Last year we were fortunate to be able to share the broader of topic of "Complementary and Alternative Medicine in PT" at the 2009 APTA Annual conference. The program received high marks on the evaluations and was well attended. This initial success as summarized in this article paved the way for the following 2-day pre-conference course in Boston as detailed below and in the brochure. 

Mindfulness Applied to Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise: A Qualitative Shift

Tuesday, June 158:30 AM – 5:00 PM

(Course Level – Basic) – 1.40 CEUs

Details: http://www.apta.org/am/aptaapps/programming/pt/ListDetail.cfm?mad_id=21015

This course will address mindfulness, the essence of many of the other rehabilitation approaches. Several of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches sought by the general public will be discussed. The speakers will introduce the science of mindfulness, the evidence supporting it, and both the clinical applications and business promotional skills to succeed in the marketplace. Mindfulness is primarily a qualitative change to treatment and can be applied to any clinical intervention. The approach is transparent to the consumer, avoids offense, and yet it changes everything about the experience. This quality of relationship is why many patients/clients seek CAM practitioners instead of allopathic/traditional health care providers. If applied, the mindfulness approach will increase patient satisfaction and outcomes. Models for both one-on-one and group programming will be shared. Time will be split between one-on-one and experiential sessions. The programming is appropriate for business owners and administrative staff of cash-based wellness practices, and for senior level students, other practitioners, and educators.

 

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to: 1) Explain the historical background of and the science behind mindfulness approaches. 2) Justify the scientific rationale for the newfound interest in mindfulness approaches that has occurred in diverse health care settings. 3) Apply the research findings on mindfulness to the patient/client management, as well as to yourself. 4) Transform traditional therapeutic exercise and manual contact into a mindfulness-based experience to allow for immediate application in the clinic. 5) Assess case reports that are using scientific language describing mindfulness-enhanced interventions. 6) List clinical applications that might be enhanced using mindfulness-based enhancement. 7) Apply mindfulness in interactions with staff for improved outcomes and patient satisfaction.

We need your help in spreading the word so future programming is considered. Please email, tweet, FaceBook etc this page to everyone you think might have an interest or know of someone that might be able to better spread the news.

I've blogged earlier on the need for a qualitative shift in rehabilitation to complement the necessary and important process of practicing of gathering research in support of evidence-based care. 

Staffan and I are open to input from all of you on what would be helpful for yourself and your patients to present in this course? Comment below please.

Stay tuned and subscribe to the RSS below  for future entries here as well because I will be presenting a series titled "30-days to a More Mindful Rehabilitation Practice".