Intermediate level, two-day workshop focuses on reliable and valid testing of sensibility, the pitfalls in sensibility testing, and background needed for understanding objective instrument design, calibration, and use. Designed to give the participant confidence in  clinical assessment, interpretation, and reporting/documentation. Learn to evaluate the simple and complex sensory abnormalities presented by patients with peripheral nerve problems. Learn how and when to perform quick sensibility screening and more detailed sensibility mapping.

The peripheral nerves will be reviewed during the workshop as to normal and aberrant patterns, but as much advance understanding as possible regarding the innervations of the peripheral nerves will enhance the experience of the workshop.

This user-friendly workshop will include solutions for many of the challenges present in sensibility testing, and "hands on" practice. Experience will be shared from over 30 years of clinical testing and research of objective instruments and clinical measurements.

Learn why so many tests and protocols are available for sensibility testing that examiners evaluating patients are often unsure of what test to use, and in doubt about how to interpret and report results. This course provides an overview of clinical assessment relative to the reliability and validity of instruments used, and known pitfalls in testing. It identifies areas needing further study and suggests future projects where participants can take an active role to help further advance sensibility evaluation.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced level occupational therapists, physical therapists, and CHTs, yet has instructive value to beginners and therapists at all levels. A basic knowledge of the peripheral nerves innervating the hand and upper extremity is required. Suggested readings will be given to registrants prior to the workshop.

Program subject to change. Participants are cautioned to apply new information and skills within the scope of state licensure law.

 Course Objectives:

Participants completing the workshop will leave with:

• confidence in performing sensibility mapping and screen evaluations.
• knowledge and experience in testing with Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments.
• overview of all sensibility tests, their reliability, and usefulness in clinical testing.
• what can be relied upon as hard knowledge regarding sensibility  testing, and areas in need of further corroboration before being considered fact.
• known pitfalls to avoid in clinical testing.
• relative strengths and weaknesses of sensibility tests protocols and an optimal test  protocol.
• new instruments including force controlled monofilament two-point discrimination.
• designs for computer based report systems, including standard and optional forms.

DAY ONE

• Statement of the problem - challenges in sensibility testing.
• History of sensibility testing from Von Frey and Weber, Weinstein, Kilulu von Prince and Omer, Bell-Krotoski and others.
• Development and significance of Levels of Detection.
• Primary peripheral nerve status testing vs functional use testing.
• Psychological aspects of sensibility testing.
• Correlation of sensibility tests with patient functional use.
• Correlation among tests.
• Problems with instrument repeatability.
• Sensibility mapping.
• Hand screen, and abbreviated exam.
• Clinical testing.

DAY TWO

• Questions and answers re clinical testing.
• Interpretation of finding on evaluation, and use in test battery.
• More in-depth review of literature.
• Discussion of current literature and investigation.
• How to design a research protocol for testing of clinical patients.
• Manual or computer-based report forms.
• Areas for future study and how therapists can be directly or collaterally involved.
• Repeat of clinical testing "hands on" with final question session.

Program subject to change. Participants are cautioned to apply new  information and skills within the scope of state licensure law.

CE Credits

14 Educational Contact Hours

NBCOT and HTCC: Accepted by NBCOT*, HTCC+, and many state professional regulatory boards. Check with your state board/credentialing agency to verify. Certificate of attendance will be issued to all participants upon completion of the workshop and may be used for CEU verification of credits. CE Credits vary by state. Please check with your state board/certifying agency to confirm conversion of contact hours to CE. See links below.

NY State Physical Therapy Board: Rehab Education, LLC is recognized as an Approved Provider of PT and PTA continuing education by the NY State Education Department's Board of Physical Therapy.

AOTA Approved Provider #6177. These states currently recognize AOTA Approved Providers for OT continuing education either in regulatory language or by formal written communication to AOTA:

*NBCOT...National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (view PDU requirements)
+HTCC... Hand Therapy Certification Commission  (view recertification requirements)

State PT Boards
State OT Boards

Judith Bell Krotoski OTR, FAOTA, CHT

is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience including adaptive hand splinting for various disabilities. She is a strong proponent for a biomechanical approach to the remodeling of soft tissue and correction of the hand and upper extremity developed by Paul W Brand. Paul Brand has been recognized as the hand surgeon most responsible for the development of the concept of "hand therapy". She worked extensively with Dr. Paul Brand and the Rehabilitation Research Laboratory he established at the National Hansen's Disease Program, United States Public Health Service Hospital, formerly located at Carville, LA, and during the time he was a surgical consultant to the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital for seamen, formally in New Orleans, LA. She had the opportunity to work with Dr. Dan Riordan who was responsible for bringing Dr. Brand to the U.S., and served as a consultant to the Carville hospital for many years.  She also had the opportunity for further specialization in hand therapy through working with Drs. James Hunter and Lawrence Schneider, and therapist Evelyn Mackin, at the Hand Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia during the early years of the establishment of this second "Hand Center" in the U.S.

Judy is known and respected internationally for her role in developing monofilaments to advanced levels as objective sensibility test instruments, and for her extensive research in the area of sensibility testing, objective measurement of peripheral neuropathy, validation of objective testing, biomechanics of deformity and correction, and disability prevention.

She is one of the original six organizers, past president, of the American Society of Hand Therapists, and a founding and current Board member of the American Hand Therapy Foundation. She was one of the early initiators and advocate of a journal for hand therapists, and served as a member of Editorial Board for the Journal of Hand Therapy for many years. Most recently she has been involved in encouraging evidence-based practice by developing a therapist research and education website for the American Hand Therapy Foundation (ahtf.org), and working with HANDSIGHTS, a special interest group of hand therapists attending the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Meetings.

Judy has published numerous articles and chapters in hand therapy and surgery literature, including chapters on splinting. She was a co-editor on the first edition of the book "Rehabilitation of the Hand", by Hunter et al, and has subsequent chapters in all further editions including the most recent "Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity by Mackin et al. She has writings in the books "Tendon Surgery in the Hand", and  "Tendon and Nerve Surgery in the Hand, by Hunter et al. She has splinting chapters in the book "Hand Splinting" by Fess, et al, and has co-authored chapters in the book "Peripheral Nerve Injuries", by Omer et al. Her writings in journal publications include the Journal of Hand Surgery, and Journal of Hand Therapy. She lectures nationally and internationally on a wide variety of topics related to the hand and to upper extremity rehabilitation and splinting, recently giving a two week lectureship series to hand centers through a grant sponsored by the Ministries of Health, in Singapore.

Tuition

Dates & Locations

There are no scheduled workshops at this time.

INTERESTED IN HOSTING? PLEASE CALL 845-368-2458 OR E-MAIL info@RehabEd.com