Division Head and Principal Research Fellow, Division of Neurorehabilitation and Recovery, National Stroke Research Institute
Professor, La Trobe University

Title:               Sensory Rehabilitation following Stroke: Neuroscience Foundations, New Evidence and Application to Clinical Practice

Date:               October 22, 2010

Time:              9:00 am – 5:30 pm

CPD Points: Hong Kong OT Board CPD: 6 points, Hong Kong PT Board CPD: 5 points , Hong Kong Medical Association CME: 5 points

Loss of body sensations is common post-stroke with negative impact on exploration of the environment, hand function and activity participation. In this workshop Dr Carey will present an evidence based approach to sensory rehabilitation. The nature of loss, neuroimaging outcomes, and impact on function will be reviewed. New quantitative sensory measures will be presented and neuroscience foundations of recovery discussed. Approaches to sensory retraining will be critically appraised. A novel, evidence-based approach to sensory discrimination training that is founded on neuroscience and perceptual learning will be presented with new evidence from a randomised controlled trial. Application of principles of training to occupation-based, client-centred tasks and preliminary evidence of effectiveness of this approach will also be presented. Participants will have an opportunity to apply the assessment and training approaches in the context of clinical case scenarios and functional tasks.

By attending this workshop you will:

• Appreciate the nature of sensory loss following stroke and its functional impact
• Critically evaluate current assessment methods and be aware of new standardized assessments.
• Critically evaluate methods of treating sensory loss relative to current principles of neuroscience.
• Apply newly researched sensory retraining methods to a range of sensory stimuli and tasks.
• Apply evidence-based principles of sensory retraining in the context of functional, client-centred activities.
• Adopt an evidence-based approach to assessment and rehabilitation of sensory loss following stroke

Workshop Outline

• Introduction and welcome.

• Nature of sensory loss following stroke and impact on function.

• Assessment of somatosensory loss – levels of assessment, evaluation of current methods and introduction to new standardised methods.

• Practical: Assessment of sensation, in context of occupational tasks.

• Sensory Rehabilitation: Neuroscience principles, evaluation of current methods and introduction of new training approach.

• Practical: Application of perceptual training approach – component training of texture discrimination, limb position sense and tactual object recognition.

• Sensory Rehabilitation – an occupational approach

• Practical session: Application of principles of training in context of everyday tasks.

• Application in clinical settings: further resources and discussion

• Neuroscience foundations and mechanisms of recovery.

Cost Fee:        HK$1,000

Maximum Number of Participants: Fifty (50)

For further information:

Ms Michelle Leung
E-mail: rsppcr@inet.polyu.edu.hk
Tel: (852) 27665397

Assistant Professor in Medicine and Director of Tai Chi and Mind-Body Research Programs in Harvard Medical School’s Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical therapies

Title:               Designing Clinical Trials to Evaluate Mind-Body Interventions:  An Experiential Workshop for Clinicians

Date:              October 25, 2010

Time:             9:00 am – 12:30 pm

CPD Points: Hong Kong OT Board CPD: 3.5 points, Hong Kong PT Board CPD: 3 points, , Hong Kong Medical Association CME: 3 points

The design of mind-body interventions such as tai chi, qigong and meditation pose a number of unique challenges, as compared with studies of more traditional pharmacological interventions. This workshop, intended for clinicians with only
limited or no prior research experience, will explore issues relevant to all mind-body clinical research.  The workshop will begin with a brief presentation summarizing unique challenges associated with the design, conduct, and interpretation of mind-body trials.  The remaining majority of this session will employ facilitated interactive large and small group discussions during which participants will empirically develop two or more hypothetical studies. 

By the end of this process, participants will develop practical experience in:

• Framing articulate study aims and associated hypotheses
• Matching trial designs to study aims
• Delineating clear eligibility criteria for study populations
• Choosing appropriate study interventions, control groups, and outcomes measures
• Matching data analysis plans with study aims
• Understanding strengths and limitations associated with any given study

Cost Fee:        HK$500/US$65

Maximum Number of Participants: Fifty (50)

For further information:

Mr Dennis Mok
E-mail: rsppcr@inet.polyu.edu.hk
Tel: (852) 34003937

Prof Victor S. Sierpina is Professor of Family Medicine at University of Texas Medical Branch. He is the W.D. and Laura Neil Nicholson Family Professor of integrative medicine. He has integrated holistic medicine, alternative therapies and wellness promotion in primary care.

Title:               Mind-Body Skills and How to Teach Them

Date:              October 22, 2010

Time:             9:00 am – 12:30 pm

CPD Points: Hong Kong OT Board CPD: 3.5 points, Hong Kong PT Board CPD: 3 points, Hong Kong Medical Association CME: 3 points

Objectives:

1. Describe evidence about mind-body skills in 6 medical conditions.
2. Describe some conclusions on studies of attitudes and practices of students and residents and mind-body skills.
3. Discuss implications of self care strategies using mind-body and impact on clinical practice.
4. Be able to describe and practice at least 5 different mind-body skills.
5. Identify opportunities to use these skills in practice.
6. Develop several options for teaching mind-body skills in your school or course including technological aids and software.
7. List anticipated barriers and challenges to teaching mind-body skills.

Outline:

1. Background data on research on mind-body skills training and evidence based medicine
2. Self-care and its role in practicing and prescribing self-care
3. Mind-body skills training---learning, then teaching
1. Relaxation response
2. Mindfulness meditation
3. Biofeedback
4. Progressive muscle relaxation
5. Diaphragmatic breathing
6. Others (tai chi, yoga, etc)
4. Exercise to describe teaching opportunities (small group sessions)
1. Describe setting
2. Describe technique
3. Barriers
4. Evaluation
5. Resources and references
6. Questions and discussion

Cost Fee:        HK$500/US$65

For further information:

Ms Canus Tse
E-mail: rsppce@inet.polyu.edu.hk
Tel: (852) 34003956

Title:                 From genes to neural circuits, and to behavior: neuroscience investigation
                          1.  Ion channels in control of thalamic functions: from Genes to Behavior by Dr. Hee-Sup Shin
                          2.  Olfaction: Circuits to Behavior by Prof Luo Minmin

Date:              October 21, 2010

Time:             9:00 am – 12:30 pm

CPD Points: Hong Kong OT Board CPD: 3.5 points, Hong Kong PT Board CPD: 3 points, Hong Kong Medical Association CME: 3 points

Dr. Hee-Sup Shin Director, Centre for Neural Science of Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Ion channels in control of thalamic functions: from genes to behaviour The thalamus is actively engaged in shaping and modulating the relay of afferent signals from the periphery to the cortex. The intrinsic firing properties of thalamocortical relay (TC) neurons, burst vs tonic, play an important role in this process. In addition, the thalamus is also involved in other brain functions. Recently, we have been studying the role of the thalamus in modulation of fear memory, especially in fear memory extinction. These results together suggest that burst firings in the thalamus may be involved in the `control of information transfer at different levels. I will review on the roles of the thalamocortical circuit and discuss new findings from our laboratory.

Prof. Luo Minmin Assistant Investigator and Laboratroy Head, NIBS, Beijing Professor, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University Olfaction: Circuits and Behavior In this special course, Prof. Luo will present his approaches of studying the neural basis of behavior, using the mammalian olfactory system as an example. I will describe the molecular and anatomical organization of olfactory circuits, and report our recent physiological data on how the olfactory signals are processed and represented in the olfactory bulb and the olfactory cortex. The behavioral significance of the circuit organization will be also be discussed.

Finally, he will talk about his recent studies on the neural basis of CO2 detection by a specialized olfactory pathway, illustrating our approaches of studying a neural pathway at the levels from genes to cells, neural circuits, and finally animal behavior. Objective: After this lecture, students will learn to appreciate a multidisciplinary approach to study the relationship between neural circuits and behavior. In addition, they will get some basic understanding on the organization of the mammalian olfactory system.

Cost Fee:        HK$500/US$65

For further information:

Mr Leung Ka Yan
E-mail: rsppcr@inet.polyu.edu.hk
Tel: (852) 27665398