Course Description

This course is designed for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapist assistants, athletic trainers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and speech therapists who work with individuals with concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries. This course will present current literature on defining mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which was updated in 2023, and the current clinical practice guideline. This course will comprehensively review neuroanatomical structures and incorporate in-person anatomy lab review. Additionally, this course will review the literature on individualized graded return to activity protocols, including the Buffalo Concussion Marching-in-Place Test and the Older Adult Treadmill Test, both published in 2024.

This course offers 16 continuing education units (CEUs) for PTs and PTAs. Other disciplines should consult with their licensing board for approval.

Course Features

This two-day course includes the following:

• Review of current research advances in concussion/mTBI literature.
• Four-hour in-person neuroanatomical and cervical spine review as they relate to concussions.
• Four-hour lab experience implementing progressive aerobic activity and return to activity.
• Four-hour lab completing examinations, evaluations, and interventions with paid actors simulating concussions/mTBIs
• Discussion on adaptations to current protocols to utilize with underrepresented populations.

Course Outcomes

By the completion of this course, learners will be able to:

Course Outline

Friday, June 20

7:30-8:00: Sign in

8:00-8:15: Welcome and Course Introduction

8:15-9:30: New diagnostic criteria for mTBI through American College of Rehab Medicine and Case examples

9:30-10:30: Review of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Physical Therapy Evaluation and Treatment after Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

10:30-10:40: Break

10:40-11:00: Metabolic Cascade (and challenges with translation)

11:00-12:00: Review of neuroanatomical structures frequently associated with mTBI or whiplash associated disorders 

12:00-1:00: Lunch on your own 

1:00-5:00: in-person anatomy lab review of neuroanatomical structures and cervical spine musculature

Saturday, June 21

8:00-8:30: Sign in and welcome

8:30-10:00: Exertion intolerance and the current literature

10:00-10:15: Break

10:15-11:30: Return to activity protocols

11:30-12:00: Limitations in current literature 

12:00-1:00: Lunch on your own

1:00-5:00: Lab experience for return to activity protocols

5:00-5:30: Conclusion of course

About the Lead Instructor

Crystal Ramsey, DPT, is a graduate of Elon’s Department of Physical Therapy Education program with over 15 years of clinical experience working with individuals with neuromuscular injuries or disorders. Dr. Ramsey joined Elon University’s School of Health Science in 2018. As a Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist, her teaching responsibilities include evaluating and treating individuals with vestibular disorders, brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries. Her research interests and publication history include concussions in service members and brain injuries in older adults. Additionally, she co-authored a third edition of the textbook Mobility in Context. She is pursuing a PhD in human movement sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, concentrating on brain injury/concussion.