Introductory Workshop in the Contemporary Model of NDT for Individuals post Stroke and Brain Injury An Interdisciplinary Approach
Workshop Description
This five-day hands-on workshop follows the NDT Philosophy and its clinical applications for adults post stroke and brain injury. This interdisciplinary workshop is designed to give participants basic knowledge about NDT and practical handling skills on how it is applied in clinical practice to promote recovery of function following neurological damage. There will be an emphasis on understanding the common impairments through astute clinical observations. The workshop format will include interactive laboratory sessions, 2 patient demonstrations by the instructor, and group discussions. Information will be presented in a cross-functional manner to incorporate all rehabilitation disciplines and practice settings.
Participants
This workshop is open to OT, PT, and SLP professionals who work with adults post stroke and brain injury on a full or part-time basis
Workshop Content
Principles of NDT
Basic clinical implications of Recovery of function and Motor Learning research
Components of normal movement in functional activities
Discussion of typical patient impairments
Practice of treatment handling skills
Demonstrations of patient treatment
Workshop Objectives
At the completion of this workshop the participants will:
- Describe the basic principles and concepts of the NDT practice model.
- Recognize what’s possible for recovery based on research in the fields of Plasticity, Motor Learning, and Constraint Induced Movement Theory (CIMT), and how to ‘set-up’ this recovery in our rehabilitation environments.
- Demonstrate skill for analyzing movement components in simple functional activities, including early gait and basic support functions of the UE.
- Recognize major impairments that interfere with function in the adult client post stroke or BI.
- Demonstrate basic options for handling skills to enhance efficient functioning.
- Describe the critical elements of a successful intervention session based in the Participation and Activity domains of the ICF (International Classification of Function and Disability)
Instructor
Cathy Hazzard (B.Sc.P.T, C/NDT, MBA) is a PT with over 36 years’ experience working with adults with varied neurological diagnoses. Her clinical background also includes experience and continuing education courses in manual therapy and orthopaedics. She obtained an MBA in 1993 while continuing to work as a PT.
She has been an NDTA™ Coordinator Instructor in Adult Courses since 1998 and has taught introductory, certificate, and advanced level NDT courses extensively throughout North America and internationally. Cathy practiced in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for over 20 years in the acute, rehabilitation and outpatient phases of care. She is now working in private practice on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Cathy has been an invited speaker at the NDTA™’s annual conferences in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, and 2025. She served as the Chair of the NDTA™’s Instructor Group from 2002 – 2005 and a member of the Board of Directors of NDTA™ from 2003 – 2007 and 2018 – 2023. She has written 2 articles for the Neurosciences Division’s journal, Synapse, of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and numerous articles for the NDTA™’s Network. She is one of 5 editors for the NDTA book – NDT in Action, 2016.
Introductory Workshop in the Contemporary Model of NDT for Individuals post Stroke and Brain Injury An Interdisciplinary Approach
When? 01.06-05.06.2026
Where?: Haapsalu Neurological Rehabilitation Centre Sadama 16 Haapsalu Estonia
Investment: 500€ including materials, lunches & coffee-breaks
The course provides 46,5 academic hours (35 hours)
Learning materials: Provided by the instructor
Additional information: jaana.vanem@hnrk.ee +372 58786975
Schedule
Monday | Breaks will be scheduled mid-morning and mid-afternoon daily. |
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0900-0930 | Introductions |
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0930-1230 | Lecture: Recovery of Function: Plasticity; Exploring what’s possible (with a break mid-morning) |
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1230-1330 | Lunch |
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1330-1415 | Using the ICF as an Assessment Framework |
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1415-1445 | The Intervention Triad – making choices in assessment and intervention session to maximize outcomes |
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1500-1700 | Lab: Setting the stage for maximizing recovery; the ‘set-up’ with Normal Movement Exploration |
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Tuesday |
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0900-0930 | Questions and discussion from day 1 |
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0930-1230 | Lab Session: Handling in early functional tasks and transitions (with a mid-morning break) |
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1230-1330 | Lunch |
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1330-1515 | Lab Session: Handling cont’d |
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1530-1700 | Patient Demonstration & Discussion #1 |
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Wednesday |
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0900-0930 | Questions and discussion from day 2 |
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0930-1015 | Lab Session: Handling cont’d |
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1030-1230 | Hypothesizing impairments from clinical observations in functional tasks – getting to the ‘zig’ that causes the ‘zag’ |
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1230-1330 | Lunch |
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1330-1530 | Brainstorming Intervention Strategies based on Impairments |
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1545-1700 | Brainstorming Intervention Strategies (cont’d) |
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Thursday |
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0900-0930 | Questions and discussion from day 3 |
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0930-1030 | The Upper Extremity – where to begin and an overview |
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1045-1230 | Shoulder Girdle (SG) assessment & facilitation |
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1230-1330 | Lunch |
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1330-1515 | Shoulder Girdle cont’d |
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1530-1700 | Patient Demonstration & Discussion #2 |
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Friday |
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0900-0930 | Questions and discussion from day 4 |
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0930-1045 | Normal components of gait – key concepts |
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1100-1230 | Lab Session: Facilitating Gait |
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1230-1330 | Lunch |
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1330-1500 | Lab Session: Gait (cont’d) |
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1515-1630 | Final Questions and Course wrap-up |
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