This course is designed for the practitioner who has experience in working with children with CNS dysfunction and habitual toe walking, including physical therapists, orthotists, pediatric orthopedists and PM&R physicians. We believe that team education fosters more effective teamwork.
In this course you will learn...
Describe, in plane-based terminology, the motions of the joints and various bones of the foot in the open and closed kinematic chains.
Discuss the kinesiologic benefits of optimizing functioning alignment.
Describe the verticality drive and its role in lower extremity (LE) deformity development in ambulatory children with bilateral CP.
Describe the role of the foot and ankle load receptors in the achievement and maintenance of postural control in standing and gait.
Relate body weight acceleration to gait development – typical and pathologic.
Describe the connection between excessive pronation and equinus deformity development.
Identify the deformities of the foot and ankle that occur most commonly in children with CNS dysfunction and describe the segments of illustrated deformities in plane-based terms.
Discuss the validity of the prevailing presumption that spasticity causes equinus deformity.
Discuss the growing evidence of muscle tissue pathology resulting from any Botox-A injection.
Welcome to Development and Conservative Management of Pediatric Equinus Deformity - Part 1
Session 1 Handout
Introduction - Pediatric Equinus Deformity: Development and Management
Review of Foot & Ankle Anatomy & Joint Motions
Standing Lab
Early Functioning Alignment & Foot Development
Foot Joint Motions and Structural Deviations
Features of Gait Development with Tuning Implications for Designing AFOs and Casts
Blank Quiz
Session 1 Quiz
Session 2 Handout
Observations of The Development of Muscle Tone in the Ankle Plantarflexors
Relating Equinus Deformity to Routine Use History with Deficits in Postural Control and Sensory Processing
Applying Movement Systems Analysis to Equinus Deformity Management
Assessing Passive Ankle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion
Blank Quiz
Session 2 Quiz
Session 3 Handout
Foot Joint Motions and Structural Deviations
Serial Casting the Ankle and Foot: Principles
Sagittal-Plane Orthotic Posting and Design Strategies for Equinus Deformity
Session 3 Quiz
Session 4 Handout
Anatomic Limb Length Difference: Detection in Children with EQD and Conservative Management Strategies
Foot Deformity Challenge
Posting Strategies for Optimizing Foot Loading and Alignment and Postural Control
Case Presentation: Matthew
Using AFOs and Shoe Modifications to Support of Neuromotor Re-Education
Long-Term Shortfalls of Botulinum Toxin-A for EQD Management
Blank Quiz
Session 4 Quiz
Session 5 Handout
Applying the Principles: Below-Knee Cast Design Review
Equinus Deformity Management Strategies that Build
Considerations and Ideas for Researchers
Summarizing Interview
Case Study
Session 5 Quiz
Session 5 Takeaways
Thanks for completing the course!
Certificates and what's next?
Course Evaluation
Quiz Answers
Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants: Florida: Progressive Gaitways is a rule approved provider of the PT Board of Florida # 50-45480. (11.5 hours)
California: Progressive Gaitways has been approved as a provider of continuing education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants in California (CA) by Redefine Health Education, a recognized approval agency of the Physical Therapy Board of CA. (11.5 hours)
Illinois: Progressive GaitWays is a licensed CE sponsor of physical therapy continuing education by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR #216.000408)
AL | AK | AR | CO | CT | DE | GA | HI | ID | IN | IA | KS | KY | ME | MA | MI | MO | MT | NE | NH | NC | ND | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | UT | VT | VA | VI | WA | WI | WY
Please reach out to your state licensing board to confirm the currency and accuracy of this information. If you have a specific question about CEU approval for this course in your state, please direct your inquiry to info@ceuapproval.com.
The following states are not pre-approved: AZ*, DC*, LA, MD*, MN, MS*, NM*, NV, NY*, NJ*, OH, OK, TN, TX*, WV
*Certain courses are approved in these states, please inquire about a specific course for details
New York: NY Approval # NY 25-02-10, 13. 8 contact hours through 3/1/2026.
Participants licensed in states not pre-approved may file for individual approval using the instructions on this document.
Orthotists and Prosthetists: The Pediatric Equinus Deformity Conservative Management course has been approved for 11.5 scientific contact hours by ABC.
Beverly (Billi) Cusick PT, MS, NDT, COF/BOC is an internationally known pediatric physical therapist whose specialty is the orthopedic development and orthotic management of children with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor deficits.
She has been teaching these and related topics since 1978 - including presentations by invitation for the APTA, AACPDM, AOPA, and AAOP and more than 460 full programs and workshops worldwide.
Ms. Cusick received her BS in PT from Bouve College at Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 1972, and her MS in Clinical and College Teaching for Allied Health Professionals from the University of Kentucky in Lexington in 1988. She is an Associate Professor for the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions – Pediatrics Program – Provo, Utah (2006-present) and is NDT basic- and baby-trained.
