On the Calendar: Observances in August
Every month, the calendar fills with moments worth pausing for.
Here in August, for those of us working in physical and behavioral health (clinicians, therapists, counselors, rehabilitation specialists, and care providers of every kind) two observances this month carry particular weight: Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month and International Overdose Awareness Day, observed on August 31st.
At Impact CE, we believe that continuing education is one of the most powerful tools a practitioner can reach for, not only to maintain licensure, but to deepen the quality of care they bring to every client, every session, every day.
This August, we are proud to spotlight courses that speak directly to both of these awareness moments, offering our community meaningful opportunities to grow right alongside the conversations happening in the broader world.
ALSO OBSERVED IN AUGUST
August is also home to several other meaningful health observances worth acknowledging: National Immunization Awareness Month, which highlights the critical role of vaccines in public health across the lifespan; Gastroparesis Awareness Month, raising visibility for a chronic digestive condition that remains widely underdiagnosed; and Psoriasis Action Month, dedicated to advancing understanding and reducing stigma around this common but often misunderstood autoimmune skin condition.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month, observed each August, shines a light on one of the most significant genetic causes of infant mortality and a condition that affects individuals across the lifespan. SMA is a progressive neuromuscular disease caused by the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy that can affect movement, breathing, swallowing, and posture. While SMA was historically associated with shortened life expectancy, advances in gene therapy and disease-modifying treatments over the past decade have transformed the landscape of SMA care, and more individuals with SMA are living longer, more active lives than ever before.
For rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month is an important reminder of the evolving clinical landscape surrounding this condition. As more patients with SMA benefit from newer treatments and live into adulthood, the demand for skilled rehabilitation professionals who understand the nuances of SMA (from respiratory management to adaptive equipment, positioning, and functional mobility) continues to grow. Deepening your clinical knowledge of SMA, and matters off the back and spine at large, is not just about keeping pace with advances in treatment. It is about being the kind of practitioner who can meet these clients where they are and help them live as fully as possible.
104603 Lumbar Spine Pathologies
This live, interactive course offers an in-depth exploration of lumbar spine pathologies, including their classification, hallmark clinical features, and evidence-based assessment strategies. It addresses mechanical, inflammatory, degenerative, acute, chronic, recurrent, central, and peripheral pain sources to support a clear understanding of diverse clinical presentations. A strong focus is placed on differential diagnosis and physiotherapy decision-making, including thorough red-flag screening. Core...
104449 Differential Diagnosis of Cervical Spine and Shoulder - Musculoskeletal Vs Systemic Origin of Pain
Physical Therapy is no longer limited to evaluation and treatment of just the musculoskeletal system. With Direct access, increasing privately owned PT clinics and telehealth, Therapists play an important role in screening other systems to refer patients to appropriate medical providers. The focus of this course is to differentiate between exclusive musculoskeletal origin or pain secondary to other systemic causes....
104569 How To Incorporate Novel Pain Science Concepts Into Clinical Practice
Wish you could empower people with chronic pain to move towards more meaningful lifestyles beyond the limitations imposed by pain? Are you tired of watching your patients stay locked into pain cycles that prevent them from embracing a higher quality of life? Explore how chronic pain traps people in a downward spiral of fear avoidance behaviors, health provider shopping, endless...
International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31st)
International Overdose Awareness Day, observed on August 31st each year, is the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related death.
Founded in Melbourne, Australia in 2001 by Sally Finn, the observance has grown into a global movement, a day to remember those who have lost their lives to overdose, acknowledge the grief of families and communities, and recommit to the urgent work of prevention, harm reduction, and compassionate care. In the United States alone, overdose deaths have reached staggering levels in recent years, making this one of the most pressing public health crises of our time.
For behavioral health professionals, addiction counselors, social workers, and all practitioners who work with individuals affected by substance use, International Overdose Awareness Day is both a moment of remembrance and a call to action: it's a reminder that behind every statistic is a person whose life had value and whose death was not inevitable.
Advancing your knowledge of evidence-based addiction treatment, harm reduction strategies, and trauma-informed approaches to substance use is one of the most meaningful ways a practitioner can honor this day and show up more fully for the clients who need them most.
102426 Drug, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction
Groundbreaking discoveries about the brain have revolutionized our understanding of compulsive drug use, enabling us to respond effectively to the problem. As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a medical disorder that affects the brain and changes behavior. Despite these advances, we still do not fully understand why some people become addicted to drugs or how...
102450 Addiction As a Choice?
Normative thinking about addiction has traditionally been divided between, on the one hand, a medical model which sees addiction as a disease characterized by compulsive and relapsing drug use over which the addict has little or no control and, on the other, a moral model which sees addiction as a choice characterized by voluntary behavior under the control of the...
103540 Addiction Is Driven by Excessive Goal-directed Drug Choice Under Negative Affect:
This article examines different theories of drug addiction: goal-directed choice driven by drug value in negative states, habit driven by stimulus-response associations, and compulsion driven by insensitivity to costs. Evidence from both animals and humans is evaluated. The excessive goal theory finds support through the association of dependence severity with greater drug choice and economic demand. Habit theory has weaker...
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