Clinical Education I

 General Objectives

The general goal of this clinical education placement is to provide the student the opportunity to practice professional communication and therapeutic skills. Emphasis should be on the basic techniques of evaluation/assessment, program planning, and treatment of simple orthopedic problems. This should be a period of intellectual integration for the student as well as active participation. The student will begin to develop professional behaviors and clinical decision making skills. The student should become familiar with documentation and the health care delivery system including the interaction of disciplines.

The student is assigned to specified clinical tasks under close supervision of the CI.  This experience will allow the student to begin to understand physical therapy within the context of the larger health care system and provide students their first opportunity to apply academic knowledge to clinical practice. It should be noted that the students have not yet completed coursework related to the Central Nervous System and its associated pathologies.

Completed prior to:

Clinical Education I: PDPT-59000

HUMAN ANATOMY Study of the gross anatomical components of the human body through the use of lecture and cadaver dissection. Emphasis on the musculoskeletal and neurovascular systems found in the extremities, trunk, chest, abdominal walls and in the head and neck.

MASSAGE AND SURFACE ANATOMY A predominantly laboratory-based course includes a presentation of theory, principles, and techniques of various forms of therapeutic massage. Regional palpation and surface anatomy are emphasized.

MOBILITY TRAINING Designed to teach the principles and skills involved in ambulation training with and without assistive devices, transfer training, wheelchair management, safety in patient handling, and proper body mechanics.

TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE CLINICAL SETTING Preparation to teach in a variety of settings and formats for academic, clinical, and professional purposes. Content is applicable to community presentations, group in-services, as well as patient/family teaching. Includes impact of age, culture, environment, and motivation, domains of learning, instructional objectives, teaching methods, and instructional technology.

PROFESSION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY Description of physical therapy as a profession in the United States including history, professional organization,, roles of the physical therapist and related personnel, and scope of practice.

INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS Constructs of the U.S. health care system, with emphasis on how system components influence patient referrals, delivery of care, and reimbursement. The course focuses on the health care system’s influence on rehabilitation services with emphasis on allied health.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I Introduction to the Practice Act, Code of Ethics, roles of paraprofessionals, professional and ethical behavior, and effective communication styles. Instruction in clinical education teams, models of clinical education and assessment of clinical performance.

MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAMINATION AND EVALUATION A clinical decision-making model for assessment of musculoskeletal problems. Emphasis on problems related to the extremities, but some basic evaluation techniques for cervical and lumbar regions are introduced. Assessment includes subjective history taking and objective measurements, passive ROM and goniometry, manual muscle testing, flexibility testing, special orthopedic tests, and posture analysis.

BIOMECHANICS Application of mechanical principles to human movement. Particular attention is directed towards studying the effect of forces in producing normal movement. Students are required to apply their knowledge of anatomy towards understanding individual joint function, as well as the integrated function of several joints during complex activities such as normal gait.

ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC MODALITIES AND PHYSICAL AGENTS The study of the biophysical, physiological, and clinical principles and procedures associated with the application of electromagnetic and acoustic energy in the treatment of pathological conditions.

THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE A comprehensive analysis of the physiology of skeletal muscle, including a review of developmental concepts and adaptations of muscle to changes in activity and hormone/drug levels. Forms of exercise are analyzed in terms of their physiological effects and their relationship to training and treatment programs. 

CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY The study of human physiology from a clinical perspective. Addresses normal function in the primary physiologic systems and how physical therapy interventions influence system functions. Introduces pathophysiologic syndromes common to patients receiving physical therapy treatment. Describes physiologic responses in patients receiving specific physical therapy interventions.

PATHOLOGY FOR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS Examination of the components of general disease and injury processes and specific components of selected diseases likely to be encountered in physical therapy practice.

SOFT TISSUE AND PERIPHERAL JOINT EXAMINATION AND MOBILIZATION This lecture and lab course is an introduction to the physical therapy methods of stretching, soft tissue treatment techniques, and mobilization of peripheral joints.

RESEARCH I  Descriptive and interferential statistics with an emphasis on interpretation of basic science and clinical research studies.