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ASTAAR
Advanced Soft Tissue Assessment & Rehabilitation

By Joanie Heart, LMT

The ASTAAR SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) is a strong foundational training for future education about specific neurological conditions.
Spinal cord injury is the most diverse condition, traversing multiple dimensions of the body.
Many with SCI are world class athletes in such sports as tennis, body building, and competitive sailing.
Students will gain knowledge of the cautions and contraindications associated with this group.
For the uninformed, there is a dangerous risk in working with the soft tissue of the spinal cord injured person. For the trained and informed, it is amazing to observe potential come to life as a dormant system responds to neurological laws under one's hands.

"The more severe the injury or condition, the greater the potential."

ASTAAR - Specialized Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury (36 CE Hours*):

DATE: August 11 to September 17, 2009
DAYS: Tuesdays & Thursdays
COST: $1,295 (4 weeks prior) / $1,395 thereafter (Min. Dep. $295)
FULL TUITION BY: August 18, 2009

LECTURE DATES: August 11, 13, 18, 25 & September 1, 8, 15, 2009
LECTURE HOURS: 9:00am - 12:00pm
CLINIC DATES: August 20, 27 & September 3, 10, 2009
CLINIC HOURS: 9:00am - 5:00pm (2 patients per student per clinic)
WRITTEN EXAM: September 15, 2009
PRACTICAL EXAM: September 17, 2009

Course content will be as follows:

Introduction to basic neuro-anatomy
Injury levels and associated dysfunctions
Principles of neuromuscular components
Neurological laws
Life and world of SCI
Assessments
Protocol (treatment plan)
Charting (intake/history)
Palpatory skills
Predictable anatomical outcomes
Chronology and Prognosis:
* High quadriplegic (vent dependent)
* Quadriplegic
* Paraplegic (thoracic and lumbar)
Relationship with major joints
Introduction to anatomy of internal organs
"Neurological mapping"
Clinic

Clinic will be a mini-study, tracking and observing changes due to the appropriate application of ASTAAR techniques. Students will be working only with subjects with spinal cord injury.

Students will be evaluated in clinic on:

Their ability to communicate effectively and concisely with the client

Assessment and charting

Rehabilitation (treatment plan)

Follow up

Client-Recipient will go through the entire clinic as a group. (If at all possible, arrangements will be made to visit patients with recent or "fresh" injury. This will acquaint the therapist with soft tissue dysfunction of SCI early in the process. It will also expose therapists to dynamics that exist within the extended family regarding this trauma.)

NOTE: A certification exam will be offered at the end of this course.
There will be a written and practical exam.
Certified students will qualify to participate in ASTAAR studies and projects.

* CE Hours: 18 hours towards 2009 renewal and 18 hours towards 2011 renewal.

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