Course Description

The content covered in this program spans a range of topics related to foot function and development; postural control acquisition and its influence on foot development; gait development and gait pathology related to foot pathomechanics; physiologic adaptation of lower limb muscle to routine use – both ideal and pathologic; and the contribution of postural control deficits to equinus deformity development. A review of science-based assessment of passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (PADFROM) prepares participants for training in lab sessions. The assessment findings serve as outcome data and lead to a systematic clinical decision-making process regarding optimizing orthotic design. Billi applies these sciences to a review of strategies for optimizing body weight loading on - and somatosensory input from - the feet, using customized and specialized cast boots and orthoses.

Who Should Take this Course?

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.

Completion Requirements

  • Section Videos and Quizzes

    Watch each section video in its entirety. Complete all quizzes with a score of 80% or better. You get unlimited attempts to pass the quizzes.

  • Course Evaluation

    Let us know what you thought and how we can improve this course. Complete the course evaluation at the end of the course to receive your course completion certificate.check

  • Course Access Period

    Once you have registered, you will have 60 days to review the course material. Each section must be completed before moving on to the next, but you can review any completed section at any time.

Objectives

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.

Registration

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to Development and Conservative Management of Pediatric Equinus Deformity - Part 1

    1. Session 1 Handout

    2. Introduction - Pediatric Equinus Deformity: Development and Management

    3. Review of Foot & Ankle Anatomy & Joint Motions

    4. Standing Lab

    5. Early Functioning Alignment & Foot Development

    6. Foot Joint Motions and Structural Deviations

    7. Features of Gait Development with Tuning Implications for Designing AFOs and Casts

    8. Blank Quiz

    9. Session 1 Quiz

    1. Session 2 Handout

    2. Observations of The Development of Muscle Tone in the Ankle Plantarflexors

    3. Relating Equinus Deformity to Routine Use History with Deficits in Postural Control and Sensory Processing

    4. Applying Movement Systems Analysis to Equinus Deformity Management

    5. Assessing Passive Ankle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion

    6. Blank Quiz

    7. Session 2 Quiz

    1. Session 3 Handout

    2. Foot Joint Motions and Structural Deviations

    3. Serial Casting the Ankle and Foot: Principles

    4. Sagittal-Plane Orthotic Posting and Design Strategies for Equinus Deformity

    5. Session 3 Quiz

    1. Session 4 Handout

    2. Anatomic Limb Length Difference: Detection in Children with EQD and Conservative Management Strategies

    3. Foot Deformity Challenge

    4. Posting Strategies for Optimizing Foot Loading and Alignment and Postural Control

    5. Case Presentation: Matthew

    6. Using AFOs and Shoe Modifications to Support of Neuromotor Re-Education

    7. Long-Term Shortfalls of Botulinum Toxin-A for EQD Management

    8. Blank Quiz

    9. Session 4 Quiz

    1. Session 5 Handout

    2. Applying the Principles: Below-Knee Cast Design Review

    3. Equinus Deformity Management Strategies that Build

    4. Considerations and Ideas for Researchers

    5. Summarizing Interview

    6. Case Study

    7. Session 5 Quiz

    8. Session 5 Takeaways

    9. Thanks for completing the course!

    10. What's Next?

    11. Course Evaluation

    12. Quiz Answers

About this course

  • $425.00
  • 43 lessons

CEU's

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) Courses approved by other state boards in the following jurisdictions are likely accepted for licensure credit based on the state regulation.

 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 | TN | UT | VT | VA | VI | WA | WI | WY 

NOTE: Courses approved by other APTA chapters in the following jurisdictions are likely accepted for licensure credit based on the state regulation. 

AZ | DC | MD | MS | NM 

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 [email protected] 

The following states are not pre-approved: LA, IL, MN, NV, NY, OK, TX, WV 

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. 

Instructor

President / Senior Instructor Beverly (Billi) Cusick

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.

Interested in Part 2: Serial Casting with Labs?

Watch this video, then visit GaitWays.com for more information.