama and Bishop State University in Mobile, AL. Over her career she has developed clinical services for inpatient, outpatient, school and community based programs in both adult and child care. As a sales manager for a national distributor of electrotherapy equipment in the early 90’s, she began providing OTs and PTs with educational programs and individual consultation regarding electrotherapy applications on a daily basis. Having educated hundreds of clinicians over the years has provided her with the skills necessary to translate physical and electrophysiological principles into practical application. She is now a consultant in private practice in Cincinnati, OH.

Educational Credit

A certificate of attendance for 15 Contact Hours (17 in FL & WA) will be awarded to each participant. This course has been submitted to the State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Boards in which the seminar is being held, if prior approval is required.
CA Board of OT Advanced Practice Approved
NATA Board of Certification, Inc. Approved Provider #P-2563
AOTA Approved Provider of Continuing Education #3073
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsements of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA

Participants' Comments

“Finally a modalities course that is clear, concise and hands on”

“Very well organized with lots of hands on lab time”

“Susan knows her stuff—loved the chance to try all the various units. Plenty to go around for everyone”

“Terrific mixture of lecture and lab”

“My third course on modalities and by far the best”

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