Exercising geriatric patients presents a unique challenge to therapists. Most patients have multiple diagnoses, take multiple medications and are frequently deconditioned and possibly have never previously exercised.
Participants will learn different exercise techniques and innovative interventions for all the body’s major joints as well as for the most common diagnoses seen in older persons (i.e., stroke, Parkinson’s disease, gait, and balance deficits, etc.). Participants will also learn how to use functional tools to establish and guide exercise programs, thus improving functional test scores, outcomes, and safe mobility. Evidence-based research will be used to support the efficacy of the geriatric exercises presented and both indications and contraindications will be discussed.
Our older patients also present challenges in learning new exercises and being motivated to perform. This course will also present multiple ideas to improve communication, learning and motivation that will only serve to enhance the overall exercise program and functional outcome.
Developing geriatric exercise programs is challenging and sometimes difficult but can also be fun and rewarding. This course will provide therapists with the opportunity to broaden their horizons.
Day 1 (Eastern Time Zone)
9:00 – Introduction to Evidence Based Exercises
9:15 – Exercise Principles
Developing a foundation of exercise principles which will be used throughout the lecture. Literature will be used to explain and support these concepts: Levels of Evidence, Contraindications, Precautions, Definitions of Terminology, Stretching and Warm Up.
11:00 – Break
11:15 – Exercise Principles (continued)
One repetition maximum will be discussed and with the use of the literature be applied to the geriatric population.
12:30 – Orthopedics: Upper Body – Neck and Shoulder
Using evidence-based literature to develop skilled treatment techniques for the cervical area and shoulder. The literature will be discussed and applied to the clinical setting.
1:30 – Working Lunch (on your own) An Instructional Video will be played during lunch with demonstrations of various standardized assessments – Berg Balance, Sit to Stand Test, 400 Meter Walk & 6 Minute Walk Test.
2:00 – Shoulder and Hand
Using evidence-based literature to develop skilled treatment techniques for the cervical area and shoulder. The literature will be discussed and applied to the clinical setting.
3:30 – Back/Core Exercises
The literature will be used to give exercise ideas to the specific diagnosis of stenosis and compression fractures as well as the core muscles of the lumbar spine and abdominal area.
4:30 – Break
4:45 – Back/Core Exercises (continued)
5:45 – Lower Body – Hip Using evidence-based literature to develop skilled treatment techniques for the lower body, including the hip, the knee, and the ankle. The literature will be discussed and applied to the clinical setting.
6:45– Questions and Discussion
7:00 – Adjourn
Day 2 (Eastern Time Zone)
9:00 – Lower Body – Knee and Ankle
11:00 – Break
11:15 – Neurology – Stroke and Parkinson’s
Evidence based exercises will be presented to help guide the practitioner create skilled and effective treatments for the most common neuro diagnosis in the elderly, Parkinson’s, and the most common neuro rehab diagnosis, stroke.
1:30 – Working Lunch (on your own) An Instructional Video will be played during lunch with demonstrations of various standardized assessments – Dynamic Gait Index, Four Square Step Test, Functional Reach, Physical Performance Test Protocol.
2:00 – Unique Neuro Treatments
These concepts include muscle re-education techniques, weight bearing and weight shifting techniques. Literature will be given to support these treatment ideas.
4:30 – Break
4:45 – Gait
The evidence-based exercises of the previous sections applied to the muscles needed in different parts of the gait cycle.
5:15 – Balance and Proprioception
Using evidence-based literature to develop skilled treatment techniques to improve balance and decrease fall risk in the elderly. Included in this section are specific balance exercise programs that have been proven efficacious as well as a Tai Chi lab.
6:00 – Functional Tools – Berg, Tinetti, TUG and DGI
The evidence-based exercises of the previous sections applied to the muscles needed to improve scores and decrease fall risk.
6:30 – Odds and Ends
Tips to improve day to day delivery of care to our residents ending with innovative exercise programs.
6:45 – Final Questions and Close
7:00 – Adjourn
Upon completion of this seminar, participants will be able to:
- List barriers for the use of evidence-based practice in the clinical setting.
- Demonstrate multiple evidence-based exercises for every major joint in the body.
- Use evidence-based references to strength the following muscle and muscle groups: * Scapular and rotator cuff * Core stability * Lateral stabilizer of the hip * Vastus Medialis
- Guide a patient through a strengthening program using the principles of 1 repetition maximum.
- Understand the differences of stretching techniques for the older vs. younger population.
- Guide patients with Parkinson’s Disease and/or CVA through an appropriate exercise program addressing related functional deficits.
- Be able to use the site of infarct in a CVA patient to guide exercise treatments.
- Create an evidenced based exercise program to improve the balance of an older adult.
- Utilize gait and balance assessments to establish and direct exercise programs for the geriatric population.
- Use the fundamental positions of Tai Chi for patient treatments in balance, proprioception, posture, and gait.
EDUCATIONAL CREDIT: A certificate of attendance for 20 contact hours of educational activity (20 CEUs or 2.0 CEUs depending on how your Practice Act determines CEUs in your state) will be awarded to registrants upon completion of the Live Webinar.
Great Seminars and Books is an Approved CE Provider for PTs and PTAs in OK, NY, IL, CA, TX, and NM and this Live Webinar provides 20 contact hours of continuing education. Have applied for CEU Approval for PTs/PTAs in MD, FL, OH, NJ, MS, and LA. This course meets the guidelines for approval in NC, TN, CT, ID, IO, KS, ME, MA, NH, NE, SD. This course is accepted for CEUs in: AK, AL, AR, DE, GA, HA, IN, MI, MT, ND, OR, PA, RI, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY, WA.
Have applied for approval with AOTA.
This course is not approved by ASHA or Board of Certification.
Any reference to or mention of state rules or regulations concerning continuing education requirements are true and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of print. If you have questions, please contact your board or regulating body.
If you do not see your state listed, please give our office a call at 877 794 7328.
WEBINAR
A webinar is live, interactive video course delivered over the Internet to your computer. You will be able to see, hear and interact with the course presenter. This live, webinar will utilize live instruction, demonstrative videos, power point slides and more. You will have an opportunity to ask questions during the seminar. A comprehensive handout will be made available to you after you register for the webinar. In many courses, demonstrative video will be used to further enhance your learning experience. All written content used in the presentation will also be made available to you for your personal use (Power Point Slides, Reference Materials etc.).
Financial Disclosure: Mark Traffas, PT, GTCCS, FSOAE is a lecturer for GREAT Seminars. He receives payment from GREAT Seminars for the presentation of this course.
Nonfinancial Disclosure: No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Content Disclosure: This course does not focus solely on any specific product or service.
Both Days - 20 contact hours
November 8-9, 2025 - $445.00
Day 1 Only - 10 contact hours
November 8, 2025 - $225.00
Day 2 Only - 10 contact hours
November 9, 2025 - $225.00
A post-test will be given at the end of Day 1 for the Day 1 materials and a Post-Test will be given on Day 2 for the Day 2 materials. A post-test score of 70% or more is considered passing. Scores of less than 70% indicate a failure to understand the material and the test will need to be taken again until a passing score has been achieved. For each day attended, you will receive a certificate of completion for 10 contact hours. If you attend both days of the Live Webinar, you will receive a total of 20 contact hours. Live Webinars allow presenter and participant interaction. The exam and course evaluation for these courses must be completed within 7 days of the event.