Agenda topics

Guiding physical principles and theorems
Nystagmus in detail: a review in context
Omniax lab session and case study reviews
Differentiating particle versus non-particle positional vertigo disorders
Interpretation of nystagmus-based exam findings
Differentiating your practice and increasing referrals
Treatment maneuvers and strategies for using the Omniax

Speaker Bio

Karen L. Atkins, Research Scientist/Physical Therapist

Education:

California State University, Long Beach, B. S., 1974

Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, PhD, 2010

Karen Atkins, PhD PT, received her degree in Physical Therapy from California State University, Long Beach in1974, and PhD in 2010 from Nova Southeastern University with defense of her dissertation Vibrotactile Postural Control in Patients with Sit-to-Stand Balance Deficits and Fall accepted 10/27/2009.

In the mid 1970’s Karen was one of the first women to be a certified athletic trainer, and was subsequently employed as Head Women’s Athletic Trainer and Associate Clinical Instructor for the University of Washington, School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. Relocating to Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 1977 she established Steamboat Springs Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Physical Therapy P.C. a private practice physical therapy clinic, and Trainer’s Corner Sports Medicine Products a retail store selling ski injury remedies at the base of the ski mountain.

Arriving in Orlando, Florida in 1990, she was a clinical director for HealthSouth. It was during this employment that Karen became familiar with vestibular and sensory/neural deficits, Dr. John Epley’s work with benign paroxysmal positional vertical, and Dr. Lew Nashner’s posturography protocol. Florida Hospital recruited Karen to establish their balance and vestibular program in 1993, and Karen developed their program into an annual $2 million revenue stream.

Karen left Florida Hospital in1997 to establish Florida Ear & Balance Center’s out-patient physical therapy program specializing in the treatment of patients with disequilibrium. She and her husband Dr. James S. Atkins, Jr., neurotologist, provide medical care to patients with inner ear disorders through their business Florida Ear & Balance Center, P. A. in Celebration, Florida.

In 2006, Karen was recruited by Dr. Epley to be a member of Vesticon’s board of directors: she participated in their clinical trials as co researcher for the Omniax vestibular treatment system. Karen presents national courses on BPPV. In 2007 Karen founded BalanceSense LLC, Human Balance and Motor Control, Technology and Education, specifically to bring forward the sensory enrichment multimodal device (SEMD). The Department of Defense, Office of Secretary of Defense on 15 April, 2010 awarded BalanceSense LLC a Phase 1 SBIR contract to refine SEMD for market.