This 15-day course provides participants with the critical foundations of NDT including the NDT Clinical Practice Model as applied to individuals post stroke or brain injury. The curriculum includes the current research supporting the theoretical underpinnings for NDT interventions. The ICF model will be used to aid in clinical decision making and guide clinicians in client assessment and intervention planning. The roles and expertise of the PT, OT, and SLP disciplines within the NDT Clinical Practice Model will be integrated into the course content.

This course fulfills requirements established by the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association, Inc. (NDTA™, Inc.) for recognition as an approved certificate course. Course graduates are entitled to take NDTA™, Inc. approved advanced courses.

Who Should Attend: Applicant must be a registered Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, or Speech Language Pathologist (For both conditional and full registered therapist from AHPC of Singapore).

• have minimum of one year of clinical experience following graduation (excluding student internship), including a minimum of one-year clinical experience with adults with stroke/brain injury;

• are presently working with neurologically impaired adult patients and are returning to a similar caseload after the course; and

• are able to participate fully in physically demanding lab practicums and patient treatment sessions.

Course Content:

By the end of the course, participants will demonstrate the ability to:

• Describe and distinguish the key components of the NDTA™ Contemporary Practice Model.

• Apply the ICF model in the assessment of clients recovering from stroke or brain injury.

• Analyze effective and ineffective components of posture and movement throughout the body segments in a variety of client presentations, including individuals presenting with; high tone, low tone, contraversive pushing behaviors, ataxia, and the individual who is extremely low functioning.

• Compare and predict the interrelationships between function, posture and movement components, and system integrities and impairments in a variety of presentations of individuals with neuromuscular disorders.

• Establish the most significant impairments interfering with function, posture and movement components in individuals post stroke or brain injury.

• Demonstrate and integrate effective NDT clinical reasoning and problem solving, using assessment findings to design sequenced, progressive and goal-oriented treatment plans.

• Integrate knowledge of neuroplasticity, motor learning, and functional performance when developing efficient treatment plans.

• Analyze the components of functional activities in standing and normal gait and identify common gait deviations of individuals post stroke and brain injury that interfere with efficient, safe ambulation.

• Develop a sequence of treatment activities to enhance efficient functioning in standing and gait.

• Describe and examine the basic functional anatomy and kinesiological components of the shoulder girdle.

• Develop and demonstrate a sequence of treatment activities utilizing closed chain, modified chain, and open chained strategies as appropriate, in preparation for safe use of the UE in functional activities and contexts.

• Develop and implement therapeutic handling strategies that address multiple impairments simultaneously, including the trunk, lower and upper extremities in functional tasks, resulting in functional changes in the client at the activity and participation level.

• Demonstrate the ability to integrate the course concepts and make informed intervention choices in functional activities and contexts that are meaningful to and engage the client.

• Design, implement, model and adapt therapeutic handling strategies that address clients’ most significant impairments and result in sustainable changes in the client, including improved sensorimotor performance, achievement of functional goals, and enhanced participation in meaningful activities.

Competency Mapping (SSF):

• Assist in Mobility Training for Clients

• Assist with Individualised Therapy Care Plan Development

Additional Information:

• To register, click on "Express your Interest".

• For course enquiries, please email sla_admin@stluke.org.sg indicating the course name in your subject.