PHTY306 - Integrated Physiotherapy Practice in Selected Populations

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

PHTY301 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice 3 AND PHTY302 Neurological Physiotherapy Practice 1

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

Physiotherapists work with people across the life span and people have different needs at different times. In this unit you will study two modules covering the specific needs of the older person and a person with a gender related health condition. Both modules build on the knowledge acquired and, clinical reasoning skills developed in earlier units of study to formulate a problem list, and develop, implement, evaluate and progress an intervention program which is efficient, effective, culturally responsive, evidence-based and person-centred. In the gerontology module you will extend your knowledge of age-related physical, physiological and psychological changes and consider the implications for physiotherapy practice. In addition physiotherapy practice for people following amputation and, receiving palliative care will be addressed. In the gender health module you will extend your knowledge of anatomy and function including of the pelvis, urogenital system and lower gastrointestinal tract and reproduction. You will gain new knowledge of dysfunction of these systems; of breast and prostate cancer and surgical management and of pregnancy and birth and their effects on anatomy and function. The overall aim for the unit is to prepare students for physiotherapy professional practice in the areas of gerontology and gender health.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Content

Topics will include: 

Gerontology Module 

Age-related physical, physiological and psychological changes 

• Sensory systems (vision, vestibular and somato-sensory) 
• Neuromotor system 
• Impact on function of the older person including balance and falls 
• Evidence-based physiotherapy assessment and intervention for the older person including falls risk assessment 

Lower limb amputation  

• Health-related risk factors and vascular changes that can lead to lower limb amputation 
• Evidence-based physiotherapy assessment and intervention for the older adult at increased risk of lower limb amputation 
• Evidence-based management of the lower limb amputee including pre and post-prosthetic exercise programs 

Dementia or poor cognition  

• Impact on communication and function of the person 
• Techniques to optimise communication 
• Physiotherapy management 

Rheumatological conditions in older people 

• Pathology/pathophysiology/impact of arthridities and osteoporosis 
• Aquatic exercise 
• Evidence-based physiotherapy management 

Physiotherapy management in the palliative care setting 

Physiotherapy for the elderly in the community and in aged care facilities 

• Role of physiotherapy in Government and Non-Government sectors 
• The impact of health-service funding and models of care on the provision of evidence-based physiotherapy management 

Gender Health Module 

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy – “Function and Dysfunction of the Pelvic Floor” 

• Anatomy of the pelvic floor in men and women 
• Normal bladder and bowel function 
• Incontinence, prolapse and bowel dysfunction 
• Functional assessment of pelvic floor, bladder and bowel function in men and women 
• Anatomy and physiology of labour 
• Birth related pelvic floor trauma 
• Menopause and the implication for pelvic floor, bladder and bowel function 
• Physiotherapy management including self-management of/in  
• Pelvic floor dysfunction 
• Bladder and bowel dysfunction 
• Pelvic floor trauma, early and late postpartum 
• Gynaecological surgery for prolapse 
• Breast cancer surgery and lymphoedema 
• Prostate cancer and prostatectomy 

Obstetric Physiotherapy – “Physiotherapy during the Childbearing Year” 

• Pregnancy - anatomical and physiological changes  
• Physiotherapy management including self-management in pregnancy, labour and post-partum including prevention and management of pelvic floor and musculoskeletal conditions, exercise and restoring form and function of the abdominal canister. 

Self-management in ageing and gender related health conditions 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of learning with a combination of face-to-face, online and other directed independent learning activities. The theoretical knowledge underpinning assessment and intervention will be delivered via lectures and online modules/resources. Tutorial and practical classes provide students with the opportunity to develop their clinical reasoning skills through the use of case studies and, communication, assessment and treatment skills through simulation learning activities. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group activities, demonstrating respect for the individual as an independent learner. 

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment tasks align with the presentation of the content in this unit of study. This unit takes an authentic assessment approach allowing students to demonstrate their learning and competency for clinically relevant scenarios. As a final academic semester unit of study prior to commencing clinical placements student are required to demonstrate acquisition, understanding and application of knowledge in both written and verbal forms as well as competency in assessment and treatment skills. 

Assessment Task 1 - Gerontology module examination including written submission of assessment and treatment plans for clinical scenarios and, demonstration and discussion of assessment and treatment skills through a practical examination.

Assessment Task 2 - Gender Health module examination including written submission of assessment and treatment plans for clinical scenarios and discussion of assessment and treatment skills through a practical examination. 

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Gerontology 

Lord, S., Sherrington, C. & Naganathan, V. (Eds.). (2021). Falls in older people: Risk factors and strategies for prevention. (3rd Ed.) Cambridge University Press. 

Morris, M., & Schoo, A. (2004). Optimising exercise and physical activity in the older person (3rd ed.).  Butterworth: Heinemann. 

Nitz, J. C., & Hourigan, S., R. (2004). Physiotherapy practice in residential aged care.  Butterworth-Heinemann. 

Gender Health 

Bø, K., Berghmans, B., Mørkved, S., & Van Kampen, M. (Eds.). (2015). Evidence-based physical therapy for the pelvic floor: Bridging science and clinical practice (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone. (Online access). 

Mantle, J., Haslam, J., & Barton, S. (2004). Physiotherapy in obstetrics and gynaecology.  Butterworth Heinnemann. 

McNeely, M. L., Campbell, K., Ospina, M., Rowe, B. H., Dabbs, K., Klassen, T. P., Mackey, J., & Courneya, K. (2010). Exercise interventions for upper-limb dysfunction due to breast cancer treatment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 16;(6) 

Sapsford, R., Bullock-Saxton, J., & Markwell, S. (1998). Women’s health: A textbook for physiotherapists. WB Saunders & Co.