Introduction

Upper limb function is vital for individuals with cervical spinal cord injuries to regain autonomy. Conservative management options and surgical pathways are available to enhance upper limb function. Conservative treatment includes positioning, splinting, passive and active range of motion, functional training, and training with adaptive equipment. Prevention must be considered when treatment strategies are selected. This course will explore upper limb management strategies for persons with lower-level cervical spinal cord injury, incomplete spinal cord injury and central cord syndrome from an Occupational Therapy and multidisciplinary team perspective.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• analyse upper limb function and its impact on occupational performance in individuals with C6, C7 and C8 tetraplegia
• provide at least five examples of therapeutic strategies to prevent the development of upper limb deformities in individuals with lower tetraplegia
• evaluate exercise therapy approaches for upper limb management ti enhance daily living activities in individuals with lower tetraplegia

Target audience

This course is aimed at rehabilitation professionals, students and assistants including but not limited to Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Rehabilitation Doctors, Rehabilitation Nurses, Prosthetists, Orthotists, Psychologists, Audiologists, Dietetics, Social Workers. Community Health Workers, Nurses or Medical Doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1-1.5 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

Wendy Oelofse: No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.