NeuroMoves Exercise Physiologist Alicia Payne recently presented a round-up of the highlight moments of her US trip following her win of the 2023 David Prast Achievement Award.
In memory of David Prast, a former Director of SpinalCure, the Award is designed to support a significant professional development opportunity for clinicians at NeuroMoves while also broadening the winner’s skills to improve outcomes for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Valued at $15,000 per annum, the Award is an equal contribution from SCIA and SpinalCure.
Alicia’s stand-out application for the 2023 Award focused on expanding her understanding in paediatric locomotor training and activity-based therapy and learning more about how to incorporate the research into Australian clinical practice.
“NeuroMoves therapists are well equipped with the management of SCI among adults and our older clients, but I feel the paediatric SCI space is an area that we can continue to build upon,” said Alicia.
Learning from SCI’s best in the US
To satisfy her thirst for knowledge, Alicia utilised the award by heading over to the US last year to work with world leading researchers and clinicians in the paediatric SCI space. Her itinerary included the four main stops:
- Shadowing a SCI rehabilitation unit and outpatient clinic at Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
- Attending a training course in Advanced Locomotor Training and Clinical Mentorship in Paediatric SCI with Dr Andrea Behrman and her team at UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Shadowing a SCI rehabilitation university and outpatient clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Working with Dr Selina Morgan in a pro bono SCI clinic at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. Alicia was able to gain an understanding of how the clinic had been set up and how it now delivers therapy with minimal equipment available.
Entrance to Craig Hospital, showing the ‘Liniger Bride to Independence’. When Craig Hospital patients are nearing discharge, they move from Craig’s West Building to the East Building. “Crossing the bridge” both literally and figuratively signifies a return to independence”
Craig Hospitals PEAK centre (Performance, Exercise, Attitude, and Knowledge) Combining inpatient, outpatient, and community rehab services.
“Each location exhibited significant diversity, offering me a comprehensive understanding of the various approaches and attitudes towards SCI rehabilitation. Encompassing both paediatric and adult cases across the US,” she explained.
NeuroMoves staff pictured with Dr Behrman, and Neuro Recovery Network staff at Frazier Rehabilitation Hospital – Louisville, Kentucky.
Dr Selina Morgan at University of Texas Health, San Antonio, Texas
Giving back to NeuroMoves
With a keen focus on maximising her experience to upskill and use it as a professional development opportunity, Alicia has used the learnings from the trip to enhance the national NeuroMoves paediatric program. In March 2024 she ran a professional development internal webinar at NeuroMoves. In addition, Alicia is in the process of creating new training resources covering two of the main assessment tools that she was exposed to. This includes the delivery and application of paediatric SCI assessment as well as therapy prescription.
“I will forever be grateful for this opportunity and am excited to see how we can utilise the knowledge I’ve gained to continue to grow and improve our NeuroMoves service,” she added. “I am a strong believer that our role as NeuroMoves therapists can go far beyond assisting our clients with physical goals. We are in a position to help change our clients’ lives; and that is something that I am thrilled to be part of.”
The paediatric gym space at Kennedy Krieger (International Centre for Spinal Cord Injury) Baltimore, Maryland