Course FAQs

Bobath and NDT came from the same roots. Mrs. Bobath was invited to the US to instruct Bobath courses as there was an interest in her novel approach to treatment of the individual with a neurological lesion. However, the preference in the US was not to use a named approach and the decision at the time was to name the treatment approach based on the neuroscience of the time (Neurodevelopmental treatment). Two organizations have developed; The International Bobath Instructors Association (IBITA) founded by the Bobaths, and The Neurodevelopmental Therapy Association (NDTA) located in the US.

Although both of these treatment approaches share a common foundation, the organizations and instructors have developed the Bobath concept theoretical assumptions and clinical application mostly independently, and therefore differences evolve. However, there is international reciprocity between the two organizations. Additionally, due to limited publications on the Bobath concept and NDT, it is much easier for differences to be perceived.

There have been a number of recent publications, and NDTA and IBITA have shared their recent Theoretical Assumptions Documentation which are posted on their respective websites.

Additionally, there has been a recent publication by Cott, Vaughan-Graham & Brunton (2011), as a letter to the Editor of Physiotherapy Canada, identifying the limitation of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Guidelines with respect to current clinical practice. Vaughan-Graham, an Advanced IBITA Instructor, and Brunton, an NDTA & IBITA Instructor, clearly identified similar problems with the recent neurosciences literature with respect to their clinical practice.

Yes! There is international reciprocity between the International Bobath Instructors Training Association (IBITA), and the NeuroDevelopmental Therapy Association (NDTA). Therefore completion of a Bobath course or an NDTA course will enable you to participate in the next level course of your choice, either Bobath or NDT.

NDTA Instructors in Canada are eligible to join the Bobath Interest Group, as long as they are a member of CPA/NSD division or their respective OT Association. The same rules that apply to any other therapist in Canada with an interest in the Bobath concept.

NDTA Instructors are eligible to apply to the Canadian Bobath Instructors Association for membership to the Instructors Group. As CBIA strives to provide standardized courses across Canada, the NDTA Instructor would be expected to participate in an evaluatory phase to ensure they are willing and able to instruct all aspects of the CBIA courses to ensure consistency from one CBIA course to the next.

Most Advanced courses offered in Canada have a course theme. This allows the individual therapist to focus their learning dependent upon their specific needs. It needs to be recognized that the neuroscience and neurorehabilitation literature is constantly evolving. All CBIA instructors provide didactic lectures that are fully referenced in the current literature. Therefore ongoing attendance at Advanced courses enables the individual therapist to remain current in the neuroscience and neurorehabilitation literature relevant to a specific course theme. Additionally, the variety of learning opportunities on an Advanced course such as Patient Demonstrations, Practical workshops, literature reviews, as well as the opportunity to treat a patient with Instructor supervision and guidance, enables the therapist to develop their individual clinical reasoning and handling skills. These are skills that are difficult to develop in isolation, and without the opportunity for critical reflection, which is an essential component of every Advanced course. Handling skills and clinical reasoning skills are ‘Skills’, and as such they are constantly evolving and developing, it is a continual learning process, as the therapist moves along the continuum from novice to expert clinician.

On any Bobath course you will receive ongoing feedback as to your performance and to facilitate your learning from a theoretical and practical perspective. Bobath courses do not teach specific techniques, you will be taught principles of practice, as every client is an individual. Therefore the therapist needs to be able make the treatment individualized and specific to the clients needs and goals. The response of your client to intervention will be your single most relevant measure as to whether you are doing things right! Remember there is no one right way, as long as you can justify your rationale for intervention with a clear hypothesis based on current neuroscience and neurorehabilitation research, you will be practicing evidence-informed practice with individualized client-centered goals.

You will receive a certificate for attendance on any CBIA Bobath course, which identifies the course level (Introductory, Basic and Advanced), Course Title, Course Hours, and will be signed by a CBIA Instructor. If the course is a recognized IBITA course your course certificate will have the IBITA stamp. You are therefore able to identify that you have completed specific courses at specific levels on specific themes.

All IBITA and CBIA Instructors are expected to incorporate current evidence with respect to motor control, motor learning, and neuromuscular plasticity in their courses. Current trends in neurorehabilitation research are always incorporated and critically discussed.

Neither; research so far has shown that the Bobath Concept is not superior or inferior to other neuro treatment approaches/concepts. A recent metasynthesis authored by Kollen et al 2009, indicates that the Bobath concept shows superiority in the area of balance recovery, but that no specific approach demonstrates superiority in any other area. It is recommended that the reader seeks the original literature in order to make a critical summary of the Kollen 2009 paper.

Kollen, B.J. et al. (2009) The Effectiveness of the Bobath Concept in Stroke Rehabilitation: what is the evidence? Stroke, 40, pp. e89-e97.

No; the patient is an active participant in the treatment. The therapist is the tool in the treatment to enable movement experiences that the patient cannotd yet do alone, but in which the patient has the potential to gain independence in the future. Facilitation is an active process, the patient is receiving, integrating and responding to the facilitation and the therapist is response-based to the patient’s response. It is an implicit communication between the patient and the therapist.

The therapist is the catalyst for positive neuromuscular plasticity thus enhancing functional recovery. Although the therapist may be working hard both physically and mentally, ‘problem-solving the clinical presentation on the fly’, this does not detract from the active participation of the client. The goal of Bobath therapy is to enable new movement experiences potentiating improved quality of movement and functional independence.

If you have a desire to pursue your application of the Bobath concept as an Instructor, you should make contact with any one of the CBIA Instructors. You will be required to submit some specific documentation to CBIA and identify a specific CBIA mentor who is willing to mentor you through the training process. IBITA is in the process of developing a standardized International Instructor Training Program. CBIA would expect you to participate in the IBITA program and fulfill its requirements for Instructor qualification.

Yes! BIG has initiated a bursary program that BIG members can apply to, in order to assist them in participating in CBIA Bobath courses. To apply for a BIG bursary, complete the BIG bursary form and email a member of the BIG executive at [email protected]

Also NSD has funding for remote therapists.

There is a growing body of evidence with respect to the Bobath concept, however it currently remains limited. Good quality research on the Bobath concept is challenging and difficult to generate, due to the individual nature of the clinical application of the concept.

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