The StrokeEd MOOC

The MOOC, “Analysis and retraining of lower limb skills after stroke” will open for registrations on the 21st September, 2026. It will run from the 2nd November to 6th December. The MOOC, “Analysis and retraining of upper limb function after stroke” has been run from 2024, and will continue to run annually in May of each year. The MOOCs are run by the StrokeEd Collaboration, an Australian educational provider. The content focuses on evidence-based analysis and retraining of everyday skills after stroke.

Summary report

A report about the 2024 MOOC is available below.

The 2026 LL MOOC

In 2026 the LL MOOC  “Analysis and retraining of lower limb skills after stroke”  will run from the the 2nd November to the 6th December with registrations open on the 21st September. There will be a tiered payment system related to your country’s income. The MOOC will be $100AUD (~$70USD) for residents of high-income countries, $30AUD (~$20USD)  for residents of upper middle-income countries, and free for residents of lower middle-income countries and low-income countries. If you would like to look at your country’s classification, please use this World Bank guide

Who can join the LL MOOC?

Our target audience is physiotherapists, but anyone involved in stroke rehabilitation, including exercise physiologists and therapy assistants are welcome to register for the MOOC. The 2026 LL MOOC is the inaugural LL MOOC, this follows on the success of the StrokeEd UL MOOC.

In 2025, 3,440 people registered for the UL MOOC, from over 50 countries.
Registrants included occupational therapists, physiotherapists, allied health assistants, physicians, nurses, students, stroke survivors and others interested in stroke rehabilitation. The completion rate was 42% which is a high proportion for MOOC completion, often MOOCs have a 10 to 20% completion rate.

Course overview

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the LL MOOC, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the normal biomechanics of the LL skills; sitting, standing up, standing and walking
  • Apply an evidence-based clinical reasoning approach to the analysis of activity limitations in LL skills
  • Discuss the research evidence for interventions that improve lower limb impairment and activity outcomes after stroke
  • Describe the critical features of effective task-specific training for LL skills and describe strategies to adapt these to a stroke survivor’s impairments
  • Discuss types of service delivery of stroke rehabilitation and strategies to increase amounts and intensity of practice during stroke rehabilitation

Week 1
Key concepts: Biomechanics and Sensori-motor impairments after stroke 

  • Biomechanics principles
  • The contributions of impairments to activity limitations after stroke
  • Clinical reasoning in the analysis of LL movement problems after stroke
  • What is EBP and how to appraise research evidence

Week 2
Movement analysis and evidence-based intervention: Sitting and Sit to Stand

  • The biomechanics of Sitting Balance and Sit to Stand
  • Determining the causes of movement problems in Sitting and Sit to Stand
  • Evidence based strategies to improve Sitting and Sit to Stand outcomes

Week 3
Movement analysis and evidence-based intervention: Standing balance 

  • The biomechanics of Standing Balance
  • Determining the causes of movement problems in Standing
  • Evidence based strategies to improve Standing outcomes and reduce falls

Week 4
Movement analysis and evidence-based intervention: Walking

  • The biomechanics of Walking
  • Determining the causes of movement problems in Walking
  • Evidence based strategies to improve Walking outcomes

Week 5:
Effective coaching and service delivery

  • Coaching to improve motor skill acquisition
  • Service delivery in different settings
  • Strategies to increase intensity and amounts of practice

Presenters

The LL MOOC is presented by StrokeEd directors: Associate Professor Simone Dorsch and Karl Schurr with guest lectures from international collaborators.

Dr Simone Dorsch
Dr Simone Dorsch
Simone has worked in neurological physiotherapy for 20 years, in traumatic brain injury and stroke rehabilitation. She has a Masters of Health Science…

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Karl Schurr
Karl Schurr
Clinical experience in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation for 30 years+ in Australia and the UK.

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Cost

The LL MOOC will be $100AUD (~$70USD) for residents of high-income countries, $30AUD (~$20USD) for residents of upper middle-income countries, and free for residents of lower middle-income countries and low-income countries.  StrokeEd aims to make their education and training accessible and affordable to all practitioners.

Participant feedback from the 2025 UL MOOC

I am a new graduate OT in acute setting and it has provided me with excellent insight into early assessment and recognition of areas to assess.

 

Excellent MOOC, Fantastic value for money, all the content was of a very high standard but easy to watch and understand

 

No routine splinting of severely weak upper limb. Weigh up benefits/disadvantages to Botulinum Toxin into spastic muscles if not used in conjunction with other strategies. Increasing the intensity, number of repetitions at each session and greater self directed practice

 

As a result of completing the UL MOOC, I have implemented several key changes in my clinical practice As an OT including integrating evidence-based approaches more consistently, enhancing patient communication strategies, refining my clinical reasoning skills and also adopting a more reflective and person-centered approach to care, all of which have contributed to improved outcomes and my greater professional confidence.

 

I’ve learnt a lot about treatment strategies and ways to change the environment to create a semi-supervised program for upper limb class.

 

I have really enjoyed taking part in the MOOC. It has been a great refresher and opportunity to think reflectively about my own clinical practice but also gain a better understanding of and ideas for how to set up and facilitate self directed practice

 

Attending the UL Movement Analysis after Stroke MOOC has shifted my focus toward task-specific, active rehabilitation rather than relying on passive treatments. I now prioritize meaningful activity-based assessments, involve stroke survivors more in goal setting, and consider movement quality, not just completion of tasks. I’m also more cautious about overusing slings or static splints, and I’m exploring the use of video analysis to track progress and guide treatment. Overall, my practice is becoming more evidence-informed and patient-centered.