Stroke Camp is an elective course offered to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students at Des Moines University.  During the camp, individuals post-CVA receive intensive physical therapy treatment delivered by DMU DPT students and Drake University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students under the supervision of faculty and clinician volunteers.

Join the camp for a day (or more!) as a supervising therapist! In addition to benefiting patients with stroke, you will make an invaluable contribution to DMU DPT students and Drake OTD students who are eager to learn and practice. You also can earn up to four continuing education hours.

Encourage your clients with stroke to register for this free program. They’ll work with a team of DMU DPT students and Drake OTD students, faculty and supervising clinicians who will plan therapy sessions customized to meet their needs. Each participant will also receive a post-camp home exercise program. 

Intensive, individualized physical therapy can help stroke survivors improve their gait, balance, strength and dexterity. That’s the purpose of Des Moines University’s annual “stroke camp,” hosted on campus since 2012 by DMU’s DPT program. Watch the video below to learn more.

Agenda

Objectives

• Verbalize an understanding of anxiety prevalence and the need for additional research on mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) post-stroke.
• List two preferred methods of MBI for people post-stroke.
• Understand the effectiveness of MBI based on the measures- Barthel ADL Index, Daily Living Self-Efficacy Scale (DLSES) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A).
• Discuss the applicability of MBI for people post-stroke living in the local area.

Instructor

Kathy Mercuris, PT, DHS, C/NDT, CEEAA received her BS in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University and her Doctorate in Health Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. She is certified in adult hemiplegia by the Neurodevelopment Association, is a certified Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention instructor, and has Certification as Exercise Expert in Aging Adults.  She has 38 years of experience working with individuals with neurologic dysfunction and teaching in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Des Moines University.