Otago Exercise Program to be part of Multi-million dollar effort to Prevent Falls
The Otago Exercise Program, a fall prevention program delivered by physical therapists, is one of several evidence-based programs being promoted across 18 states as part of three major national funding initiatives through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Administration for Community Living, and National Institutes of Health/Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. PTs can prepare to meet the upcoming demand for practitioners trained in delivering this program by enrolling in the http://www.aheconnect.com/cgec/cdetail.asp?courseid=cgec3 This online course is designed to train PTs to integrate the Otago Exercise Program into their practice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are studying the implementation of the Otago Exercise Program in the US, and this training is an outgrowth of their work in New York, Oregon and Colorado. APTA members Terry Shea, PT, GCS, NCS, and Tiffany Shubert, PT, PhD adapted the original print version of the training manual for the course. Over 1,400 health care professionals have enrolled to date. The course takes just under 3 hours to complete and includes case examples and video vignettes. The cost is $25. Completers receive 3 contact hours.