Speaker: Walt Fritz, PT

Course Description

This webinar will provide the speech-language pathologist (SLP) and SLPA, as well as PTs, OTs, MTs, and other health professionals with an interest in pathology/dysfunction in the upper thorax and neck regions, a solid grounding in the use of manual therapy for the treatment of voice and swallowing-related disorders. Also covered will be content relating to the mouth, tongue, and chest wall. The evidence and science that explains and validates this work will be reviewed, as well as the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, the autonomic nervous system, and corresponding muscle groups it supports. The majority of the course will be spent on supervised hands-on practice to develop comfort and expertise in performing these techniques for patients with specific types of voice disorders, dysphagia, head and neck cancer rehabilitation, and issues surrounding the jaw, mouth, and tongue. Unlike many manual therapy seminars, this work moves beyond narrow tissue-specific-based systems and looks at the cascade of possibilities, from local impact through central nervous system and brain impacts. In keeping with the 3 basic aspects of the evidence-based practice model, all of the work is framed from a patient-led perspective. Course content is appropriate for those with no previous experience using manual therapy, as well as clinicians with manual therapy experience.

Learning Outcomes

The participant will be able to:

1.  Understand the basic structural elements of the nervous system as it corresponds to the neck region
2. Define manual therapy
3. Apply 2 manual therapy techniques in a speech and/or feeding therapy session

Timed Agenda

• 10 min -- Central nervous system anatomy and physiology
• 10 min -- What is manual therapy?
• 15 min -- How manual therapy applies to speech and feeding therapy
• 15 min -- Demonstration of manual therapy session
• 10 min -- Manual therapy techniques review

Content Disclosure: This presentation will focus on treatment methods related to the use of TalkTools® resources. Other similar treatment approaches will receive limited or no coverage during this lecture.

(pending AOTA approval)

(see TalkTools ASHA CEU Policy and Process for more information)

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