Aquatic Sensory and Motor Integration - Peds (2-Day Class)

Description: 

A 16 hour training module with 8 hours in the water packed into 2 days. Designed to teach therapists how to transition their therapy pool into a sensory and motor planning room. Extrapolated from the 16 treatment station concept, therapists will harness the use of common everyday items such as bath blankets, snow shovels, umbrellas, polyspots and clingy clothes to create a sensory effect and to achieve a functional motor response. Each exercise and activity will be examined from the perspective of all the senses: vestibular, tactile, proprioceptive, visual and auditory. The latest aquatic research will be explored and analyzed.

Target Audience - PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs, SLPs, and other aquatic professionals, such as adapted aquatics professionals and recreational therapists.

ATU Seminars provide 16 contact hours or 1.6 CCUs or their CEU equivalent as follows

• Physical Therapy: Click to see PT CEU information.
• Occupational Therapy: Click to see OT CEU information.
• Recreational Therapy: Click to see RT CEU information.
• Speech & Language Pathology: Email for information (info@swimatu.com)

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the class, participants will (this phrase applies to all the following objectives):

1. Identify 1 model program known for its use of sensory stimulation in water.

2. After learning foundational principles, generate 1-2 reasons why sensory and motor integration is a natural fit for many aquatic settings.

3. Identify the relative benefits of 3-4 items, available in pediatric clinics, which can be used to transform a pool into a sensory and motor room.

4. Without assistance from instructor, create a specialized shopping list of items which can be inexpensively purchased at a Dollar Store (lecture) and used in the pool setting.

5. After being provided with examples, craft a novel sample home program for parents/caregivers who wish to incorporate 3-4 sensory/motor tasks in the shower, bathtub or community pool.

6. Describe where to obtain hands-on training in 1-2 techniques (such as NDT, Watsu or Halliwick).

7. Without assistance from instructor, correctly perform 1-2 aquatic tasks or activities which can be appropriately performed at each of 16 stations in the pool.

8. Analyze the respective merits of 1 aquatic activity in order to increase each of the following:

• vestibular input
• tactile input
• proprioceptive input
• auditory input
• visual input 
• and implement appropriately in a lab setting.

9. Using role playing, implement a unique 15-minute aquatic treatment plan for 1 of the most common pediatric diagnoses discussed in class.

10. Design at least 1 skilled progression of an aquatic treatment protocol as described in a case study discussed in class.