Unit rationale, description and aim
Physiotherapists are skilled in the analysis of gait and other activities and use movement analysis to identify impairments of range of motion, muscle strength, posture and balance. Movement analysis is also used to develop, implement, evaluate and progress physiotherapy interventions. In this unit students will build on the knowledge and clinical reasoning skills acquired in previous units (specifically anatomy and foundational physiotherapy practice skills). Students will gain new knowledge in the science of movement including biomechanical concepts, kinetics and kinematics of movement and will apply this knowledge to the skills of assessment of range of motion, strength, gait and posture, and in the prescription of exercise and walking aids. The need for, and use of, research to inform evidenced-based physiotherapy practice will be introduced. Students’ understanding of the scope of physiotherapy practice and professional behaviours will be extended through undertaking a clinical placement. The overall aim for the unit is to further develop students’ foundational skills for physiotherapy practice.
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.
Explain and apply basic biomechanical concepts for...
Learning Outcome 01
Discuss and demonstrate safe and effective assessm...
Learning Outcome 02
Describe and analyse gait and static and dynamic p...
Learning Outcome 03
Document and reflect on professional behaviour in ...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
Application of biomechanical concepts to human motion and physiotherapy practice including:
- Force, mass and acceleration
- Impulse and momentum
- Work and energy
- Levers, torque
- Centre of gravity
- Applied biomechanics
- Composition and resolution of forces
Analysis of Movement and exercises including:
- Kinematic analysis of functional movements
Assessment of joint range of motion and muscle length including:
- Identification of typical joint range of motion of the joints of the upper and lower limbs, the cervical and thoracolumbar spine
- Measurement of joint range of motion of the upper and lower limbs, cervical and thoracolumbar spine with goniometers, inclinometer or other tools
- Identification of typical muscle length in the upper and lower limbs, cervical and thoraculumbar spine.
Manual muscle testing of strength including
- Performance of manual muscle testing for the upper limb, lower limb and trunk muscles.
- Grading of muscle strength
Posture
- Identification of bony landmarks
- Observational analysis of alignment and symmetry
- Typical sitting and standing postures
- The role of trunk stability during movement
Gait
- Analysis of the spatiotemporal components of typical gait
- Analysis of kinematics of typical gait
- Prescription of a walking aids
Analysis and prescription of therapeutic exercise
- Principles of exercise prescription
- Selecting and teaching an exercise
- Safe and effective use of equipment for therapeutic exercise
- Evaluate performance and provide feedback
Introduction to research and the relevance for physiotherapy practice
- The research process
- Databases relevant for physiotherapy literature searches
- The structure of a research paper
- Appraising a research paper
- Writing a clinical question using the PICO format
Assessment strategy and rationale
Assessment task 1 the Clinical Practice Portfolio (hurdle), is designed for students to apply the learnings from this unit to a clinical setting. In addition, portfolio tasks require critical reflection on professional communication, behaviour and inter-professional team work in a clinical setting and analysis of the purpose and application of observed physiotherapy treatments.
Assessment tasks 2-4 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 and students should learn while, as well from, undertaking these tasks. Assessment task 2 (written examination) requires students to demonstrate the application of acquired theoretical knowledge of biomechanics to support their explanation or resolution of clinically relevant problems. Assessment task 3 (written examination) requires students to demonstrate acquired theoretical knowledge from across the semester (excluding biomechanics) and apply this knowledge to address short answer questions and clinically relevant case scenarios. Assessment task 4 (Graded - Hurdle practical examination) requires students to assimilate and apply theoretical knowledge and perform clinical practice skills in order to demonstrate their emerging professional competence in the areas of assessment of muscle length and strength, joint range of motion, and prescription of therapeutic exercise (demonstration on a peer).
To pass this unit, students must demonstrate that they have achieved each learning outcome, passed the hurdle tasks and obtained a total mark of ≥ 50% in this unit as a minimum standard.
Students who do not pass the ungraded hurdle AT1, you will be given one opportunity to pass the failed component of the task.
Students who do not pass the graded hurdle AT4 (minimum mark 50%), you may be offered one re-sit of the practical examination to demonstrate competency. The offer of one re-sit will only be made to students who have: attended 80% of scheduled tutorial and practical classes and achieved an aggregate mark for the non-practical components of the unit of ≥ 50%.
Overview of assessments
Assessment task 1: Clinical Practice Portfolio R...
Assessment task 1: Clinical Practice Portfolio
Requires students to complete allocated hours (range 15-30 hours) of clinical experience, submit a portfolio documenting and reflecting on their experiences during the clinical observation placement and participate in an on-campus pre-briefing session (1 hour) and debriefing session (tutorial) related to the clinical experience.
Hurdle
Assessment task 2: Mid-semester written examinati...
Assessment task 2: Mid-semester written examination
Requires students to demonstrate understanding and application of biomechanical principles to resolve clinical problems.
30%
Assessment task 3: End-semester written examinati...
Assessment task 3: End-semester written examination
Requires students to demonstrate their acquisition and understanding of content from across the semester and application to clinically relevant case scenarios, excluding biomechanics.
40%
Assessment task 4: End-semester practical examina...
Assessment task 4: End-semester practical examination
Requires students to demonstrate competency in professional behaviour, communications skills, and safe and effective assessment of muscle length and strength, joint range of motion, and prescription of therapeutic exercise on a peer.
Graded Hurdle
30%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of learning designed to foster student-centred active learning and accommodate diverse student needs. It includes a combination of self-paced, online learning and real-time classes.
The theoretical knowledge underpinning professional practice will be delivered via self-paced online learning and consolidated with in-person tutorial activities.
Practical classes provide students with the opportunity to develop their communication and professional behaviours, clinical assessment, therapeutic exercise and gait aid prescription skills through the use of simulation learning activities. Case scenarios will be used in practical and tutorial classes to provide students with an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and integrate concepts from different content areas to problem solve issues triggered by these scenarios.
The clinical observation placement provides students with the opportunity to observe how physiotherapists apply movement science skills to maintain or restore a patient’s movement and maximize their function. The placement will extend students’ understanding of the scope of physiotherapy clinical practice, professional behaviours and effective communication skills, and inter-professional teamwork.
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. Early and additional feedback on learning, and tailored support, are provided to facilitate students’ transition to university.