Title : New clear Fusion – Harnessing the energies of psychology, neuroscience and exercise physiology in neurorehabilitation

Dr. Mike Studer, recognized international expert and leading authority on neuroplasticity and motor learning introduces a novel framework for rehabilitation. This framework is intended to be one that feels intuitive, is grounded in evidence, supports clinical decision making, and serves multiple professions. This approach intended to bring together, to fuse, knowledge from psychology, neuroscience, neurorehabilitation and exercise physiology in an adaptable fashion that provides space for patient preferences. This approach, known as High Intensity Unloaded-Loaded-Unloaded (HULU) is a framework that can be leveraged in efforts to promote skill acquisition, as well as skill re-acquisition (rehabilitation after loss). HULU is intended to provide structure for treatment planning and afford therapist-patient (or therapist-athlete) dyads to create engaging, precise and person-specific dosage when the goal is learning to capture or recapture skills for athletics, occupation, mobility, activities of daily living, or instrumental activities of daily living. While this framework is not intended to serve all people, it will provide clinicians with an easy and logical tool to implement the principles of exercise physiology, neuroplasticity and psychology while leveraging approaches from the OPTIMAL Theory of Motor Learning, Motivational Interviewing and occupation-centered care via engagement pathways influencing intensity, attention and awareness.

Dr. Studer has been a PT since 1991, and has the unique distinction of being an active clinician with board certified expertise in neurologic rehabilitation for over 30 years. Mike is the only therapist that has been recognized as the national Clinician of the Year in two different Academies of the American Physical Therapy Association – the Neurologic and Geriatric, respectively. He is well-traveled invited speaker, having delivered over 1200 full-day lectures across all 50 states, 17 different countries and within 6 different continents. Dr. Studer is among fewer than 500 therapists to be distinguished as a Fellow of the APTA. He has authored over 50 articles, 8 book chapters and two books, The Brain That Chooses Itself, a practical and applications-based guide to increasing both healthspan and lifespan for laypersons and medical professionals alike, and My Face Book: Looking Beyond what the Mirror Tells Us in Crisis.