PTA.-102 Physical Therapy I

Credits 2 / 1 Contact Hours
Pre-requisite: Coordinator’s signature required to register; Placement into College Level Reading, completion of ELAP-120 with a 2.0 or higher, or successful completion of ACRD-090, ACRD-091 or ACRD-092; BIOL-151 and PSYC-281 . Pre- or Co-requisite: PTA.-102L, BIOL-152 , OTPT-100 and OTPT-113.
A study of the history and practice of physical therapy including an understanding of various health care settings; theory and practical application of basic Physical Therapy data collection and treatment interventions; and an introduction to patient care note writing.

Course Outcomes
Unit I: Introduction to Physical Therapy

1. Define physical therapy and state primary goals for care. 2. Outline the history of physical therapy. 3. Describe structure and function of health care settings including: acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient orthopedics and rehabilitation, community care settings, home health care and industrial care. 4. Describe members of the health care team in various settings. 5. Describe and discuss the roles and responsibilities of physical therapy personnel. 6. Define a glossary of terms and abbreviations used in medicine and physical therapy. 7. Write patient care notes using SOAP format. 8. Describe and discuss psychological and physical barriers to handicapped access in a variety of settings. 9. Discuss understanding of physical therapy, comparing clinical observation with class discussion. 10. Perform values self-assessment and relate its importance to the patient care environment. 11. Interact with other members of the health care team in patient-care and non patient-care activities (simulated) 12. Recognize the role of the physical therapist assistant in the clinical education of physical therapist assistant students 13. Service Learning: to provide OTA and PTA students an opportunity to collaborate on a service learning activity.

Unit II: Basic Physical Therapy Data Collection and Interventions

14. Describe vital signs and recognize normal and abnormal values of BP, HR, temperature, and respiration. 15. Measure standard vital signs in lab setting. 16. Describe the purpose of universal precautions/infection control including hand-washing, use of protective barrier equipment in the clinic 17. Teach gait activities a. Fitting of assistive devices (walker, axillary crutches, cane) b. Basic gait patterns (standard and modified 3 point) c. Demonstrate safe technique and progression d. Describe the safety, status, and progression of patients while engaged in gait. 18. Perform thermal modalities (hot packs, paraffin, fluidotherapy, cold pack, contrast bath, ice massage, vapocoolant spray, US, SWD) interventions under supervision of a physical therapist including: a. preparation of equipment/patient b. explanation of procedure/purpose of modality c. safety precautions followed: skin inspection, H-C test, bell within reach, contraindications, standard (universal) precautions d. positioning of patient/modality e. monitor patient response f. respond to patient check g. effectiveness of treatment h. infection control behavior/consideration