Expert Neurological Exam

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Description

Experts do the basics well. Entry-level students learn how to perform neurological testing and how to identify significant obvious deficits that may require referral for surgery. In clinical practice, many clinicians perform these tests in the same manner as they learned as a student. They often end up missing key pieces of information that will help them diagnostically. Sometimes myotome testing needs to be held for over 5 seconds and sometimes with repeated eccentric testing. This course discusses when myotome testing should be more rigorous, but also how to perform it so as not to flare up a patient with irritable symptoms. Often clinicians find weakness that is pain-limited and not neurological weakness. This course describes when sensation testing is important and how to get information from patients who report paresthesia but do not have their symptoms while in the clinic.

This course teaches a more in-depth neurological exam than entry-level programs. Topics include cranial nerve exam, UMN tests, myotome exam, dermatome exam, and differentiation between radiculopathy and peripheral nerve pathology. The participant will understand what to do when tests are unclear.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Recognize how to perform a succinct cranial nerve exam
  2. Recognize when and how to perform UMN tests effectively
  3. Recognize how to perform a myotome exam with enough rigor to identify non-obvious pathology
  4. Identify when the sensation exam is necessary and interpret the results properly

Format

This course is fully online and on-demand, with no synchronous meetings. It must be completed within 1 year of registration.

Credits

This course qualifies for 2 APTA UT CEUs approved by the APTA UT.

Primary Audience

Physical Therapists

Faculty

Nick Rainey, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Nick Rainey is board-certified in orthopaedic physical therapy and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic and Manual Physical Therapists. He has also earned the credential of Certified Cervical and Temporomandibular Therapist (CCTT) by the Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial & Cervical Therapeutics. He is the founder of Rainey Pain & Performance, a private practice in Arizona where he focuses on evaluating and treating orthopaedic and pain conditions.