Electrical Stimulation: Enhancing Pediatric Outcomes

Photo courtesy of Michelle Cameron, MD, PT, MCR and Sara Shapiro, MPH, PT
Learn to appropriately select parameters for using TENS and FES to enhance treatment protocols specifically for the pediatric population.
Specialty applications, which reference the differences between Neurologic and Orthopedic diagnoses will be reviewed. Specific protocols for shoulder subluxation, rhomboid stabilization, brachial plexus injuries, and facial paralysis will be reviewed and practiced in lab. Review of TENS and FES, including parameter selection for chronic pain, muscle strengthening, and neuromuscular rehabilitation will be discussed. Recent research will be reviewed for electrical modalities, with contraindications specifically referring to Pediatrics. Prior exposure and/or knowledge of modalities & anatomy is helpful to maximize learning experience.
The educational information is presented in combination with intensive hands-on lab format. The presentation style is relaxed, with the instructor willing to answer questions throughout the class. Labs are set up to allow equipment for each set of therapist partners, insuring that participants are comfortable with both the theoretical constructs, the physical set up of the equipment, and the actual outcome expected when working with pediatric patients.
Program subject to change. This course content is not intended for use by any participants outside the scope of their license or regulation.
During hands-on lab sessions, the course instructor(s) will evaluate each E-Stim application to determine proficiency of 3/5 correct using 5 variables as listed in the objectives. If 3/5 criteria are not attained the instructor will work with the attendee until all the criteria is met. Post test at end of course will be used as a tool to review answers and rationale, ensuring attendees have gained all content knowledge.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
After completing this course, the participant will:
- Identify 3 indications for utilizing Electric Stimulation with the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions.
- Identify 3 major interventions utilizing Electric Stimulation with the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions.
- Identify 3 contraindications for the use of Electrical Stimulation with the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions.
- Identify 3 precautions when applying Electrical Stimulation with the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions.
- Choose at least 1 modality for the treatment of pain, for the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions (PTA’s will achieve this objective through the established plan of care by the PT).
- Choose at least 1 modality to be used for muscle strengthening, with the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions (PTA’s will achieve this objective through the established plan of care by the PT).
- Demonstrate the correct use of 2 modalities by utilizing the following: electrode size, electrode placement, pulse rate, pulse duration for the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions.
- Identify at least 2 normal physiological responses to treatment when using Electrical Stimulation with the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions.
- Identify at least 2 abnormal physiological responses to treatment when using Electrical Stimulation with the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) with orthopedic or neurologic conditions.
- Identify the 2 most often forms of FES used for the treatment of the pediatric population (3 months to 21 years of age) diagnosed with Brachial Plexus Injuries.
CE Credits
15 Contact Hours
Day 1: 8:00 – 5:00
Day 2: 8:00 – 5:00
This course is accepted by many professional credentialing organizations and state professional regulatory boards. Rules and regulations change frequently without notification, and apply differently to live and online courses. Please check with your state board to confirm accuracy of this list and acceptance of contact hours. Certificate of Attendance will be issued to all participants upon completion of the course and may be used for CEU verification of credits. CE credits vary by state. Please check with your state board/certifying agency to confirm conversion of contact hours to CE. See links below.
Physical Therapy Board of California: The Physical Therapy Board of California recognizes Rehab Education, LLC as an approval agency to approve providers offering continuing competency courses for CA licensed PTs and PTAs. This course is approved for 15 contact hours.
California OT Board: In accordance with Title 16, California Code of Regulations section 4154, the California Board of Occupational Therapy (Board) has approved this course and instructor for 8 contact hours of post-professional education in the advanced practice area of physical agent modalities (Course # 22-P4); and for 8 contact hours of post-professional education in the advanced practice area of hand therapy (Course # 22-H18).
Illinois State Board of Physical Therapy: Approved CE Sponsor by Illinois State Board of Physical Therapy, Division of Professional Regulations, Approval #216.000227. (Course must be taken prior to 09-30-2020)
New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners: This course has been approved by the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 14 continuing education credits, Approval #1710-36. (Course must be taken between 02-1-2018 and 01-31-2020)
NY State Physical Therapy Board: Rehab Education, LLC is recognized as an approved provider of PT and PTA continuing education by the NY State Education Department Board of Physical Therapy. (Course must be taken prior to 05-10-2022)
PA State Board of Physical Therapy: Per PA rules and regulations, Pennsylvania Board of Physical Therapy now recognizes as approved any course certified by FSBPT’s ProCert or approved by another state PT Board, or approved by the APTA and its components which includes the state chapters, regional chapters, and sections.
Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners: This course has been approved by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners as meeting continuing education requirements for PTs and PTAs for 15 CEU. Approval #64137TX. (Course must be taken between 03-24-2018 and 03-24-2020)
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider #6177: See states that currently recognize AOTA Approved Providers for OT
Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT): Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) / ProCert has awarded certification in the amount of 14 Continuing Competence Units (CCUs) to this activity. Approved CCUs are a unit of relative value of an activity based on its evaluation against a rigorous and comprehensive set of standards representing the quality of an activity. The CCU determination is a valuation applying many factors including, but not limited to, duration of the activity. No conclusion should be drawn that CCUs correlate to course hours. (Course must be taken between 12-31-2017 and 12-30-2021) Click Here to view the state physical therapy boards that currently accept the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) certification.
AOTA Approval States
These states currently recognize AOTA Approved Providers for OT continuing education either in regulatory language or by formal written communication to AOTA:
Alaska
Arkansas
Delaware
District of Columbia
Illinois
IndianaKentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Minnesota
Mississippi
MissouriMontana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New York
North Carolina
North DakotaOhio
Oregon
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode IslandSouth Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
*Disclaimer: Rehab Education LLC provides this list for your convenience. At the time of listing, the following state boards accept courses by virtue of approval by other organizations. It is the responsibility of the participant registering for a course to check with their state board to confirm rules and regulations regarding acceptance of contact hours for live and online courses.
The following PT Boards accept courses approved by other state PT boards or APTA state associations*:
Georgia
Kentucky
MontanaNorth Carolina
Oregon
Virginia
The following PT Boards accept courses approved by other APTA state associations*:
Arizona
Florida
IndianaMississippi
Missouri
Rhode IslandUtah
Vermont
Wisconsin
The following PT Boards accept courses provided by AOTA approved providers*:
Arizona
District of Columbia
Rhode Island
HELPFUL LINKS:
*NBCOT…National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (view PDU requirements)+HTCC… Hand Therapy Certification Commission (view recertification requirements)
Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC): This course is accepted by HTCC towards re-certification.
Day 1:
7:30-8:00 | Registration |
8:00-10:00 | Electric Stimulation: A Basic Review |
10:00-10:15 | Break |
10:15-12:00 | TENS & FES- Using sensory stim to facilitate proprioception & position |
12:00-1:00 | Lunch (on your own) |
1:00-3:00 | TNS LAB: Pain Control/Sensory Stim. |
3:00-3:15 | Break |
3:15-4:00 | FES: similarities/differences to TENS |
4:00-5:00 | FES: questions/contraindications |
5:00 | Adjourn |
Day 2:
7:45-8:00 | Registration |
8:00-10:00 |
|
10:00-10:15 | Break |
10:15-11:00 | Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Paralysis |
11:00-11:30 | Case studies/ problem solving OBPP |
11:30-12:15 | Clinic Equipment-What works best in your clinic/is it available? |
12:15-1:15 | Lunch (on your own) |
1:15-2:15 |
|
2:15-3:00 | Gait Lab |
3:00-3:15 | Break |
3:15-4:15 | Gait Lab- Dorsiflexors vs hip abductors or both? |
4:15-5:00 |
|
Instructors:
Sara Shapiro, MPH, PT
was a faculty member at UCSF/SFSU Graduate Program in PT in San Francisco, from 1983 until 2009. In 2012 she joined the faculty of the Graduate Program in PT at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. as an Assistant Clinical Professor. She recently retired from full time teaching to pursue her passion for further research in the area of physical agents, and teaching therapists in active practice to incorporate the agents into their practice for enhanced patient outcomes.
Sara is a graduate of SUNY at Buffalo, and holds an MPH from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she also completed a post-graduate fellowship in pediatrics. She has been in practice for more than 45 years, with certification in NDT, Brazelton, and the Baby course.
Sara has worked in teaching modalities in Long Term Care, to assist therapists in better utilizing modalities to facilitate improved outcomes, and in Pediatrics to enhance physical function. She continues to be a frequent speaker at conferences, mentor new therapists, and teach and maintain a small caseload of patients, integrating her knowledge of electrical stimulation and ultrasound for wound care, pain management, women’s & pediatric diagnoses, and rehabilitation of facial paralysis. Sara is the author of the Electrical Currents chapters in Physical Agents in Rehabilitation, 5rd Edition (to be published this year), M Cameron, ed. She recently co-authored an article titled Healing wounds under Mechanical Stress: A Case Example.
Classes taught by Sara Shapiro: