Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT): Current Evidence-Based Practice and Practical Advocacy for Therapy Practitioners

Course Description: Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT), also referred to as the Bobath Concept or approach, has been around since the 1940s when it was first developed by Berta and Dr. Karel Bobath (Bobath Centre, 2021). Initially, the Bobaths introduced innovative therapeutic approaches for children with cerebral palsy and adults with hemiplegia.  Today, NDT is widely used in the therapy realm for numerous neurological conditions and has revolutionized hands-on clinical work. Therapy practitioners working in various settings and capacities worldwide have incorporated NDT principles and practices into patient intervention sessions.  Like other theoretical and practical roots of physical therapy and occupational therapy, NDT’s foundations have aged; this, however, does not mean that NDT is less applicable or outdated. As with other intervention theories, NDT was designed to evolve as clinicians learned more about human function. In fact, the Bobaths insisted that NDT must be applied so that it could evolve over time in order to fully understand the recovery of function in neurological conditions (Runyan, 2006).  As new treatments take the limelight, older intervention approaches are at risk of fading away. This fading occurs because therapists forget their foundations, neglect educational opportunities, and avoid active participation in empirical research. Without rejuvenating and continuously supporting NDT, therapists may dismiss its effectiveness with patients who strongly benefit from its approach. Additionally, funding for coverage is questioned.  This intermediate-level course includes the latest resources and research available for therapy professionals regarding NDT. This course is also a call to action for therapy practitioners to offer up their support in order to maintain the reliability and validity of NDT in both its foundational principles and its progression.