I Love Neuro

On today’s show I’m going to share takeaways from a recent NeuroSpark webinar on the use of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) with the neuro population presented by Jennifer Lazaro.  This was a fantastic webinar for our members and I want to share the highlights with you.

I’ll discuss the mechanisms, indications, contraindications, research in neuro, results, techniques and dosage recommendations as well as my own personal experience using this modality.

Here are the research articles mentioned:

• Lee, JJ, et al “Inhibitory effects of instrumented assisted neuromobilization on hyperactive gastrocnemius in a hemiparetic stroke patient” Biomed Mater Eng. 2014;24(6):2389-94.
• Deshpande, S and Chitra J “Effectiveness of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization using m2t blade on upper limb spasticity and function in post stroke patients: a pre-post experimental study.” IJMSIR 2018.
• Miller MM, Ray JM, Van Zant RS “The effects of Astym Therapy on a child with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy” Clinical Medicine Insights: Case Reports 2017.

Here is my favorite low cost tool, a jade gua sha from Amazon

On today’s show Claire and JJ talk about JJ’s experience with slip and trip training. Rogue recently received a community grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation. One of the programs they will be starting is slip/trip training. Claire learned about the training and research JJ has done during a NeuroSpark call last year and had a lot of questions for JJ and how to get started. JJ gave Claire SO many great ideas for how to get started, and how to tweak the plan to make this training optimal for Rogue’s members, and you're going to love listening in too!

Here are some Reactive Balance References with key authors and a variety of diagnoses:

■Pai Y-C, Bhatt T, Wang E, Espy D, Pavol MJ. Inoculation against falls: rapid adaptation by young and older adults to slips during daily activities. Archives Of Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation. 2010;91(3):452-459. 

■Curuk E, Lee Y, Aruin AS. Individuals with stroke improve anticipatory postural adjustments after a single session of targeted exercises. Human Movement Science. 2020 Feb 1;69:102559.

■de Kam D, Roelofs JM, Bruijnes AK, Geurts AC, Weerdesteyn V. The next step in understanding impaired reactive balance control in people with stroke: the role of defective early automatic postural responses. Neurorehabilitation and neural repair. 2017 Aug;31(8):708-16.

■Gerards MH, McCrum C, Mansfield A, Meijer K. Perturbation‐based balance training for falls reduction among older adults: Current evidence and implications for clinical practice. Geriatrics & gerontology international. 2017 Dec;17(12):2294-303.

■Mansfield A, Wong JS, Bryce J, Knorr S, Patterson KK. Does perturbation-based balance training prevent falls? Systematic review and meta-analysis of preliminary randomized controlled trials. Physical Therapy. 2015;95(5):700-709. 

■McCrum C, Gerards MH, Karamanidis K, Zijlstra W, Meijer K. A systematic review of gait perturbation paradigms for improving reactive stepping responses and falls risk among healthy older adults. European review of aging and physical activity. 2017 Dec;14(1):3.

■Okubo Y, Brodie MA, Sturnieks DL, et al. Exposure to trips and slips with increasing unpredictability while walking can improve balance recovery responses with minimum predictive gait alterations. Plos One. 2018;13(9):e0202913.

Join us today with our special guest Sparkie, Tony Noto.  He founded Noto Physical Therapy in Oct 2014 which is a 100% mobile therapy practice in upstate New York. Tony tells us all about why he unexpectedly decided to start a business, why he built a mobile practice, went cash based, built his networks, and how he filled his caseload.     

You are going to be so inspired by this episode!

You can learn more about Noto Physical Therapy at www.notopt.com or contact Tony at [email protected]

How to make activities more complex by adding physical to cognitive training.  We break down the different ways that dual tasking works and how to push physical tasks to become more automatic.  We discuss why this is important to train and address with our clients.

Neuro Nugget of the week: Use this article by Tara McIsaac entitled Building a Framework for a Dual Task Taxonomy, published 2015,  for brilliant ways to start and progress your cognitive and physical training.  Assess your client for where to start with success and how to progress.

Anti-racist action: How to be an active bystander vs passive

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/smarter-living/how-to-be-an-active-bystander-when-you-see-casual-racism.html

From Claire’s floor talk: Learn to love the floor for fun, fitness and (less injurious) falls.  What should we really be focusing on with regard to falls? Stat on how many people can get up from the floor if they fall

Try an experiment with your clients to improve their sit to stand!  Check out this free full text article on performing intensive sit to stand practice: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955319300542?via%3Dihub

Have trouble helping people with Camptocormia? Check out this free full text article on backpacks and back strengthening:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5608676/pdf/arm-41-677.pdf

We are starting a new thing on the show - the NeuroSpark Nugget of the week. Listen to get a knowledge translation takeaway to use tomorrow!

Anti-racist action: learning about how diet culture has ties to racism https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/racism-diet-culture

Do you focus enough on the basics of movement? Or are you chasing the shiniest, most creative exercise interventions every time?  What are the best ways to improve someone’s sit to stand or their bed mobility? We also discuss ways to use the floor besides just with fall recovery or prevention.  People can recover from pain and movement issues that have plagued them for years by getting on the floor. We discuss this and more!

Anti-racist Action: I attended a DEI webinar by the CPTA called Continuing the Conversation: A Diverse, Equitable, & Inclusive Path to Transform Society and Improve the Human Experience by Chukwuemeka Nwigwe. There are great talks like this still happening - check them out!

In today’s show I talk about the key elements to a presentation that will actually change people.  You don’t want your clients to decline or stay stagnant, right? So why aren’t you motivating them into action? Not sure how? Have a listen! With these key elements you will be so fired up and your clients will too because they will be committing to themselves and actually getting better.

Anti-racist action: One of the pieces of homework from our DEI consultant is to watch shows that have BIPOC actors and are about black culture or other cultures other than white. Make observations with curiosity.

We’re exploring the ups and downs of running a Parkinson’s business and how we are so excited to help those in our community who work with individuals with Parkinson’s.  We’ve developed a track that has a cross over of business and clinical practice issues. Claire talks about the challenges running Rogue in the current environment.  We also dive into the topics and expectations for this member-driven track and can’t wait for it to grow and unfold such as cognitive training, fall risk reduction, functional training, and more.

Anti-racist action: We are in a business membership led by a woman named Rachel Rodgers whose business is called Hello Seven.  We share specific information from an email we received from Hello Seven to help with understanding LGBTQIA+ inclusivity as well as really important language to avoid using.  This information is so helpful for everyone!

The tables are turned and Claire answers questions!  Today we are talking to Olivia Schipani, who will graduate from her neuro-residency program in August. She has found a passion for working in the outpatient setting with people with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders. In today’s episode Oliva asks Claire all of her burning questions about what to do after residency.  In the show you’ll hear Claire’s response to questions such as her best advice for new clinicians entering the workforce, how to study for the NCS, how to get your name out there, advice for applying for jobs, how to avoid burnout, how to pay off student loans, how did you get into wellness vs continuing with therapy, and more!

Have a listen to this enlightening conversation!  Do you have loads of questions you’d like to ask one of us?  Let us know! Email at [email protected] and we’ll answer your questions - either with or without you - on the podcast!

Today we’re talking to one of our NeuroSpark members, Joy Cochran.  Joy founded JOY Explorations in 2021 to help bridge the gap between discharge from the mainstream healthcare system and integration back into the community.  Her vision is to empower clients, specifically adults with neurologic conditions and 55+, to play, grow, and have FUN in nature to promote long, healthy, happy and fulfilling lives. 

In the show we talk about what caused to her get into physical therapy as her second career and which aspects of working at a PT caused her to launch her own business this year.  We talk with Joy about ideas for attracting more clients and the vision she has for her business.  Lots of helpful information for anyone interested in starting their own business or class!

Reach out to Joy at joyexplorations.com