Speaker: Beth Fisher PhD, PT, FAPTA
Lab Assistants: Rubi Buxton PT, DPT, PCS, Darlene Dirstine PT, DPT, NCS, Jenna Somasundaram PT, DPT, NCS
Date: May 16, 2026
Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Location: Reischl PT; 3292 E. Willow St. Signal Hill, CA
CEUS: Pending 0.8CEUs
Cost: $250 for APTA members / $350 for prospective APTA members
Speaker Bio:
Beth Fisher PhD, PT, FAPTA is a Professor Emerita of Clinical Physical Therapy in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California (USC). Additionally, she was the Director of the Neuroplasticity and Imaging Laboratory (NAIL). The research at the NAIL aimed to investigate brain-behavior relationships during motor skill learning and motor control in both non-disabled and brain-injured individuals using Transcranial magnetic simulation. Prior to completing her PhD, she worked at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center on the Adult Neurology and Brain Injury Services and continues to consult and teach nationally and internationally on current concepts for the treatment of adults with neurological disorders. During her years as a clinician and rehabilitation specialist, it was her greatest ambition to be a part of developing physical therapy interventions that would maximize neural and behavioral recovery in individuals suffering from pathological conditions affecting the nervous system.
Lab Assistant bios:
Rubi Buxton:
Darlene Dirstine: Following her first career as a professional dancer in NYC, Darlene received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree from the University of Miami, and completed her neurologic residency through USC and Rancho Los Amigos. She currently owns a private concierge Physical Therapy practice specializing in neurological PT and also teaches as Adjunct Clinical Faculty at the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy where she teaches Neuroanatomy and Patient Management for individuals with neurologic diagnoses. She is currently serving on the Long Beach/South Bay Board as their Chairperson and PT Representative, and on CPTA’s Government Affairs Committee. She loves being down on the beach, cooking, dancing, and working on classic cars.
Jenna Somasundaram: Jenna Somasundaram is a physical therapist at Keck Hospital of USC and a clinical faculty member within the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy. She specializes in treating patients with neurologic disorders in the inpatient rehabilitation setting, teaches in clinical management of the patient with neurologic dysfunction within the DPT program, and contributes to research as a clinician in the Gait Rehabilitation and Motor Learning Lab.
Course Description:
MOVEMENT ANALYSIS is the defining skill of the physical therapist. Movement analysis entails the “synthesis of movement observations based on knowledge of motor control and consideration of all other patient data.” Whereas other professionals may do work considered similar to that of a physical therapist, skill in observation and analysis of movement is the unique domain of physical therapy. Movement Analysis is one of the most important assessment tools because of the insight it provides in terms of the patient’s movement problems as well as how to intervene. Importantly, it enables the physical therapist (PT) to treat the source of the patient’s problem rather than just the symptoms and therefore make more permanent changes in the patient’s functional capabilities. Movement analysis contributes to more precise decisions regarding impairment testing but importantly provides insight into how a patient is responding to their impairments as well as to the environment. Thus, movement analysis allows the physical therapist to determine the role that compensation and biomechanical constraints play in contributing to movement strategies that minimize a patient’s movement capacity. This training module is structured to engage participants in the analysis and practice of specific movement components and strategies focused on unmasking a patient’s underlying capacity to engage in tasks in varied environments. Emphasis will be on structuring interventions across the continuum of care that minimize compensatory actions and discourage a strategy of learned non-use. Through hands-on work with a lab partner, module participants will practice modifying and progressing interventions that favor capacity-building.
Course Objectives:
Discuss how concepts of compensation and recovery impact movement strategies and decision making across the continuum of care.
Identify biomechanical and environmental constraints that limit movement options and functional outcomes.
Recognize that the implicit ‘choices’ patients make as compensations may contribute to faulty movement strategies that can minimize recovery and overall capacity-building.
Design interventions to improve skill in performing different functional tasks (bed mobility, sit-to-stand, transfers, and gait) and modify their delivery based on an ongoing critical analysis of movement.
Manipulate different aspects of a functional task or the environment to minimize the impact of biomechanical constraints and require a patient to use movement strategies that build capacity.
In Person Course Schedule - May 16th
Pre=work- Maley Lecture-45min
08:00 Introduction: Participants, Rennie, Moshe Feldenkrais
08:45 Discussion of key points of Maley Lecture
10:00 Break
10:15 Alignment Lab & Manual Cue Fundamentals
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Bed Mobility: Manual Cue Application
2:00 Upright Skills/ Sit-to-Stand: Manual Cue Application
3:00 Break
3:15 Gait and Loading Cues: Manual Cue Application
4:30-5 Wrap up