197: How To Apply The Principles of Neuroplasticity To OT With Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L

Making every session as effective as possible is the goal of a good therapist. It’s critical for helping patients recover function. Want to talk about the principles of neuroplasticity as they apply to occupational therapy? On today’s show we’ll discuss the first 5 principles from the Evidence-Based Review of Stroke Rehabilitation (EBRSR) 2018 update and provide examples of how to apply them in OT practice. Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS is an OT clinician and mentor at a top rehabilitation hospital with a goal of helping all OTs provide consistent high-level care no matter where they work or who they work with. Principles discussed today: Use it or lose it with prism glasses Use it and improve it with bilateral arm training, CIMT, mirror therapy and mental practice Specificity with task specific training using FES, PSFS and COPM Repetition matters with EMG triggered NMES, amount of reps needed/time needed, and robotics Intensity matters with VR training, HRR (75-85%), aerobic exercise, strength training, and dual task training