Presents the etiology, course, prognosis, medical intervention, and treatment of orthopedic conditions of the spine. Covers physical therapy intervention. Guided lab setting.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Spine
- Neuorvascular Healing
- Postural Assessment
- Lumbar Spine: Disorders
- Lumbar Spine: Palpation and Special Tests
- Lumbar Spine: Treatment
- Lumbar Spine: Mobility
- Lumbar Spine: Stability
- Pelvic Girdle and Hip: Disorders
- Pelvic Girdle and Hip: Palpation and Special Tests
- Pelvic Girdle and Hip: Treatment
- Cervical Spine: Disorders
- Cervical Spine: Palpation and Special Tests
- Cervical Spine: Treatment
- Cervical Spine: Mobility
- Cervical Spine: Stability
- Temporalmandibular Joint (TMJ): Disorders
- TMJ: Palpation and Special Tests
- TMJ: Treatment
- Thoracic Spine: Disorders
- Thoracic Spine: Treatment
- Manual Therapy Techniques
- Discharge Planning
- Identify key clinical findings for various types of tissue lesions associated with orthopedic injuries of the spine
- Analyze the effects of immobilization and degeneration on orthopedic injuries of the spine.
- Describe normal and abnormal alignment and movement of the head and trunk at rest and during specific movement tasks.
- Assess and identify postural abnormalities and asymmetry on a mock patient.
- Differentiate the clinical manifestations, etiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of various orthopedic injuries of the spine including chronic pain as well as the TMJ.
- Identify various orthopedic congenital deformities of the spine, the clinical manifestations, and management of these disorders.
- Describe the common surgical procedures for the spine including management and special precautions related to each procedure.
- Describe the common evaluation procedures and special tests utilized by the physical therapist for patients with an orthopedic injury of the spine and pelvic girdle. Explain what the results of these tests indicate.
- Describe how to perform a claudication time test for a non-complex patient.
- Recognize architectural barriers and recommend appropriate assistive, adaptive, or protective equipment for the patient with an orthopedic injury of the spine.
- Observe the performance level of a spinal orthopedic patient with respect to adaptive skills, community/work/leisure activities, environmental and work tasks, and self-care and home management activities with or without the use of devices or equipment.
- Recognize physiological responses of patients with an orthopedic injury of the spine during community/work/leisure activities, nonroutine occurrences, and self-care and home management activities.
- Recognize components of safe community and work environments for patients with an orthopedic injury of the spine with the goal of injury prevention.
- Develop and present an instructional training program (such as body mechanics and postural awareness training) to prevent an orthopedic injury of the spine.
- Demonstrate proper positioning, handling, and transferring of patients with an orthopedic injury of the spine.
- Instruct spinal orthopedic patients in therapeutic exercise and functional activities for self-care, home management, community and work reintegration.
- Develop a treatment plan, within the Physical Therapist (PT) plan of care, for various types of orthopedic injuries of the spine progressing from first day of treatment through discharge including a home exercise program.
- Provide functional training in self-care, home management, community, or work for patients with a spinal orthosis.
- Develop appropriate interventions for patients with spinal conditions and TMJ disorders based upon the PT plan of care.
Assessment and Requirements
The assessment standards will consist of written exams, quizzes, written assignments, case studies, group presentation, cumulative final written exam, and final lab practical.
Students must pass this course with a “C” or better to remain in the PTA Program. They must pass at least one of the written exams, with at least an 80%. For each written exam the student does not pass, he/she will also be required to complete a written review of the exam to be submitted to the instructor prior to taking the final exam. Students must demonstrate competence in the lab practical according to the PTA Program Student Handbook, in order to pass this course. Failure to complete these standards will result in required remediation or dismissal from the PTA Program.
Instructors (or their designees) reserve the right to require students to provide picture identification for test taking, graded papers or projects or other appropriate purposes.
to be determined by program faculty.