COURSE DESCRIPTION
Grinders & Glue is a clinical course intended to help improve your knowledge and application of orthotic therapy. Effective procedures for ordering foot orthoses, managing the orthotic patient and trouble shooting orthotic devices is presented.
Reliable strategies for selecting device types, determining posting angles, along with discussions on how to answer patient questions and concerns is covered in detail. Workshops provide hands-on application and modification of orthotic components, designed to expose participants to actual processes that improve communications with the laboratory. Procedures for clinical fabrication of temporary devices and adjusting durable foot orthoses are also explored.
Following the course, you will be confident in selecting appropriate orthotic devices and establishing effective posting strategies. You will be knowledgeable about materials used and adroit in determining appropriate fabrication techniques. You will be better able to instruct the laboratory or personally apply clinical adjustments to orthotics.
This course involves practical interaction, including direct hands on partiscipation. Your expertise in prescribing orthotic therapy will improve demonstrably. Making decisions on which modifications will benefit your patients' best will be easier to achieve. Positive results from orthotic therapy will be easier to realize and more effective.
GRINDERS & GLUE CURRICULUM
Lower Extremity Biomechanics - Lecture
Patient Evaluation Form Review - Discussion
Advanced Negative Casting - Demo
Negative Impression Casting - Lab
Evaluation of Negative Cast - Lecture
Positive Casting Techniques - Demo
Thermal Forming - Demo
Equipment & Materials Selection - Lecture
Safety & Equipment Use - Demo
Intro to Equipment Use - Lab
Orthoses Selection - Presentation
Case Studies - Group Discussion
Posting Strategies - Lecture/Discussion
Posting & Shaping - Demonstration
Posting & Shaping Lab - Trim Lines and Post Angles
Patient Management - Lecture
Trouble Shooting - Lecture
Trouble Shooting Lab - Modifications and Top Covers
INSTRUCTORS
Suzie LeFever is a nationally recognized educator in lower extremity function, with a particular interest in the biomechanics of the foot. Suzie holds a B.S. in Physical Therapy and Athletic Training from West Virginia University, and a M.A. in Education from Ball State University. She has contributed chapters on closed chain exercise and cycling biomechanics in two different text books on Physical Therapy. Suzie has been actively involved in sports medicine for eighteen years. She is the owner and principle therapist at San Juan Physical Therapy in Friday Harbor, WA. As an active clinician, she shares the joys and frustrations of delivering patient care in this new century. Suzie is excited about this course and believes this class will help clinicians acquire the hands on skills they need to maximize the effectiveness of their patients’ custom orthotics.
Greg Wolfe is the cofounder and President of Biomechanical Services, Inc. in Brea, California. He has been actively helping professionals integrate clinical biomechanics, foot function and orthotic therapy for over thirty years. He also holds two certificates in Pedorthics. His particular interest in how foot and leg dynamics impact human locomotion, throughout the lower half of the body, was developed as a result of unique exposure to clinical research and applied principles in biomechanics. This course is setup to address many common questions Greg has fielded over the years. After thousands of orthotic consultations and hundreds of clinical in-services, this course brings it all together.
Jean DeBettignes has been clinically utilizing dynamic gait assessment and lower extremity biomechanics from an integrated whole body perspective for the past twenty-nine years. In addition to her clinical practice, she enjoys a regular teaching schedule, blending lower extremity function with movement reeducation and applied anatomy. She holds a patent for custom shoe wear and designed the P.B.O. orthotic device made by Biomechanical Services. Correlating function of the foot with sacroiliac joint and lumbar efficiency is a central focus of Jean’s work. Jean is in private practice at Muller & Weber Physical Therapy, a physical therapy group in Santa Barbara, California. |
