Physical Therapy

This course provides an introduction to examination, evaluation and treatment for orthopedic conditions with the emphasis on peripheral conditions. Students learn and practice screening examinations and joint specific examinations including special tests. Differential diagnosis through selective tissue tensioning lays the initial foundation for patient case development and practice throughout the course. Students examine commonly utilized orthopedic outcome tools for reliability and validity.

This is the third of three courses designed to introduce students to the scientific and clinical principles involved in the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic conditions treated by physical therapists. This course will allow students to acquire more advanced skills in the evaluation and treatment of pelvic girdle, spinal, rib cage and temperomandibular joint related orthopedic pathologies and disorders. Manual therapy techniques will be discussed based on the biomechanics of the skeletal joints. Adjunctive treatment procedures used in orthopedics will be discussed. The goal of this course is to prepare the student to evaluate and treat common disorders of the spine, pelvic girdle, and rib cage and to be able to differentiate between distal and proximal nerve pathologies. Intervention approaches will emphasize the concept of identifying the tissue or tissues in lesion when possible and applying the Optimum Stimulation for Regeneration via manual therapy techniques and exercise. Major emphasis will be placed on Nordic manual techniques with frequent reference to Australian manual therapy concepts and Medical Exercise Training concepts. Case studies will be used to help students apply the concepts.

This course adds to the knowledge base of the student by providing instruction regarding the pathology of disease states, the implications of the disease as regards system impairments, functional limitations, and disablement. Further, the content will include discussions of the evidence in support of the available treatment of each disease discussed, and how the particular pathology influences the therapeutic regime. Students will participate in lectures and will use several vehicles to disseminate information about a chosen pathology.

An eight-week full-time clinical experience during the summer semester following the second professional year. This course is designed to provide the student with competency in the intermediate to entry level skills of managing musculoskeletal dysfunction; basic to intermediate skills of managing patients with neurological, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary dysfunctions; and basic to intermediate administrative functions.

This course is the second course in a four-semester Research Methods series. It is intended to follow the IRB approval of a research proposal. During this semester students will work in groups with their research advisor to finalize their data collection protocol, establish a data collection management system, seek participants following the guidelines established by the IRB proposal and informed consent process, initiate data collection for their research project, and document collected data following the established management guidelines.

This course is the final course in the four-semester Research Methods series. It prepares students for presentation of a completed research study using three different formats, including an oral presentation, a scientific paper, and a poster. The course discusses differences among these three formats, as well as the qualities that contribute to excellence and the pitfalls to avoid in each type of presentation. Students will also gain experience in writing a formal critique of a manuscript. Students are expected to apply the knowledge they have gained from other classes regarding presentations, communication, and education.

This course is designed to provide the PT student with clinical specialty skills in pediatric neuro-rehabilitation. Students will develop competencies in the assessment and management of the child diagnosed with any of the primary neurological conditions found in pediatrics. A holistic view of the child is stressed, especially the interrelationships among the child, the family, and the community.

This elective course is designed to provide the student with a more in-depth approach to evaluation and treatment techniques for the spine, pelvic girdle and ribs from a manual therapy perspective. The main emphasis of the course will be on improving clinical reasoning skills in identifying the specific lesion(s) and the treatment approach. The second goal is to improve manual skills that emphasize the Nordic approach, the Australian lumbar and pelvic stabilization concepts and the use of exercise in rehab. The treatment concepts are based on current scientific research principles. The lab sessions emphasize the development of palpation and technique application skills. The integration of manual therapy skills with exercise programs and patient education is an important component of this course.

This course provides an analysis of contemporary upper and lower-limb orthotic and prosthetic components and trunk orthoses, including the biomechanical principles upon which the designs are based. Topics include the static and dynamic evaluation of patients fitted with orthoses and prostheses. Discussion will also include recent trends in early and prosthetic management for adults and children with amputation. The role of physical therapist as part of the rehabilitation team in selecting orthotic and prosthetic devices will be examined.

This capstone course provides students with an overview of patient interview and evaluation techniques for the primary health care provider. As autonomous practitioners, physical therapists are responsible for identifying factors that affect a patient's response to treatment and may necessitate referral to a physician for follow-up and treatment. This course uses a case-based approach to the medical screening process to help students develop interview and evaluation skills that facilitate this process. In addition students will learn to use pharmacological and basic laboratory data essential to the screening process.