K. Pediatric Clinical Reasoning
in the CliniC:
An NDT Perspective

Presented by Lauren Miller Beeler, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT


February 23, 2014
6 contact hours
Intermediate-Advanced Level
Attendance at this session is limited.
This course is designed provide occupational and physical therapists with opportunities to expand clinical reasoning skills used in assessment and treatment planning to improve functional outcomes for children with neuromotor disorders. Attention is directed at the quality of motor performance to assist in developing strategies, which can optimize function and participation and ameliorate or prevent secondary problems stemming from repetitive use of ineffective and inefficient posture and movement. A short video clip of assessment of two children will be used to facilitate discussion for clinical reasoning for assessment and treatment planning prior to seeing the client in a treatment demonstration. The treatment observation will be followed by further group discussion and supplemented with movement labs.

Objectives: Participants will be able to
  1. Observe, describe and analyze posture and movement strategies used by two children with neuromotor dysfunction in functional activities.
  2. Develop hypotheses regarding relationships between impairments and ineffective posture and movement problems that interfere with function and participation (WHO- ICF) in children.
  3. Expand treatment repertoire to enhance motor performance to enhance discipline specific functional outcomes with children who have movement dysfunction.
  4. Identify and discuss the potential for developing secondary problems due to limited repertoires of posture and movement

Agenda* 6 contact hours
8:30 - 9:15      Opening/Intro/Video observation & discussion: Assessment & TX Plan
9:15 - 10:15    Treatment demonstration with client
10:15 – 10:30  Break
10:30 - 11:00  Group discussion
11:00 - 12:00  Movement Labs
12:00 - 1:00    LUNCH
1:00 - 1:30      Video observation & discussion: Assessment & TX Plan
1:30 - 2:30      Treatment demonstration with client
2:30 - 2:45      Break
2:45 - 3:15      Group discussion and labs
3:15 - 4:15      Movement Labs & Wrap Up

*Topic times may vary; contact hours do not.
Lauren Miller Beeler, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT is the clinical director and owner of South Coast Therapy, Inc, a multi-disciplinary, pediatric therapy practice, in Orange County, CA.  Lauren received her BS in Physical Therapy from Indiana University and earned her transitional DPT from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She is an APTA Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist with more than 30 years of experience in pediatrics and neurological rehabilitation. Lauren has a broad background in pediatrics, working with infants and children through Early Start/development, educational and medical models of service delivery.  Lauren is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the NeuroDevelopmental Treatment Association and the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.

Lauren is a NDTA Coordinator Instructor has been teaching NDT related courses since the early 90’s including NDT/Bobath Certificate Course in the Management and Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy and other Neuromotor Disorders. She is a NDTA Advanced Course Instructor for specialty areas including Baby Treatment, Gait, & Handling and Problem Solving.