Aquatic Exercise Association

Advanced / 8.0 credit hours

Faculty: Beth Scalone, PT, DPT, OCS

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Patients with neurological dysfunction present with a myriad of symptoms including abnormal tone, decreased strength, poor endurance and balance deficits creating movement dysfunction. The water provides a unique environment to facilitate and challenge a patient with these neurological impairments. This course will discuss a variety of diagnoses including TBI, CVA, SCI, Parkinson’s and MS. However, since we treat the patient and not the diagnoses, the focus of lecture and lab will be to link treatment goals and interventions to help our clients achieve the highest level of function possible. Current best evidence and practical application are integrated to provide the participant with justification and rationale in choosing aquatic therapy interventions for their clients with neurological dysfunction. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Examine precautions and contraindications specific to the most common adult neurological diagnoses.
2. Document medical necessity for aquatic therapy for neurologic patients.
3. Maximize the benefits of the unique properties of water to facilitate movement and inhibit unwanted tone. 
4. Progress and effectively cue a client through aquatic exercise addressing postural alignment, ROM, balance, gait, muscle balance and functional tasks for trunk, lower and upper extremities including equipment selection. 
5. Design and progress an aquatic therapy program for patients with proprioceptive and balance deficits. 

FACULTY: Beth Scalone, PT, DPT, OCS, is a licensed physical therapist with over 18 years of experience in orthopedic and aquatic therapy. As the owner of North County Water and Sports Therapy Center in San Diego (www.waterpt.com), she continues with hands-on clinical care in addition to her role as educator. Since graduating from the University of Connecticut in 1991, Beth has belonged to the American Physical Therapy Association and has achieved certification as a Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. In January 2006, she graduated from Boston University with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Additional certifications include Certified STOTT Pilates™ instructor and Master Instructor for the Burdenko Method. 

 Beth not only provides continuing education for health care professionals, she is an adjunct faculty in the San Diego Mesa College PTA program, teaching Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Introduction to Pathology courses. She also provides the learning module/instruction on aquatic therapy to the University of St. Augustine San Diego Campus DPT program.