IM Adult Rehabilitation Best Practices: Motor Skills
Course Description:
Interactive Metronome (IM) is a performance-based feedback system that was initially developed as a tool to facilitate learning, sensory processing and attention in children. Early on, researchers and clinicians realized the potential of IM to also facilitate learning and neuro-muscular control in adults, especially for patients suffering from neurological conditions. The “Golf Study” performed by Terry M. Libkuman and Hajime Otani was the first study performed on adults which showed that IM was appropriate for this age group and possibly for persons suffering from orthopedic conditions. This study showed that IM improved the shot accuracy of golfers up to 35% by improving core skills. The case of Brenda Canup is a prime example of IM’s potential place in orthopedic rehabilitation. Mrs. Canup opted for a below-the-knee amputation after struggling with a foot deformity all of her life. After surgery, she became frustrated with her lack of progress and was still ambulating with a walker. Later in her treatment, after she’d lost virtually all hope of ever ambulating with her new prosthetic limb, she started the IM program and was finally ably to make a full recovery and run the Disney Marathon. After further reports of good treatment outcomes with IM in this age group, clinician’s began to incorporate IM more and more into treatment of the adult ortho and neuro patient. IM is now a standard of care in many adult outpatient clinics, rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, home health agencies and acute hospital settings.
Until now clinicians have adapted IM technology for adult patients based upon knowledge, research and evidence-based practices employed in the pediatric populations. It has therefore become clear that there is a need in the Interactive Metronome (IM) community to develop “Best Practice Guidelines” to provide the clinician with proven techniques that will enhance their clinical practice and understanding of the Interactive Metronome as a tool for adult orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation.
This course is designed to provide the certified IM provider with advanced practice guidelines and techniques for the adult patient based upon sound clinical evidence and the skills of advanced IM practitioners. The material for this manual is therefore provided by clinical experts in their respective fields, and the information is organized according to body region and specific diagnosis.
APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINES:
