An injury to the head or upper neck can upset the delicate balance of systems that orient us to our environment and help us to maintain spinal and postural stability. These injuries can manifest as a straight-ahead orthopedic pain issue or a vague set of neurologic symptoms that can be alarming to both the patient and the practitioner. The goal of this course is to present the mechanisms behind the symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and headache so that the physical therapist has the confidence to proceed with an evidence-based treatment approach or make an appropriate referral out of physical therapy.

The therapists who attend this course will learn techniques to objectively measure the sensory and motor function of the cervical spine in addition to learning strategies to manage these impairments. Manual therapy techniques for the examination and treatment of the cervical spine will be reviewed as they pertain to the treatment of this patient population. Techniques for the examination of and treatment of concussion and peripheral vestibular dysfunction including BPPV will also be mastered in this workshop.

This course will enhance your clinical reasoning and improve your differential diagnosis skills when dealing with a patient’s complaints of acute or chronic symptoms of dizziness, vertigo or headache.

Audience:

This continuing education seminar is targeted to physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapist assistants, registered nurses, nurse midwives, and other rehabilitation professionals. Content is not intended for use outside the scope of the learner's license or regulation. Physical therapy continuing education courses should not be taken by individuals who are not licensed or otherwise regulated, except, as they are involved in a specific plan of care.

Prerequisites:

None