PT0006 - Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency: Advanced Musculoskeletal Management Lower Quarter
Course Description
Using the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) for Orthopedic Physical Therapy, this course focuses on advanced differential diagnosis, physical therapy intervention, clinical decision making, and overall management of patients with lower quarter region musculoskeletal disorders. Evidence from peer-reviewed literature will serve as the foundation of course material. Case study analysis will be used to enhance students’ clinical decision making. Physical examination, exercise interventions, and manual therapy procedures will be addressed for each lower quarter region including the lumbar, pelvic, hip, knee, ankle, and foot regions during weekend course work. Weekend course work will be enhanced by participants’ independent study and on-line coursework. Students will participate in on-line coursework using the Blackboard system for interactive discussions with faculty and other course members, access to journal articles, and viewing of lecture materials.
Learner Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course students will be able to:
- Conduct a comprehensive examination for patients with musculoskeletal disorders involving the lumbar, pelvic, hip, knee, and foot/ankle regions.
- Perform a differential diagnosis for patients with lower quarter musculoskeletal disorders and identify patients who require referral to another health care provider.
- Perform selected tests and measures of the lumbar, pelvis, hip, knee, and foot/ankle regions in order to rule in or rule out specific diagnoses, measure impairments, and assist with classifying the patient’s disorder.
- Evaluate the information gathered in the examination to arrive at patient care decisions, including diagnosis, prognosis, and a plan of care.
- Perform skilled manual therapy interventions for lumbar, pelvis, hip, knee, and foot/ankle regions.
- Integrate patient-related instruction, therapeutic exercise, functional training in self-care, and use of adjunctive devices and equipment into the plan of care based on the current, best evidence.
- Utilize classification schemes to assist with matching the plan care to patients’ specific impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.
- Apply selected clinical prediction rules to the management of patients with lower quarter region musculoskeletal disorders.
- Measure impairment, function, disability, and health related quality of life outcomes for patients with musculoskeletal disorders of the lower quarter region.
Prerequisites
Active License to Practice as a Physical Therapist
Currently providing at least 20 hours of direct out-patient musculoskeletal physical therapy care per week