Full Curriculum

This in-person class is two full 8-hour days and includes lectures, partner labs, and live children’s demonstrations. TASES Level 1, in-person, is an introductory course that focuses on using functional electrical stimulation for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) levels I-V, neuromuscular disorders, and other neuromotor disorders. This course includes training for lower and upper quarter interventions and serves as an introduction to using electric stimulation (ES) as a modality.

Day one focuses on learning basic concepts of ES and how it affects children with neuromotor and neuromuscular disorders. It also teaches about the muscles affecting both the upper and lower quadrants. The class aims to teach the basic use of the e-stim unit and the NMES unit, including settings, muscle selection, and specific muscle stimulation during tasks. Day one focuses on the lower quarter musculature. Evidence-based clinical discussions on the symptomatic management of CP, foot orthosis evaluation, and the impact of orthoses on gait and arm swing, as well as clinical assessments of the child’s posture, alignment, and function across physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) disciplines, are included. Discussions of basic motor learning concepts are also incorporated. First-day labs include practicing TASES on several muscles, such as the gastrocnemius, soleus, and gluteus maximus. 

The second day of this class builds on the TASES evaluation and covers additional treatment ideas, specifically for the upper quarter. We use electric stimulation on the latissimus dorsi, forearm musculature, biceps, supinator, wrist extensors, finger flexors, and thumb activation. Day two also includes a lab with practice and use of the unit to median and ulnar nerves, and the hand switch for task-specific activation, with a focus on timing. Finally, we provide instructions on using TASES for gait and introduce basic concepts and applications of TASES for pelvic musculature, focusing on the hamstrings and adductors for sitting and standing balance.

The TASES workshops have been organized as a series with a specific order and curriculum flow. Therapists who complete this TASES Level 1 class may proceed to take TASES Level 2.

1. Evaluate a child for the use of TASES as an intervention.
2. Create a treatment plan using TASES as the primary intervention, based on the patient’s problems and the patient’s and family’s goals.
3. Administer electrical stimulation intervention using the appropriate settings, parameters, muscle selection, motor points, and switch timing according to the desired outcomes.
4. Apply clinical decision-making principles to the indications, precautions, and contraindications of electrical stimulation, as well as the current literature.
5. Set up tasks for TASES treatment that promote good alignment, posture, and movement patterns. 
6. Identify the appropriate muscles based on evaluation findings and patient goals and tasks.

1. Evaluate a child for the use of TASES as an intervention.
2. Create a treatment plan using TASES as the primary intervention based on the PT problems and patient and family goals.
3. Implement electrical stimulation intervention with appropriate settings, parameters, muscle selection, motor points, and switch timing according to desired outcomes.
4. Apply clinical decision-making principles within the indications, precautions, and contraindications of electrical stimulation and current literature.
5. Set up appropriate tasks for TASES treatment with good alignment, posture, and movement patterns. 
6. According to evaluation findings, patient goals, and tasks, understand which muscles to choose.
7. Understand the best applications for core weakness, scoliosis, and trunk deformities.
8. Understand the best applications for shoulder issues, including faulty glenohumeral rhythm and subluxation.
9. Appreciate using TASES during gait on a deeper level, focusing on specific gait deviation correction.