Cursusdata: 20/10/2018

Onze cursussen gaan standaard door van 09.00 tot 17.00 uur, en omvatten 2 koffiepauzes en een lunch.

Locatie: Campus UZ Gent,  C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent (inrit via Corneel Heymanslaan), gebouw B3, 5e verdieping leslokaal 5.29

Let op: Deze cursus is Engelstalig

INHOUD:

HAND in the BRAIN, an evidence and practical based rehabilitation approach after peripheral nerve injuries

Guided plasticity in hand rehabilitation and assessment following peripheral nerve injury

After a peripheral nerve injury there is an immediate effect on the representation in the brain. Knowledge about the effects of a peripheral nerve injury on the Central Nerve System opens new perspectives for treatment, by using guided rapid and slow brain plasticity mechanisms. These mechanisms can be used therapeutically to support and improve function from day one after an injury.

The brain plasticity is enormous and undergoes continues reorganization based on sensory information. With aging the adaptational capacity decreases but is never lost.

Following a peripheral nerve injury there is a brain reorganization within minutes-hours.

Due to misdirection of regenerating axons the afferent signals coming from the hand are causing of second line of reorganization in the brain;

As there is an early and later reorganization, the rehabilitation should also be divided in 2 phases. Phase 1, the initial period where no afferent signals are sent from the injured nerve to the brain. Phase 2, starting after the re-innervation of the mechanoreceptors and muscles;

By using guided plasticity mechanism of the brain (sensory re-learning) we aim to improve sensory and motor function. This should be started immediately after a nerve repair.

General course content:

Use of guided plasticity in sensory re-learning (evidence based)

Sensory re-learning (hands-on practice, phase 1 and 2, including mirror therapy) 

Assessment of Peripheral Nerve injuries (evidence based)

Practical session how to asses a peripheral nerve injury. (hands-on)

Purpose of the course

After completing this course, the participants shall have a better understanding of the plasticity of the brain, how and when to implement these in daily practice and why the rapid implementation of the sensory re-learning technics are essential. Next to the new evidence-based knowledge, the participants shall have better practical skills in assessing peripheral nerve injuries and preforming the sensory re-learning program.

Lecturer Birgitta Rosén:

 Birgitta Rosén, Associate Professor OT, is a very experienced occupational therapist, who has been working in hand therapy for already 37 years. She has a special interest in the outcome and the rehabilitation after nerve injuries – sensory re-learning using guided plasticity or extrinsic modulation of brain plasticity mechanisms, and sensory feedback in hand prostheses.

She is an experienced international speaker and combines her clinical work at the Department of Hand Surgery Malmö, with teaching at the Department of Health Science Lund University. Additionally, she is responsible for the organization of a commissioned education program “Rehabilitation in Hand Surgery” (15 ECTS points) at Lund University in Sweden. She has more than 80 original scientific articles and 6 book chapters in the field. Her PhD (2000) was entitled, “The Sensational Hand: clinical assessment after nerve repair”.