PHTY206 - Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice 1

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

PHTY103 Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 2 AND ANAT102 Physiotherapy Anatomy 2

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

Physiotherapists work with people presenting with neuromusculoskeletal disorders of the lower limb. This requires the ability 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 this unit students will build on the knowledge acquired, and clinical reasoning skills developed in year 1 units (specifically clinical measurement, biomechanics of movement and exercise prescription). Students will gain new knowledge in the assessment and management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions of the lower limb across the lifespan as well as the medical and physiotherapy management of lower limb orthopaedic conditions following trauma or elective orthopaedic surgery. The overall aim for the unit is to prepare students for professional practice in the area of musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

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.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Apply knowledge of musculoskeletal physiology and pathophysiology, and movement science to inform and justify a safe, effective, person-centred physiotherapy management plan (assessment, intervention, evaluation and progression) (GA1, GA4, GA5, GA8)

LO2 - Adapt and perform an interview (GA1, GA5, GA9)

LO3 - Select, and safely and effectively apply and interpret, measurement and testing procedures to assess a person presenting with a neuromusculoskeletal disorder of the lower limb, and to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of a physiotherapy management (GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA8)

LO4 - Select, modify, and safely and effectively apply, physiotherapy interventions for a person presenting with a neuromusculoskeletal disorder of the lower limb (GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA9)

LO5 - Accurately document a physiotherapy management plan (GA5, GA9)

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

Content

Topics will include: 

• Pathology of lower limb 
• Fractures and arthroplasties 
• Fractures of lower limb 
• Pathology and healing of fractures 
• Principles of management including physiotherapy management 
• Complications of immobility, trauma and fractures 
• Manual handling 
• Overuse injuries 
• Tendinopathy 
• Sprains 
• Muscle strains 
• Neural mechanosensitivity disorders 
• Haematoma 
• Medical imaging 

Physiotherapy assessment 

• Subjective examination of lower limb disorders  
• Physical examination of lower limb disorders  
• Muscle strength and length 
• Movement pattern assessment 
• Range of motion 
• Joint stability and integrity 
• Identification of contraindications to physiotherapy intervention 
• Modification of a physiotherapy assessment to accommodate cultural, social and ethical considerations encompassing cultural humility, self reflection, potential for biases and differing world views.

Physiotherapy interventions 

• Exercise therapy 
• Principles of exercise and evidence for exercise prescription across the lifespan 
• Functionally specific exercise 
• Weights, pulleys and resistance bands
• Principles of individual education 
• Biofeedback techniques 
• Contraindications and precautions 
• Manual therapy 
• Mobilisation and manipulation techniques 
• Massage and other soft tissue techniques 
• Neurodynamic assessment techniques  
• Electrophysical agents (EPA) 
• Introduction to the use of electrophysical agents in musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice 
•  Taping and bracing 
• Advice and education 
• Modification of physiotherapy interventions to accommodate cultural, social and ethical considerations encompassing cultural humility, self reflection, potential for biases and differing world views.

Outcome measures 

• Pain assessment 
• Functional limitation assessment  
• Range of motion 
• Muscle strength 
• Movement patterns 
• Evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of physiotherapy interventions 
• Modification of application of outcome measures to accommodate cultural, social and ethical considerations encompassing cultural humility, self reflection, potential for biases and differing world views.

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. 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

Accurate and adequate documentation is a legal requirement for health care professionals. Assessment task 1 (hurdle) requires students to document in a written form a patient interview, physical examination, and the rationale for physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans using accepted notation. Students will add to the portfolio over the semester. This task assesses a foundation skill relevant for subsequent physiotherapy practice academic and clinical units.  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. Assessment tasks 2 and 3 (practical examinations) require 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 and treatment of people with neuromusculoskeletal conditions of the lower limb. Assessment task 4 (written examination) requires students to demonstrate acquired theoretical knowledge and assimilate and apply this knowledge to clinically relevant case scenarios. 

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Constantinou, M., & Brown, M. (2010). Therapeutic taping for musculoskeletal conditions. Sydney Chatswood: Elsevier.

Dunleavy, K. & Slowik, AK. (2019). Therapeutic exercise prescription. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Hattam, & Smeatham, A. (2020). Handbook of special tests in musculoskeletal examination : an evidence-based guide for clinicians (Second edition.). Elsevier.

Hengeveld, E., & Banks, K. (2014). Maitland’s peripheral manipulation. (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.

Keleher, M., & MacDougall, C. (2009). Understanding health: a determinants approach (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press.

Lin, Green, C., & Bessarab, D. (2016). “Yarn with me”: applying clinical yarning to improve clinician-patient communication in Aboriginal health care. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 22(5), 377-382.

Magee, D. J. (2021). Orthopedic physical assessment (Seventh edition.). Elsevier.

Multicultural Health: A guide for Health Professionals, https://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/health_workers/cultdiver_guide.asp