Unit rationale, description and aim
Physiotherapists work with people presenting with neurological disorders. This requires the ability to formulate a problem list for a person with a neurological disorder 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 PHTY302 Neurological Physiotherapy Practice 1. Students will gain new knowledge including impairments and activity limitations associated with neuro-progressive disorders, traumatic brain injury, functional neurological disorders, spinal cord injury and peripheral nervous system pathology. Students will develop skills in the management of these impairments and activity limitations. The overall aim for the unit is to prepare students for professional practice in the area of neurological physiotherapy. This unit will build on previous units in increasing students' cultural awareness and reflexivity with an entry to practice learning outcome from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework (HCF, 2014 https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health-curriculum-framework). The overall aim for the unit is to prepare students for professional practice in the area of neurological 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.
Describe, and discuss the implications for physiot...
Learning Outcome 01
Safely and effectively assess and, develop, implem...
Learning Outcome 02
Demonstrate effective written and oral communicati...
Learning Outcome 03
HCF12.3 Develop strategies for mitigating the pote...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
Physiotherapy assessment and management of neurological impairments including perceptual; spasticity; ataxia and vestibular.
Neuro-progressive disorders
- Impairments and activity limitations associated with neuro-progressive pathologies e.g. Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s Disease
- Medical and multi-disciplinary management of people with neuro-progressive pathologies
- Physiotherapy assessment and management of people with neuro-progressive pathologies
Traumatic brain injury
- Impairments and activity limitations associated with traumatic brain injury
- Medical and multi-disciplinary management of people with traumatic brain injury
- Physiotherapy assessment and management of people with traumatic brain injury across the continuum of care
Functional Neurological Disorders
- Activity limitations associated with functional neurological disorders
- Medical and multi-disciplinary management of people with functional neurological disorders
- Physiotherapy assessment and management of people with functional neurological disorders
Spinal cord injury
- Impairments and activity limitations associated with pathology of the spinal cord injury
- Medical and multi-disciplinary management of people with spinal cord injury
- Physiotherapy assessment and management of people with spinal cord injury across the continuum of care
Peripheral nervous system pathology
- Impairments and activity limitations associated with pathology of the peripheral nervous system
- Medical and multi-disciplinary management of people with peripheral nervous system pathology
- Physiotherapy assessment and management of people with peripheral nervous system pathology e.g. Guillain Barre syndrome, across the continuum of care
Evidence-based physiotherapy
- Critical review of the evidence for neurological rehabilitation
Documentation of assessment and interventions
Intersection of the professional culture of mainstream health care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
- Identifying culture and cultural differences
- Cultural responsiveness, frameworks for reflection
- Identifying facilitators to improve connection
- Strategies to centre different cultural world views and behaviours in achieving optimal outcomes with First Nations people who have complex neurological conditions
- Identifying resources for cultural support that are relevant to First Nations people who have complex neurological conditions
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks align with the presentation of the content in this unit of study and students should learn while, as well as from, undertaking these tasks. This unit takes an authentic assessment approach allowing students to demonstrate their learning and competency for clinically relevant scenarios. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their clinical reasoning skills in written and verbal forms.
Assessment task 1 (Evidence-Based Practice seminar - EBP) requires students to demonstrate skills in critical analysis of the neurological physiotherapy intervention literature. Assessment task 2 (Practical examination) requires students to assimilate and apply theoretical knowledge, and perform clinical practice skills, in order to demonstrate their professional competence in the areas of assessment and treatment of people with neurological conditions. Assessment task 3 (Written treatment plan) requires students to demonstrate acquired theoretical knowledge and assimilate and apply this knowledge to clinically relevant case scenarios.
To pass the unit, students must demonstrate achievement of every unit learning outcome and obtain a minimum mark of 50% in graded units.
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1 Evidence-based practice seminar: Re...
Assessment 1 Evidence-based practice seminar:
Requires students to demonstrate skills in critical analysis of the neurological physiotherapy intervention literature
25%
Assessment 2 Practical Examination: Requires stud...
Assessment 2 Practical Examination:
Requires students to demonstrate competency in professional behaviour, clinical reasoning and the ability to plan and undertake appropriate assessment and treatment techniques (neurological case scenarios and demonstration on a peer )
40%
Assessment 3 Written treatment plans: Requires st...
Assessment 3 Written treatment plans:
Requires students to demonstrate acquired theoretical knowledge and assimilate and apply this knowledge to clinically relevant case scenarios.
35%
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. 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.