The Invisible Struggle: Recognizing & Treating Dysautonomia

PT/PTA: Course will be submitted to the MN Board of PT for approved credits. (submitting credits through the MN Board of PT does not guarantee full credits will be approved by the board).

OT: You will receive a certificate of course completion with total CE contact hours. M HEALTH Fairview is no longer an approved provider through AOTA and has never been for distance learning.
(You will receive a certificate of completion which you may use towards your professional license)
You may still submit the hours towards your licensure and receive a certificate of completion with all information provided to submit.
M HEALTH Fairview is not an approved provider through AOTA. For additional information about CE requirements for license, please see MN Statute 148.6443: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.6443
MN statutes 143.6443, subdivision SUBD.2 “Standards for determining the qualified education activities” will continue to be utilized in determining appropriate OT related CE courses. You should be able to submit these credits towards your licensure.

All other disciplines will receive a certificate of course completion

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation Fee will apply

Course Summary

This course, designed for physical and occupational therapy clinicians at an introductory to intermediate level, provides a comprehensive overview of autonomic dysfunction, covering its physiology, assessment, medical management, and rehabilitation strategies. It will highlight medical conditions that commonly co-exist with dysautonomia, including Concussion, Long-COVID, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Participants will engage in hands-on lab sessions to explore rehabilitation techniques for evaluating and treating dysautonomia. Throughout the course case studies will be presented - including pediatric, adult, and cardiac rehabilitation examples. Additionally, a current literature review will be provided to support the integration of evidence into your clinical practice.

Becky Horton, DPT has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy since 2012. Over the past 19 years, she has worked across various settings within M Health Fairview, most recently as an outpatient neurologic Physical Therapist for M Health Fairview in Saint Paul. Becky has provided academic support for local DPT programs as a Teaching Assistant for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and guest lecturer for Saint Catherine University. Additionally, Becky has educated her peers through several continuing education courses for M Health Fairview since 2017, and the MN APTA in 2024. She loves mentoring clinicians on complex medical presentations! Dysautonomia has become a larger portion of her clinical caseload since the COVID pandemic.

Financial Disclosures: Becky Horton receives a stipend as a Clinical Specialist II, which covers speaking fees for this course. 

Non-Financial Disclosures: Becky Horton has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Objectives:
At the end of this course, the therapist should be able to:

1. Describe autonomic dysfunction including common symptoms and medical co-morbidities.

2. Discuss objective measures for evaluation of dysautonomia and be able to determine when to refer for further medical management.

3. Describe to your clients non-medication strategies to manage symptoms and maximize function, including blood volume management, compression, pacing, and exercise.

4. Execute exercise progressions and strategies to help with autonomic regulation.

Agenda: TBD

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