Your Clinical Guide to Upper Limb Apraxia: Identification, Differential Diagnosis & Evidence-Based Treatment Strategies
- Speaker:
- Kristin Valdes, OTD, OT, CHT
- Duration:
- Approx. 5 Hours
- Copyright:
-
Mar 20, 2026
- Product Code:
- POS065681
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
You’ve seen them before. Patients who should be able to brush their teeth, use a spoon, or get dressed.
But something’s just not clicking. It’s not weakness. It’s not confusion. It’s not memory loss.
It’s apraxia. And it’s more common — and more overlooked — than you think.
If you can’t differentiate it from more common conditions like stroke, dementia, ataxia, or brain injury…
…apraxia will continue to disrupt your patients’ motor planning, tool use, sequencing, executive functioning and coordination — which makes it hard for them to get dressed, groom themselves, cook, or perform basic self-care.
Good news: You can build the clinical skills you need to elevate your clinical reasoning, unlock recovery where others see roadblocks, and confidently treat any type of apraxia.
You’ll learn to:
- Confidently recognize when apraxia is disrupting your patient’s function, and know exactly what to do about!
- Break down the cognitive-motor disconnect limiting your patient’s potential and turn it into an action plan for recovery
- Customize evidence-informed interventions to rebuild purposeful movement your patient is desperate to get back
- Move beyond basic neuro approaches with strategies to address the core connection between intention and execution
You’re not just restoring movement — you’re restoring agency. Purchase today!
Credit
Continuing education credit information is coming soon for this non-interactive self-study package.
CE hours may be available for select professions, as listed in the target audience. Hours will be dependent on the actual recording time. Please check with your state licensing board or organization for specific requirements.
There may be an additional fee for CE certificates. Please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.
**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.
Speaker
Kristin Valdes, OTD, OT, CHT Related seminars and products
Kristin Valdes, OTD, OT, CHT, is an expert in upper extremity rehabilitation, with over 30 years of experience in private practice helping patients recover lost function and return to the activities they value. A past president of the American Society of Hand Therapists, her clinical expertise spans treatment of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder, as well as arthritis management and orthosis fabrication.
Dr. Valdes travels nationally to present seminars on upper extremity rehabilitation and is known for her engaging, hands-on teaching style. She earned her doctorate in occupational therapy with a specialization in hand rehabilitation from Rocky Mountain University of Health Care Professions in Provo, UT, and she works as a professor at Touro University in Nevada. In addition, she has published a number of peer-reviewed studies, and she received the MacDermid Lifetime Scientific Achievement award for her contributions in research for the advancement of the field of hand therapy.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kristin Valdes has employment relationships with Touro University and Dignity Health Physical Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kristin Valdes is a member of the American Association for Hand Surgery and the American Society of Hand Therapists. She is a peer reviewer and editor for several peer review journals, for a complete list contact PESI, Inc.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page at www.pesi.com/faq or contact us at www.pesi.com/info
Objectives
- Identify key characteristics and presentations of ideational, ideomotor, and conceptual apraxia.
- Differentiate between each type of apraxia in the clinical assessment.
- Examine how types of apraxia impede occupation, daily activities, and community independence.
- Choose evidence-based interventions tailored to specific apraxia presentations.
- Evaluate treatment planning and adapt therapeutic interventions for diverse client population.
Outline
Foundations of Limb Kinetics in Apraxia
- Limb kinetic principles
- Overview of apraxia types: ideational, ideomotor, and conceptual
- Functional impact of apraxia on daily activities and occupation
Identification and Assessment Techniques
- Standardized assessments and observational methods
- Clinical cues for each apraxia type
- Case study reviews for practical application
- Practice assessments through simulated cases
Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Reasoning
- Key diagnostic indicators and differential features
- Common misdiagnoses and how to avoid them
- Analysis of apraxic presentations for pattern recognition
Treatment Planning and Intervention Strategies
- Intervention frameworks and treatment hierarchy
- Task-oriented approaches and compensatory strategies
- Adapting treatment for functional and cognitive outcomes
- Designing sample plan of care
Case Application and Advanced Clinical Techniques
- Complex cases with multiple apraxia presentations
- Problem-solving for unique challenges in therapy
- Advanced techniques for treatment adaptation
- Interactive case studies and peer feedback
Training Summary and Q&A
- Recap of key concepts and learned skills
- Open discussion on applying skills into clinical practice
- Q&A session for participant-specific challenges or patient-scenarios
Target Audience
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapist Assistants
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapist Assistants
Reviews
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