Education
The following courses are currently being offered at Back Works. Scroll down for more details on each of these courses or click on the Registration Form Link.
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Challenges in Gait: NDT Workshop in the Management of Adults with Stroke, Brain Injury & Other Neuromotor Disorders - October 17, 2026
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Developing Support and Reach in the UE: NDT Workshop in the Management of UE Following Stroke or Brain Injury - November 7, 2026
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NDTA™ Certificate Course in the Contemporary Practice of NDT for Management of Adults with Stroke and Brain Injury - Spring 2027
The following are some of the courses we offer - we can place you on a High Priority Notification List for any of these workshops. If we schedule the course, we'll notify you prior to general advertising. To be added to our Education Email List please email us at reception@backworksphysiotherapy.ca
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Promoting Recovery at the Bedside
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Treating the Individual with Ataxia
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Challenges in Gait: An NDT Workshop in the Management of Adults with Stroke, Brain Injury and Other Neuro-motor Disorders
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Developing Support and Reach in the UE: An NDT Workshop in the Management of UE Following Stroke or Brain Injury
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Getting Ready to Stand and Walk: An NDT Workshop in the Management of Adults with Stroke, Brain Injury and Other Neuro-motor Disorders
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Managing the Lower Functioning Individual: An NDT Workshop in the Management of Adults with Stroke, Brain Injury and Other Neuro-motor Disorders
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Managing the “Pusher”: An NDT Perspective on Managing the Individual with Contraversive Pushing Tendencies Post-Stroke
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An Intro to NDT: Where to Begin with the Lower Functioning Individual
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NDT Introductory Course in the Management of Adults with Stroke, Brain Injury and Other Neuromotor Disorders - 2 day course
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NDT Intermediate Level Workshop: Function in the Upright Posture Following Stroke or Brain Injury - 2 day course
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NDT Intermediate Level Workshop: Management of the Upper Extremity Following Stroke or Brain Injury - 2 day course
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NDTA™ Certificate Course in the Contemporary Practice of NDT for the Management of Adults with Stroke and Brain Injury
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NDTA™ Advanced Gait Course - 5 day course
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NDTA™ Advanced UE Course - 5 day course
Challenges in Gait: NDT Workshop in the Management of Adults with Stroke, Brain Injury & Other Neuromotor Disorders
Date: October 17, 2026 Registration Form
Instructor: Karen Guha, PT, CIDN, C/NDT, NDTA™ Coordinator Instructor
Cost: $310.00 + HST ($350.30 CAD)
Course Description: In order for individuals’ post-stroke or brain injury to be truly independent when walking, they need to be challenged beyond forward walking. Functional gait includes being able to walk at different speeds, on different surfaces, changing directions, combining gait with other activities and negotiating stairs. Often this is difficult for many individuals who have suffered a neurological injury. This one-day workshop will present NDT principles related to treating in function during standing and walking. This workshop will focus on strategies to facilitate the trunk, UE and LE with the goal of challenging individuals’ post-stroke or brain injury in standing, during gait, and while performing various functional activities. These functional activities include forward walking, taking a few steps backward, turning, and stair climbing – all necessary to function in one’s home. The workshop will provide an opportunity for analysis of biomechanics and the assessment of movement dysfunction in an individual post-stroke or brain injury during these functional activities.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the course the participants will:
1. Identify components of typical gait.
2. Demonstrate basic skill in analyzing atypical components of trunk, upper and lower extremity function, frequently associated with conditions of neurological dysfunction, during activities in standing, during gait and on the stairs.
3. Demonstrate basic handling skills to enhance patient’s movement as related to his/her functional goals during standing, gait and on the stairs.
Requirements: Participants must be a registered Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Rehab/Therapy Assistant or Registered Kinesiologist who work with individuals who have suffered from stroke, brain injury or other neuromotor disorders.
Location: Back Works Physiotherapy
2415 University Ave E Suite 101
Waterloo, ON N2K 0H5
For more information contact Back Works Spinal and Sports Rehabilitation at reception@backworksphysiotherapy.ca or (519) 746-8172
Developing Support and Reach in the UE: NDT Workshop in the Management of UE Following Stroke or Brain Injury
Date: November 7, 2026 Registration Form
Instructor: Karen Guha, PT, CIDN, C/NDT, NDTA™ Coordinator Instructor
Cost: $310.00 + HST ($350.30 CAD)
Course Description: Many individuals who suffer from a neurological injury post CVA or brain injury have limitations in using their affected upper extremity in function. Recovery of function in the affected upper extremity is a goal for both patients and therapists. Research demonstrates the need for practice using the affected upper extremity to drive recovery, and that practice needs to occur in and outside of therapy. As therapists we face challenges in how to activate and progress the affected upper extremity to drive these practice opportunities and improve function.
This one-day workshop will present NDT principles related to coordinated movements of the trunk and upper extremity for active support and for developing reach. We will explore the research related to the recovery of the upper extremity post-stroke and brain injury and how we incorporate this research into clinical practice. The workshop will provide an opportunity for analysis of the role of the upper extremity in function and the assessment of movement dysfunction in the upper extremity. Various treatment strategies will be explored to facilitate active support and progress an upper extremity for reach.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will:
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Understand the principles of NDTA™ Contemporary Practice Model to the treatment of adults with neurological impairments and particularly as applied to management of the upper extremity in an individual post stroke or brain injury.
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Identify major impairments that interfere with developing upper extremity function in an individual post stroke or brain injury.
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Demonstrate basic handling skills to improve shoulder mobility, reduce pain and facilitate scapula control in coordination with trunk and upper extremity movements.
Requirements: Participants must be a registered Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Rehab/Therapy Assistant or Registered Kinesiologist who work with individuals who have suffered from stroke, brain injury or other neuromotor disorders.
Location: Back Works Physiotherapy
2415 University Ave E Suite 101
Waterloo, ON N2K 0H5
For more information contact Back Works Spinal and Sports Rehabilitation at reception@backworksphysiotherapy.ca or (519) 746-8172
NDTA™ Certificate Course in the Contemporary Practice of NDT for Management of Adults with Stroke and Brain Injury - Spring 2027
Dates:
Virtual Part 1: March 10, 2027
Virtual Part 2: March 24, 2027
Part 1: April 16-18, 2027
Part 2: April 30-May 2, 2007
Part 3: May 28-May 30, 2027
Part 4: June 11-13, 2027
Instructor: Karen Guha, PT, CIDN, C/NDT, NDTA™ Coordinator Instructor
Cost: NDTA member $3000 +HST; non-member $3225 + HST
Course Description:
NDTA™ Certificate courses are postgraduate continuing education courses offered to Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists who work with adults or children with movement disorders associated with neuromuscular impairments.
The Certificate Course core curriculum includes didactic information informed by current evidence, hands-on lab work in which participants practice problem-solving and application of intervention strategies, treatment demonstrations by instructors, and mentored clinical practice in which participants work with a variety of clients.
Instruction in the Contemporary Practice of NDT as an interdisciplinary team approach assures that all therapists learn to address each client using a holistic approach. All therapists, regardless of discipline, cover the same course material. Throughout the course, participants assess and treat clients with neuromuscular disorders to gain a thorough understanding of each individual’s underlying posture and movement impairments and the resultant functional consequences. This provides them with the opportunity to understand the “whole” client in order to develop basic handling skills.
Participants must meet attendance requirements, successfully achieve course objectives, perform effective assessments, develop appropriate intervention strategies, plan and implement effective treatment plans, and successfully pass the standardized final exam and competencies. Once accomplished, an NDTA TM Certificate of Completion is awarded.
Target Audience: OT, PT, SLP
Registration: The NDTA now requires that registration for all certificate courses now occurs via the NDTA platform. There is a $50 USD non-refundable registration fee. Registration is not yet open. Please contact Back Works if you are interested or if you have any questions. There will be more information around registration closer to the date!
Location: Back Works Physiotherapy
2415 University Ave E Suite 101
Waterloo, ON N2K 0H5
For more information contact Back Works Spinal and Sports Rehabilitation at reception@backworksphysiotherapy.ca or (519) 746-8172