APTA CO February PED SIG Event: Finding the Just Right Balance – developing home exercise programs families will actually do
APTA CO February PED SIG Event: Finding the Just Right Balance – developing home exercise programs families will actually do
Presenter: Christine Robenalt
Date/Time: Tuesday Feb 17th, 2026 6:30pm-8:00pm
Cost: APTA members $10, non members $15, Students Free
The purpose of this presentation is to provide evidence based information on how to appropriately develop a pediatric home exercise program that parents not only are willing to carry out with their child in between physical therapy sessions, but that they also find meaningful and enjoyable.
Additionally, especially as early intervention Colorado moves into a primary service provider model across the state the information provided in this lecture will assist Physical Therapist in being able to incorporate the other developmental domains into the home exercise program.
Learning objectives:
1. The learner will describe key principles essential for adult learning.
2. The learner will list at least 3 barriers for parents and caregivers interfering with carrying out HEP’s.
3. The learner will define the concepts of parent coaching including: Goal Setting, Questioning, Active Listening, Observation, Reflection, Feedback, Prompting, Direct Teaching and Practice in order to identify parent strengths and capacity in a variety of practice settings.
4. The learner will role play with a partner how to employ the above parent coaching concepts.
5. The learner will develop a HEP for a current client on their caseload using the Green, Yellow and Red Light Rubric created by the author of this presentation.
APTA CO PED SIG: Finding the Just Right Balance - developing home exercise programs families will actually do
Christine Robenalt graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a Bachelors of Arts in Spanish Language and Masters of Physical Therapy. Throughout her career as a physical therapist she has worked in all practice settings, including pioneering the use of telehealth in 2011. Currently, she is a treating therapist as well as the Clinical Manager at a pediatric home health company in Denver. She has additional certifications in Functional Nutrition for Chronic Pain, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training and Certificate in Act for Chronic Pain. Christine feels that it is not the physical therapist’s job to create the path for the client, but rather to shine a light on it.