PTA.-202 Musculoskeletal Interventions I

Credits 5 / 3.5 Contact Hours
Pre-requisite: Placement into ENGL-100 (ACSR-100), completion of ELAP-120 with a 2.0, or completion of RDNG-030, ACLT-075 or ACLT-076 Co-requisite: Student must also enroll in one section of PTA.-202L
The study of pathology medical treatment and therapeutic interventions associated with musculoskeletal injuries/conditions. Practical application of interventions for spine and upper extremity musculoskeletal conditions.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of the course the student will demonstrate the ability to: 1. Apply the principles of acute, sub-acute and chronic patient status and treatment phases to lower extremity orthopedic cases. 2. Describe the following for upper extremity and spine musculoskeletal conditions: a. Pathology b. Etiology c. clinical findings d. medical treatment e. limit of scope of care a PTA is able to provide for the given diagnosis 3. Describe the principles of therapeutic exercise including, but not limited to, indications, contraindications, precautions for the following interventions. a. Positioning/support b. PROM c. Therapeutic exercise i. Posture awareness and body mechanics ii. ROM exercises iii. Stretching exercises iv. Strengthening exercises v. Basic upper extremity PNF vi. Stabilization exercises vii. Closed chain exercises viii. Functional exercises 4. Communication a. Communicates verbally and non-verbally with the simulated patient and the physical therapist in an effective, appropriate, and capable manner in the lab/practical setting. b. Completes thorough, accurate, logical, concise, timely, and legible documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies 5. Behavior and Conduct a. Exhibits conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical and safe. b. Recognizes when the direction to perform an intervention is beyond that which is appropriate for a physical therapist assistant and initiates clarification with the physical therapist in a lab/practical setting. 6. Education of Others a. Participates in educating patients, including home exercise programs 7. Plan of Care (as applied in the classroom/lab/practical setting) a. Demonstrates an understanding of the plan of care developed by the physical therapist to achieve short and long term goals and intended outcomes. b. Adjusts interventions within the plan of care established by the physical therapist in response to patient clinical indications and reports this to the supervising physical therapist. c. Recognizes when intervention should not be provided due to changes in the patient’s status and reports this to the supervising physical therapist d. Report any changes in the patient’s status to the supervising physical therapist e. Participates in discharge planning and follow-up as directed by the supervising physical therapist 8. Demonstrates competence in a lab setting in implementing selected components of interventions identified in the plan of care established by the physical therapist in lower extremity case studies. Including: a. Functional Training i. Body mechanics ii. Gait and locomotion training b. Manual Therapy Techniques i. PROM c. Therapeutic exercise i. Balance/coordination training ii. Posture awareness and body mechanics iii. ROM exercises iv. Stretching exercises v. Strengthening exercises vi. Basic upper extremity PNF vii. Stabilization exercises viii. Closed chain exercises ix. Functional exercises 9. Demonstrates continued competency in performing components of data collections skills in a lab setting as related to orthopedic lower extremity including: a. Joint Integrity and Mobility i. Recognizes normal and abnormal joint movement b. Muscle Performance i. Measures muscle strength by manual muscle testing c. Pain i. Recognizes activities, positioning, and postures that aggravate or relieve pain or altered sensations d. Posture i. Describes resting posture in any position ii. Recognizes alignment of trunk and extremities at rest and during activities e. Range of Motion i. Measures functional range of motion ii. Measures range of motion using a goniometer 10. Demonstrate proper body mechanics of self during lab activities.