Idaho Physical Therapist Continuing Education

• Explain characteristics of gait and changes that occur with aging
• Outline and define pathologic gait changes
• Define speed, distance and general requirements for functional ambulation
• Outline components involved with examining and evaluating gait
• Become familiar with interventions and develop plan of care for patients with gait changes

Ambulation: Impact of Age-Related Changes on Functional Mobility

• Explain characteristics of gait and changes that occur with aging
• Outline and define pathologic gait changes
• Define speed, distance and general requirements for functional ambulation
• Differentiate normal age-related changes in gait vs those resulting from pathology
• Outline components involved with examining and evaluating gait
• Become familiar with interventions and develop plan of care for patients with gait changes

Balance and Falls

• Understand the seriousness of the problem of falling
• List 5 risk factors for falling
• Outline the balance and postural control centers of the body
• Examine evaluation techniques for assessing balance and risk of falls
• Outline tests and measures for balance and falls
• Understand the importance of neuromuscular testing in balance and falls
• Define and differentiate 5 functional balance measures
• Become familiar with balance training and exercise interventions

• Outline and describe the seriousness of the problem of falling
• List 5 risk factors for falling
• Outline the balance and postural control centers of the body
• Examine 5 evaluation techniques for assessing balance and risk of falls
• Outline 3 tests and measures for balance and falls
• Describe the importance of neuromuscular testing in balance and falls
• Define and differentiate 5 functional balance measures
• Become familiar with balance training and exercise interventions

• Explain the mechanism of continence
• Outline the pathophysiology of incontinence
• List 3 risk factors for urinary incontinence
• Become familiar with 3 interventions for incontinence including pelvic floor muscle exercises, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, behavioral interventions, weight loss, fluid management, pharmacologic interventions and more
• Describe the physical exam in regards to incontinence
• Become familiar with 5 outcome measures for urinary incontinence

• Become familiar with the prevalence, challenges and costs of pain management in older adults
• Describe the biophysical model of persistent pain
• List age-related changes associated with pain
• Outline methods of examination and evaluation of the patient with pain
• Outline a plan of care and list 5 interventions for patients with pain
• Review case studies that highlight clinical management of pain

• Summarize the importance of wellness for the aging adult
• Identify and describe 3 domains of wellness
• Outline methods of screening for physical activity and wellness programs
• Review baseline measure for physical activity and exercise focused wellness programs
• List the importance of strength training and aerobic training and the enhancement of mobility

• Define and describe the concept of a "good death"
• Outline and describe the physiological process of dying
• Examine 3 progressive changes that occur in the final months or terminal phase
• List 5 physiologic signs of approaching death
• List 5 psychosocial and spiritual signs, symptoms and interventions for the actively dying
• Become familiar with hospice and palliative care
• Review models of physical therapy practice in hospice and palliative care

• Describe the association between footwear and falls and list 5 suboptimal design features which contributes to falls
• List 5 common changes that occur in the foot with age and why ill-fitting shoes are a precursor to falls
• List and describe 5 common risk factors for falls in individuals with diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease
• Describe future new directions and novel footwear devices that are being used to provide substitute sensory cues at the feet to help improve balance and gait
• Describe how footwear, insoles, and orthoses are gaining popularity as an integral component of falls prevention strategies

• Discuss the demographics and scope of problem of falls
• Outline and describe 6 key conditions that should be included in a patient assessment when considering fall risk
• List 4 risk factors, including neurologic, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, that are associated with gait and balance disorders
• Describe the 8 components that are key factors in the physical examination when evaluating an older adult for risk of falling
• Outline and describe pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies for the prevention and management of falls

• Define and differentiate static vs dynamic balance
• Outline and describe the role of balance in ADL’s
• Define and differentiate intrinsic vs. extrinsic risk factors for falls and provide 3 examples of each
• List and describe 3 different evidence-based fall prevention programs recommended for patients, including; AMOB, Tai Ji Juan, Otago
• Describe the role of clinicians in fall prevention strategies

• Describe the evidence for Pilates based exercise to enhance balance for seniors 
• Name the global/local core stabilizers and their function 
• Describe 2 Pilates based seated exercises and their goals 
• Describe 2 Pilates based standing exercises and their goals 
• Name 3 Pilates principles Describe the 3 systems integral to balance

• Breakdown the biomechanical processes of spinal degeneration
• Explain the biochemical processes that occur in the geriatric population in 
• Differentiate between various diagnosis of structural and chemical conditions seen in geriatric patients
• Analyze the radiological findings and how they influence clinical decisions
• Explain Syndrome X and how it affects physiology
• Differentiate trauma and its late effects on the body

• List 3 changes in the vascular structure that occur with age
• Discuss the endothelial function in aging
• Outline 5 effects of aging on the structure of the heart
• Describe the response of the aging heart on exercise
• Describe and analyze myocardial function in the aging heart at rest

• Outline 3 functions of the musculoskeletal system
• List 5 changes that occur with aging in articular cartilage
• List 5 changes that occur with aging in the skeleton including structural and metabolic changes
• List 3 changes that occur with aging in soft tissue
• Examine and list 5 consequences of bone and joint aging

• Describe attention and processing speed as it relates to aging
• Describe age-related changes that occur in short term and long term memory
• Become familiar with 1 method for evaluating executive functions
• List lifestyle factors associated with aging and describe how they may be affected
• Compare and describe how social activities and health factors are effected by cognitive aging

• Describe the clinical manifestations of CAD
• Outline and describe 5 techniques for diagnosis CAD
• List 5 risk factors for CAD
• Outline the protocol for therapy for stable angina
• Become familiar with acute coronary syndromes

• Become familiar with the epidemiology of hypertension
• Describe the pathogenesis associated with hypertension
• List 5 risk factors for hypertension
• Outline 5 complications of hypertension
• Describe the management and treatment of hypertension

• Become familiar with the incidence and epidemiology of COPD in the elderly
• Describe the pathogenesis of COPD
• Become familiar with medications used to treat asthma
• Outline management techniques for the treatment of asthma
• Examine and compare differential diagnosis of asthma and COPD

• Review and define definitions of dementia
• List 3 risk factors for dementia
• Become familiar with other disorders associated with dementia
• Describe clinical features in differential diagnosis of dementia
• Identify 3 key points of dementia

• Describe diagnostic criteria in the presentation of dementia
• Describe aspects of cognition, ADL and behavior affected by dementia
• Become familiar with differential diagnosis for dementia
• Outline the management of dementia including pharmacologic and non drug therapies
• Review arguments for and against disclosure of a diagnosis of dementia

• Describe the pathology and mechanisms of Alzheimer's
• Describe the genetics of Alzheimer's
• Outline clinical criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's
• Describe components of a clinical evaluation for Alzheimer's
• Review treatment for Alzheimer's
• List behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's

• Outline and describe the classification of movement disorders
• List and describe the clinical features of Parkinson's Disease
• List 10 causes of Parkinson's Disease
• Describe the neuropathology of Parkinson's Disease
• List 5 drugs used to treat motor impairments in Parkinson's Disease
• Become familiar with hyperkinetic movement disorders

• Outline and describe the classification of movement disorders
• List and describe the clinical features of Parkinson's Disease
• List 10 causes of Parkinson's Disease
• Describe the neuropathology of Parkinson's Disease
• List 5 drugs used to treat motor impairments in Parkinson's Disease
• Become familiar with hyperkinetic movement disorders
• Outline  features of neuromuscular disorders according to location
• Outline  features of peripheral neuropathies including diabetic neuropathy
• Become familiar with neurogenic claudication and spinal stenosis
• Describe inflammatory myopathy
• Review and differentiate endocrine and metabolic myopathies

• Outline  features of neuromuscular disorders according to location
• Outline  features of peripheral neuropathies including diabetic neuropathy
• Become familiar with neurogenic claudication and spinal stenosis
• Describe inflammatory myopathy
• Review and differentiate endocrine and metabolic myopathies

• Describe two different criteria used to determine the prevalence of COPD
• List three factors that will contribute to the increased prevalence of COPD
• List and describe three physiologic changes that occur in the lung
• Describe 3 clinical symptoms associated with COPD and describe diagnosis including lung function tests and the use of chest CT scans
• Outline and examine 3 interventions commonly used in the management and treatment of COPD
• Describe the significance and goals of a pulmonary rehabilitation program

• This contains all courses with the educational objectives listed from Geriatrics 237 through Geriatrics 240

• List and describe 3 changes in lung structure associated with aging
• List and describe 3 changes in extrapulmonary structure
• Analyze 3 changes in respiratory mechanics that occur with aging and lead to predictable changes in lung function
• Describe changes in gas exchange that occur with aging
• Outline and describe the use of 2 lung function tests used in the elderly
• Describe the synergistic effect of age-related changes in lung structure and function on lung disease

• Outline and describe 5 mechanisms of dyspnea including; sensory receptors, afferent impulses, integration and processing within the central nervous system, psychological factors and neuromodulation
• Analyze 4 unique descriptors of dyspnea in the elderly including prevalence, impact, respiratory sensation and dyspnea during exercise
• Describe a comprehensive approach for assessment of the elderly individual with dyspnea
• List and describe 5 strategies used to relieve dyspnea
• Describe the role of acupuncture as an emerging treatment for dyspnea

• Become familiar with the epidemiology of lung cancer in the elderly and describe 2 risks and age-related disparities in lung cancer
• Define and differentiate local therapy vs. systemic therapy and give an example of each.
• Define and describe the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)
• Describe local treatment strategies including; surgical resection, radiation therapy, radiofrequency ablation
• Describe systemic treatment strategies including; adjuvant chemotherapy, locally advanced disease, advanced disease, small cell lung cancer, immunotherapy and targeted therapies for actionable mutations

• Outline and describe the 4 categories for fall risk factors defined by the World Health Organization, including; biologic, behavioral, environmental, and socioeconomic
• Identify the 3 questions that should be asked of patients about fall history
• Outline 3 fall prevention interventions or areas of assessment
• Compare and contrast 4 evidence-based, community-based programs: A Matter of Balance, Otega Exercise Program, Stepping On and Tai Chi Describe important behavioral aspects of fall prevention
• Describe important behavioral aspects of fall prevention