Take the Guess Work Out of Treating the Obese Patient
The world is at war with obesity. To be victorious, obese patients must be given tools to restore their functional mobility and safely increase their overall activity. Therapists are forefront on the battlefield and must be armed with well-designed treatment plans; practical, evidence-based management strategies; and unilateral support from both medical and rehabilitation teams in order to best meet patient objectives. Obstacles like co-morbidities, lack of patient buy-in, and potential safety hazards abound but, with proper evaluation and sound exercise prescription, small battles can be won each day on the way to secure the bigger prize—a healthier patient.

Join Chad Hensel, DPT, for a comprehensive, one-day course devoted solely to the functional recovery and removal of rehabilitation barriers for the obese patient. Dr. Hensel outlines the latest data on how "globesity" is affecting the role of the rehab professional and provides evidence-based tools for overcoming the most prevalent and vexing environmental, psychological, and logistical problems that surface during therapy. Hands-on lab practice allows participants ample time to investigate alternative techniques for physical examination of the obese patient and practice simple and effective therapeutic exercises. Co-morbid conditions and associated treatment considerations are illuminated through case study review. Attendees gain the tools and practical knowledge to best treat any aged, obese patient across any practice setting while ensuring minimal risk of injury for both patient and practitioner.

Course Content

Epidemiology OF OBESITY

• Obesity defined
• Demographic review
• Socioeconomic data—strains on the health care system

OBESITY AND REHABILITION

• Current challenges facing the clinician

• environmental
• psychological
• logistical

• Fitness fads that might creep into your patient discussions

• Review of the human metabolic system physiology
• Genetic components
• Explanation of how fat is created and stored
• Discussion of diseases that are directly affected by obesity
• Exercise risks and benefits with incorporated case studies

• Type 2 Diabetes
• hypertension
• heart disease
• stroke
• degenerative joint disease (DJD)
• depression
• gallstones
• sleep apnea
• cancer—colon, breast
• female reproductive health
• fall risk    

CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE OBESE PATIENT

• Clinical history
• Family history

• physical examination and adaptations (LAB BREAKOUTS)
• BMI
• waist circumference
• vital signs
• joint ROM
• strength
• muscular endurance
• cardiovascular endurance
• gait

• Current treatments

• bariatric surgery options
  • what are these and how do they work
  • exercise recommendations after surgery
• team approach
• alternative methods

EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE OUTCOMES

• Diet discussions
• Safety equipment

• Aquatic exercise options
• Low impact cardiovascular options (LAB BREAKOUTS)
• Fit decks (LAB BREAKOUTS)
• Resistance training

• training principles/techniques
  • giant sets
  • super-sets
  • strength duration curves
  • negative training

*Discussion of safety measures for the patient and clinician, as well as considerations for special populations like the pediatric and elderly patient, will be incorporated throughout this presentation.