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Train Your Trainer/Therapist (TYT™) Program

Consistency and persistence are two major factors in our clients’ recovery. However, not all of our clients are able to attend Project Walk® on a regular basis. Still, the human nervous system needs proper stimulation to heal correctly and if that stimulation is stopped, recovery is hindered. Therefore, Project Walk has developed an educational program, Train Your Trainer/Therapist, to teach therapists, certified personal trainers, and family members how to safely and effectively train our clients at their homes or gyms. This program allows our clients to stay at home while getting the proper stimulation to regain function. We supply the therapist, trainer, or family member with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively work an individual’s paralyzed body through a personalized exercise program.

We Now Have TWO Different TYT Programs!

Professional Track

Family Track
  • PREREQUISITES: The individual must have a Bachelors Degree in an exercise science program, be a licensed physical therapist OR hold an exercise training certification from one of the following agencies: ACSM, NSCA,NASM, or ACE.
  • Designed for family members or individuals with no formal background in exercise training.
  • The therapist/trainer will attend the Project Walk Institute for 8 hours a day for the entire week and work with a variety of SCI levels.
  • The family member is trained how to work with one specific client and only attends this clients training hours.
  • Successful completion of this program will result in the therapist/trainer receiving their Certified SCI Recovery Apprentice™ (CSRA™) Certification and beginning the next level in the certification process.
  • The family member is exposed to general information on spinal cord injuries and the theory behind The Dardzinski Method™.
  • Cost: $1,500 for one week of therapist/trainer training and apprentice certification + $100/hr for client training.
  • Cost: $850 for one week of family training + $100/hr for client training.
Both TYT programs come with an individualized home program for the visiting SCI client.
The home program includes an exercise prescription, exercise manual, and DVD.

 

- Please note: Currently you may only book a TYT Professional Track for the first or third week of each month -

TYT Professional Track: ($1,500 for trainer/therapist training + $100/hr for client training)

 

Who is this for?

Due to the large increase of inquiries about becoming a Project Walk Certified Trainer, we have modified the Train Your Trainer/Therapist program into two different tracks. The TYT Professional Track is designed for physical therapists, and certified exercise trainers that are interested in learning as much as possible about spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery in order to work with not only one specific SCI client but multiple clients in their area.

There are two different types of individuals who choose the TYT Professional Track. The first are certified exercise trainers who are looking to add the skill and knowledge of working with an SCI client to their current business model. There are many benefits to training SCI clients some of which include an increase in income and to provide a valuable service to the local SCI community. The second type of individual is a physical therapist who is looking to increase his/her knowledge of exercise-based SCI recovery. The increased knowledge from this program will help therapists and trainers improve their clients' recovery and stay informed on today’s rapidly changing methods of recovery.

Those who choose the TYT Professional Track will have the opportunity to become a Project Walk Certified SCI Recovery Apprentice at the end of their visit and begin their Certified SCI Recovery Trainer™ (CSRT™) Level I Certification.

To find out more information about Project Walk's Certification Program please go to the certification portion of this website. Once you have completed the CSRA you will be posted on our website as a Certified Apprentice and have the opportunity to begin your Level One Certification during the TYT visit.

 

Traditional Certification vs. TYT Professional Track

Individuals interested in the Project Walk Certification Program have two options for their CSRA certification. They can take two classes online and then visit Project Walk for two days of observational training and limited hands-on exposure or they can do the TYT Professional Track. The professional track allows visiting therapist/trainers to get a minimum of 10 hours of hands-on training with their SCI client and another 30 hours of observational / hands-on training supervised by our Specialist. Due to the nature of Project Walk’s exercise program, therapists and trainers may receive limited hands-on experience with Project Walk’s in-house clients and will vary depending on the opportunities which arise. This is why we highly recommend certification candidates bring a client for the TYT Professional track in order to gain as much hands-on training as possible. Please note that the client will be charged $100/hr for up to five hours a day of training. This is in addition to the therapist/trainers fee.

TYT Professional Track Week Overview

 

The Train Your Trainer/Therapist Professional Track is a highly intensive one-week training course designed to introduce you to The Dardzinski Method™ of spinal cord injury recovery. At the end of your visit you will have had the opportunity to become a CSRA. You will also have the opportunity to begin your CSRT Level I certification and your year long client recovery tracking.  

During the week long visit to Project Walk, you and your client will be exposed to the following.

  1. A minimum of six hours per day at the Project Walk Institute.  (We recommend a full eight hours a day at Project Walk)
    1. A majority of this time will be spent receiving observational or hands-on training.  
    2. Must be present for all of your client’s workouts.
  2. Review the basics of a spinal cord injury and the issues associated with it.
  3. Classroom lectures on The Dardzinski Method and how to evaluate a clients Developmental Activity Score™ (DAS™).
  4. Hands-on experience using the basic modalities and how the Project Walk staff integrates The Dardzinski Method into a client’s recovery.
  5. Hands-on instruction of the Project Walk safety guidelines for both C-Level and T-Level clients.
  6. Instruction and hands-on experience with Project Walk’s initial evaluation and DAS assessment.   
  7. Personalized instruction from the Founder of Project Walk, Ted Dardzinski.

Prior to coming to Project Walk, you must complete the following:

  1. Complete the TYT application located on our website.
  2. Sign the Proprietary Information Agreement.
  3. Sign the Confidentiality Agreement
  4. Read the SCI 101 manual and the Introduction to The Dardzinski Method manual in preparation for the subsequent test.
  5. Contact the education department in order to take both the SCI 101 and Introduction to The Dardzinski Method exams online. Due to the importance of these exams and the fact that they are taken online you must pass them with 85% proficiency.
  6. Read and understand the Project Walk safety guidelines.
  7. Read and understand the proper scoring techniques for the DAS and Initial Evaluation.

Be prepared to assist in these evaluations during the first hour of your visit and take a written test later in the week.

 

TYT Week Objective

The objective of the Train Your Trainer/Therapist Program is to effectively educate you and your client about The Dardzinski Method and prepare you to effectively conduct your client’s personalized home program as well as work with other SCI clients. At the end of the week you should have successfully completed your CSRA and began your CSRT Level I. Visiting therapists also have the option to take the final CSRA exam online once they return home. We find that many therapists prefer to do this so they don’t loose valuable training time on the floor in order to take an exam. 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

You begin your visit with an orientation meeting that includes one member of the Education Department and your client’s supervising Specialist. At this time, we will go over your required paperwork and answer any questions you or your client may have about the program. We will also discuss the agenda for the week.

Morning Session: Once the meeting is concluded we will begin the client evaluation and the DAS assessment in which you will be assisting. Once the evaluation is concluded your client will begin a normal workout. At the conclusion of your client’s workout you will continue to observe and receive hands-on training with other Project Walk clients and Specialists.

Afternoon Session: You will begin to learn some of the basic modalities with your client. During the afternoon you will have two hours of hands-on training with your client under the supervision of a Project Walk Specialist. The afternoon session will also include an introduction lecture on Project Walk, The Dardzinski Method and the research supporting an exercise- based recovery program.

Morning Session: The morning session is where you will observe your client go through an exercise program with a Project Walk Specialist. This is your opportunity to take notes and your client’s opportunity to receive a personalized workout from one of our Specialists. Once your client is finished, you will shadow, observe, and get hands-on training with other Project Walk clients and Specialists.

Afternoon Session: The afternoon session allows you to repeat the workout you observed in the morning. The intensity of this session for your client is far less than the morning session as it is intended to be an educational time for you. During the afternoon you will also receive a lecture on the DAS and client evaluation process.

Morning Session: Same as the previous day.

Afternoon Session: Same as the previous day. The only change is that you will receive instruction on safety procedures associated with the basic modalities.

Morning Session: Same as the previous day.

Afternoon Session: Same as the previous day. You will be expected to take the Client Evaluations exam at some point during the afternoon.  

You have two options for taking your CSRA final exam. You can either take it during your final day at Project Walk or you can take it online once you return home. This can be decided during the week.

Morning Session: Same as the previous day.

Afternoon Session: You will review the basic modalities with your Specialist and client. The Project Walk Specialist will review your client home program in order to ensure clarity for each of you. You will also meet with a member of the Education Department to review your tests and certification options.

 

Please note that any test that is not passed with the required proficiency must be retaken.
 The fee for retaking a test is half of the initial course fee


For more information on this program, please email the Project Walk Certification Review Board at Certification@projectwalk.org

   TYT Professional Track Application MSWord
   TYT Professional Track Application PDF

 

TYT Family Track:  ($100/hr for client training + $850 for training of the family member)

 

The second TYT option is our Family Track Program. Over the years we have learned that some of our clients choose to work at home solely with members of their own family.  In cases such as this the family member will be trained by a Project Walk Specialist on how to safely perform the exercises prescribed in the client’s home program. This will allow families to succeed in performing the necessary repetitions needed to improve. This course is not designed for someone who is interested in becoming a Project Walk Certified Trainer. For more information on this program please click on the following link. Project Walk TYT Family Track