Aquatic physiotherapy in neurology and disability
This course (both theory and practical) is designed for physiotherapists working in the aquatic environment with adult patients with a range of more complex neurological conditions and disabilities. The course has an emphasis on hands-on clinical management and functional
rehabilitation and aims to provide physiotherapists with an opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills relevant to adult neurological
aquatic practice.
Pain management, range of movement, strength, strategies to optimise function and for some fitness are included. Risk management issues, infection control and equipment specific to the populations will be discussed. Participation in the course should enhance both knowledge and skills but primarily expand your treatment options and motivate and inspire your practices.
The course provides an opportunity for the multitude of practitioners who want to offer (or are offering) expert/advanced clinical management of the most complex, difficult neurological client population.
Learning outcomes
- Apply knowledge and understanding of immersion physics, physiology and identify conditions and symptoms that may benefit from aquatic physiotherapy in treatment planning and monitoring of patients with complex neurological/disability conditions.
- Discuss the breadth of aquatic neurological/disability practice eg patient types, pool type, frequency, use of AHA's, use of carers, use of individual sessions and group or class sessions, limitations to practice
- Outline barriers, facilitators and risk management strategies for a range of issues commonly faced in aquatic Neurological/ disability practice
- Demonstrate a number of holds and equipment that can be used to inhibit or modify tone in the neurological patients to enable more purposeful functional movements by the patient
- Analyse the movement requirements necessary for safe and independent movements in water and to then teach these movements using specific water skills to both a disabled and/or older patient
- Use aquatic based evidence and translate land based theories of neuroplasticity into the aquatic environment to discuss and clinically reason the use of a range of treatment techniques, equipment, exercises and positions to promote pain reduction, muscle lengthening, strength, endurance, function, balance and fitness in a variety of neurological/disability conditions.
Prerequisites
- This course is only available to qualified and AHPRA registered physiotherapists.
- It is desirable that participants have completed the Aquatic Physiotherapy Level 1 course prior to registering for this course.
Presenters
Judy Larsen
A University of Qld graduate and co-director of Hydrotherapy Brisbane, Australia's largest two pool independently run hydrotherapy facility. The practice is aquatic based and services acute and chronic patients, adults and children. Judy has a significant involvement in aquatic education, lecturing in all areas of the aquatic industry including undergraduate and post graduate physiotherapy students, exercise professionals and teacher education in special education aquatics. Judy was the Director of Hydrotherapy at St Andrew's Hydrotherapy Centre in Brisbane from 1993 - 2004 and was responsible for pool management as well as aquatic clinical services. She works full time in the area combining clinical practice, with pool management, professional mentoring, education, consulting and design.
Julie Harrison
Julie has extensive experience as a private practitioner in traditional land practices and in incorporating aquatic physiotherapy/ hydrotherapy into clinical practice. She provides undergraduate aquatic physiotherapy content to University of Queensland and James Cook University students.
Hydrotherapy Consulting and Training, a company she co-directs with Judy Larsen, is the largest provider of undergraduate and postgraduate aquatic physiotherapy training in Australia. They also provide training for physiotherapy and allied health assistants, special school and disability teachers, swimming teachers, carers and community workers.
Her physiotherapy practice was involved in research design and providing treatment for patients in an article on ‘Improving Strength After Total Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery' published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in May 2009.
Her experience includes coordinating the hydrotherapy program at the Queensland Spastic Welfare League and designing and implementing the Austswim Disabled Extension Course in Queensland. She has consulted widely on pool design, including on pools located at Sinnamon Village (Brisbane), Royal Childrens Hospital (Melbourne), Westmead Hospital (Sydney), Austin Hospital (Melbourne), Palm Beach Currumbin (Gold Coast), Flinders Medical Centre (Adelaide) and Boonah Shire (Queensland).
She has been an active member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) in Queensland including positions on Branch Council, convenor of the Queensland Aquatic Physiotherapy Group, treasurer of the State Aquatic group, convenor of the National Aquatic Physiotherapy Group, and inaugural aquatic representative to the APA's National Advisory Council.
Hydrotherapy Consulting and Training, a company she co-directs with Judy Larsen, is the largest provider of undergraduate and postgraduate aquatic physiotherapy training in Australia. They also provide training for physiotherapy and allied health assistants, special school and disability teachers, swimming teachers, carers and community workers.
Her physiotherapy practice was involved in research design and providing treatment for patients in an article on ‘Improving Strength After Total Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery' published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in May 2009.
Her experience includes coordinating the hydrotherapy program at the Queensland Spastic Welfare League and designing and implementing the Austswim Disabled Extension Course in Queensland. She has consulted widely on pool design, including on pools located at Sinnamon Village (Brisbane), Royal Childrens Hospital (Melbourne), Westmead Hospital (Sydney), Austin Hospital (Melbourne), Palm Beach Currumbin (Gold Coast), Flinders Medical Centre (Adelaide) and Boonah Shire (Queensland).
She has been an active member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) in Queensland including positions on Branch Council, convenor of the Queensland Aquatic Physiotherapy Group, treasurer of the State Aquatic group, convenor of the National Aquatic Physiotherapy Group, and inaugural aquatic representative to the APA's National Advisory Council.
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