eAerobics

Overview:

e-AEROBICS is a program designed to be a Knowledge Translation strategy for the Aerobic Exercise Recommendations to Optimize Best practices In Care after Stroke (AEROBICS) recommendations. This information is evidence-based.

This onlinecourse consists of 4 modules:

• Behavior management
• Exercise physiology
• Assessment and screening for aerobic exercise
• Prescription of aerobic exercise

Upon Completion of this Online Course Participants will be able to:

1. Assess readiness for behaviour change of adopting a program of aerobic exercise.
2. Explain the physiological principles of aerobic exercise and how it benefits people post-stroke.
3. Demonstrate an assessment for a person post-stroke to determine the risk and safety aspects of aerobic exercise.
4. Describe how to implement an aerobic exercise treatment plan for a person post-stroke.

This online physiotherapy course is intended for physiotherapists to gain skill in screening and prescribing aerobic exercise post-stroke.

Relevance to Physiotherapy Practice

The clinical challenge is that people post-stroke do not receive enough aerobic exercise, which can allow them to increase their endurance to be better able to do activities of daily living and to prevent secondary complications of further vascular disease.

Physiotherapists working with people post-stroke should take this course to improve the care they provide to stroke survivors for secondary stroke prevention and greater quality of life.

This Course is Best Suited for:

• PTs new to the topic area 
• PTs with a basic understanding of the topic area
• PTs with an intermediate understanding of the topic
• PTs with expert level of knowledge of the topic
• Healthcare students

eAEROBICS Course Developers:

Dr. Marilyn MacKay-Lyons,  PT, PhD

Dr. MacKay-Lyons is a Professor in the Dalhousie University School of Physiotherapy, an Affiliated Scientist with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, and a cross-appointee with the Dalhousie University Department of Medicine and IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. 

Marilyn has extensive clinical and research experience in neuro-rehabilitation, with a particular focus on exploring strategies to optimize recovery after stroke. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Health Promotion and Prevention, Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Past-Chair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia Advisory Board and served on the Advisory Board of the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2012-15), Board of Directors of the Canadian Stroke Network (2010-14), and Research Policy Planning Committee of Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (2003-08, 2011-12). 

She has received several awards in recognition of her contributions to neuro-rehabilitation research and outreach including the Enid Graham Memorial Lectureship, Life Membership in the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Canadian Progress Club Women of Excellence Award for Research, R Wayne Putnam Award for Outstanding Contributions to Continuing Medical Education, and Dedicated Service Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Marianne Thornton

Marianne Thornton is a physiotherapist with a Masters in Human Kinetics. Her clinical and research interests are in assessment and therapeutic recommendations for balance and aerobic exercise post-stroke. Marianne had the privilege of studying with Dr. MacKay-Lyons and participating in the consensus workshop for the Aerobic Exercise Recommendations to Optimize Best practices In Care after Stroke (AEROBICS) guidelines. With Dr. MacKay-Lyons, Marianne received funding from the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery to enhance the knowledge translation of the AEROBICS guidelines through the development of digital learning modules, which have been accessed internationally.

eAEROBICS Course Content Experts:

• Dr. Michael Vallis
• Dr. Sunita Mathur