This course is a comprehensive 3-day program for clinicians from various disciplines to obtain competency in differential diagnosis of the vestibular system, vestibular treatment and concussion management. Topics covered include: treatment efficacy in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular hypo-function retraining, concussion management, vestibular differential diagnosis that instills confidence in the practitioner to successfully rule out significant pathology, and summaries of the most recent evidence. This 3-day course develops superior proficiency in state-of-the-art diagnostics, treatment and education. The Certified Vestibular Therapist certification is designed to take novice vestibular/concussion trained therapists to mastery level. This is the final course in a 3-course series (Vestibular Rehab and Concussion Management are required) that includes case studies, objective structured clinical examination, and a written and practical comprehensive final examination. Upon completion of the course with a competency score of 80% or better the therapist is awarded Cert. VR, designating the therapist with a certification in Vestibular Rehabilitation and identifying them as a therapist with specific training to help those with vestibular/concussion therapy needs. Pre-requisites – IAMT Vestibular Rehab and Concussion Management courses are required.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course learners will be able to:
- Recall the anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system and its role in positional vertigo.
- Understand and be able to describe the mechanisms of BPPV for both physician and patient education
- Participants will be able to perform an effective vestibular examination with special tests and balance testing as well as appropriate differential diagnosis.
- Interpret clinical tests for the treatment diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
- Summarize the evidence supporting canalith repositioning techniques including demographics and pathologies.
- Describe and perform the sequence of positions for canalith repositioning techniques.
- Participants will be introduced to hypofunction, Concussion care and beyond BPPV treatment of a vestibular patient.
- Participate in hypofuction evidence based practice prescription individualized based on course principles
General Schedule
Day One
- 8:00 am Course Introduction and Overview
- 8:15 am Discussion, Demonstration, and Mastery of Vestibular Hypofunction Treatment
- 10:00 am Break
- 10:15 am Lab Performance of Vestibular Therapy Techniques
- 12:00 pm Lunch
- 1:00 pm Vestibular Differential Diagnosis interactive class
- 2:00 pm Vestibular Lab hands off check off
- 2:45 pm Break
- 3:00 pm Concussion Review and Examination check off
- 4:00 pm Hypofunction Review, lab exercise performance and Check off
- 5:30 pm End of Day
Day Two
- 8:00 am Review and Questions from Friday (Rubric Review)
- 9:00 am Case Study Review and Lab performance Case 1
- 10:00 am Break
- 10:15 am Case Study Review and Lab performance Case 2
- 11:00 am Case Study Review and Lab performance Case 3
- 12:00 pm Lunch
- 1:00 pm Case Study Review and Lab performance Case 4
- 2:00 pm Case Study Review and Lab performance Case 5
- 3:00 pm Break
- 3:15 pm Case Study Review and Lab performance Case 6
- 4:00 pm Complex Pathophysiology of Vestibular, Hypofunction and Concussion Management
- 5:30 pm End of day
Day Three
- 8:00 am Orientation to exam and Question Wrap up
- 9:00 am Written Exam
- 12:00 pm Lunch
- 1:00 pm Lab Practicum one on one
- 5:00 pm End of day
Instructor: Destiny Hebert
