PHTY103 - Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 2

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

ANAT101 Physiotherapy Anatomy 1 AND PHTY102 Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 1

Teaching organisation

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.

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 a 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

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 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.

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 (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). 

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Clarkson, H. (2022) Musculoskeletal Assessment: Joint range of motion, muscle testing, and function : a research-based practical guide. (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer

Fox, J. (2009). A physiotherapist’s guide to clinical measurement. Churchill Livingstone. 

Hamill, J., & Knutsen, K. M. & Derrick, T (2015). Biomechanical basis of human movement (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health.

Herbert, R., Jamtvedt, G., & Hagen, K.B. (2011). Practical evidence-based physiotherapy (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone / Elsevier.

Hislop, H., Avers, D, Brown, M. & Daniels L. (2014). Daniel’s and Wothingham’s muscle testing : Techniques of manual examination (9th ed). Saunders. 

Liguori, G., Feito, Y., Fountaine, C. (Charles J., & Roy, B. (Eds.). (2022). ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Nordin, M. & Frankel, V.H. (2001).Basic biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system (3rd ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 

Oatis C.A. (2017). Kinesiology: The mechanics and pathomechanics of human movement (3rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. 

Perry, J. (2010). Gait analysis: Normal and pathological function (2nd ed.). Thorefare, Slack. 

Rees, N. & Bandy, W. (2017). Joint range of motion and muscle length testing (3rd ed.). Elsevier.