South West Posture management and effective use of orthotics for people with MND

Event Notes:

Cost: £50.00

Posture management and orthotics can help with many symptoms experienced by people living with MND – helping to improve quality of life and maintain dignity. They can assist with mobility, comfort and daily living activities, but they are also helpful for respiratory issues and secretion management. This workshop will introduce you to the various ways in which you can assist the people in your care and will give you an opportunity to get hands on with equipment.

Aim: To introduce non specialist members of the MDT to principles of posture management, common problems experienced by people living with MND, and equipment and orthotic solutions.

Objectives: By the end of the one-day session, participants will:

• be able to recognise and describe common presenting posture problems in MND that could benefit from intervention
• be able to recognise and describe common presenting muscular skeletal problems in MND that could benefit from intervention
• have been introduced to adaptations and equipment solutions which provide support, comfort and have potential to improve quality of life for identified postural issues in MND
• have been introduced to orthoses solutions which provide support, comfort and have potential to improve quality of life for identified limb issues in MND
• know where and how to access expertise to support with equipment/orthotic interventions
• have had an opportunity to explore case studies and, through knowledge application and discussion, identify the presenting problems and the appropriate action to take.

During the day there will be 4 sessions: 

• An exploration of common presenting posture and muscular skeletal problems, and their effects, in MND – in this session, you will explore common symptoms of MND which can be intervened on with adjustments to positioning and external limb support
• Assessing posture and possible equipment solutions – an interactive session to introduce posture assessment and effective equipment solutions, followed by practical demonstrations
• Orthotic solutions for neuro, muscular and skeletal symptoms in MND – this session will look at various orthoses, including splints, collars, braces and supports and how they can help with weakness and spasticity in people with MND. It will be followed by an interactive demonstration of the orthoses which will give you the opportunity to get hands-on with the equipment.
• Panel discussion on case studies – this will be an exploratory session where as a group you will discuss case studies and, using what you have learned, consider potential solutions to the problems you identified. Each group will be facilitated by the event’s presenters and experts to help you explore each case in depth.