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Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal 1

General Information

In this subject students will integrate and extend their knowledge of clinically related musculoskeletal anatomy and tissue response to disease and trauma. The physiotherapist’s role in enhancing normal tissue healing and repair will be introduced. The impact of different conditions (rheumatological, degenerative, acute and repetitive trauma) upon the upper and lower limb and vertebral column will be explored.  Students will develop their ability to assess clients encountered in the inpatient orthopaedic and outpatient settings. Using sound clinical reasoning and evidence based approaches students will construct, evaluate and modify treatment to meet short- and long-term client goals.

Academic unit: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine
Subject code: PHTY71-402
Subject title: Physiotherapy: Musculoskeletal 1
Subject level: Postgraduate
Semester/Year: May 2022
Credit points: 20.000

Enrolment requirements

Requisites:

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites:

Assumed knowledge:

Assumed knowledge is the minimum level of knowledge of a subject area that students are assumed to have acquired through previous study. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they meet the assumed knowledge expectations of the subject. Students who do not possess this prior knowledge are strongly recommended against enrolling and do so at their own risk. No concessions will be made for students’ lack of prior knowledge.

Restrictions:

Nil

Assurance of learning

Assurance of Learning means that universities take responsibility for creating, monitoring and updating curriculum, teaching and assessment so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need for employability and/or further study.

At Bond University, we carefully develop subject and program outcomes to ensure that student learning in each subject contributes to the whole student experience. Students are encouraged to carefully read and consider subject and program outcomes as combined elements.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Program Learning Outcomes provide a broad and measurable set of standards that incorporate a range of knowledge and skills that will be achieved on completion of the program. If you are undertaking this subject as part of a degree program, you should refer to the relevant degree program outcomes and graduate attributes as they relate to this subject.

Find your program

Subject Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject the learner will be able to:

  1. Explain the pathogenesis and common clinical signs and symptoms of upper and lower limb conditions across the life span (using knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and the mechanisms of healing and repair in different musculoskeletal tissues including muscle, tendon, cartilage, ligament, bone, and nerve), with consideration to the impact that biopsychosocial factors have on a patient's presentation.
  2. Conduct a simulated patient / client interview, incorporating a structured clinical reasoning framework that includes informed consent, analyse findings and development of a provisional diagnosis for musculoskeletal conditions of the vertebral column, and peripheral systems.
  3. Plan and perform an appropriate physical examination safely, based on the provisional diagnosis for patients / clients with vertebral, upper and lower limb musculoskeletal conditions (including fractures in the immobilisation or post immobilisation phase, spinal surgery, rheumatological, degenerative, overuse or traumatic conditions and pre and post joint replacement).
  4. Interpret and prioritise assessment results to confirm the primary provisional diagnosis and design an appropriate treatment intervention using evidence based rationale to meet short- and long-term client goals.
  5. Perform, analyse and modify treatment interventions safely, efficiently and effectively with informed consent. These interventions may include one or a combination of the following; manual therapy, exercise therapy, electrophysical modalities, prescription of mobility and assistive devices, health maintenance and promotion, and behavioural interventions to maximise treatment compliance.
  6. Select appropriate outcome measures to evaluate treatment intervention effectiveness and where necessary modify the intervention using clinical reasoning and knowledge of the evidence for practice.
  7. Accurately document physiotherapy assessment, treatment, patient goals, handover notes and discharge plans in the legal format required by relevant institutions (hospital inpatient and out patient, community and private practice settings).
  8. Effectively communicate in a culturally appropriate manner with peers, educators and simulated clients.
  9. Describe the mechanisms of action for pharmacological agents commonly used to treat musculoskeletal acute, subacute and persistent pain conditions for inpatient orthopaedic patient/clients.
  10. Describe and contrast the indications and interpretation of current medical imaging techniques for different musculoskeletal pathologies.
  11. Discuss and compare current musculoskeletal orthopaedic surgical procedures for the vertebral column, upper and lower limbs.
  12. Demonstrate effective collaborative leadership and teaching skills with a commitment to learning and evidence based practice in the context of a healthcare team.

Generative Artificial Intelligence in Assessment

The University acknowledges that Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) tools are an important facet of contemporary life. Their use in assessment is considered in line with students’ development of the skills and knowledge which demonstrate learning outcomes and underpin study and career success. Instructions on the use of Gen-AI are given for each assessment task; it is your responsibility to adhere to these instructions.

Type Task % Timing* Outcomes assessed
Paper-based Test (Closed) The test will assess content delivered in Semester 212 and 222. Assessment date Semester 231 Bond Week 8. 10% Week 8 1,4,6,9,10,11
OSCE^ The OSCE will assess content delivered in Semester 212 and 222. Assessment date Semester 231 within Bond Week 5 50% Week 8 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,11
Portfolio The portfolio will be linked to subject content delivered in the subject occurring in Semester 222. Due date Semester 222 Bond Week 11 30% Week 11 1,4,6,7,9,10,11
Presentation§ In small groups students will present an infographic poster on an allocated musculoskeletal condition OR management approach. The infographic must demonstrate current evidence based knowledge about the allocated topic. Submission date Bond Week 11 S222 10% Week 11 1,6,8,10,11,12
  • ^ Students must pass this assessment to pass the subject
  • § Indicates group/teamwork-based assessment
  • * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
  • C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.

Pass requirement

Students must attain 50% or more in the OSCE assessment to achieve a pass in this assessment. The student must attain a cumulative mark of 50% or more for the following three assessments in order to achieve a pass: Portfolio, Infographic, and Written Exam.

Study Information

Submission procedures

Students must check the iLearn@Bond subject site for detailed assessment information and submission procedures.

Policy on late submission and extensions

A late penalty will be applied to all overdue assessment tasks unless an extension is granted by the subject coordinator. The standard penalty will be 10% of marks awarded to that assessment per day late with no assessment to be accepted seven days after the due date. Where a student is granted an extension, the penalty of 10% per day late starts from the new due date.

Academic Integrity

University’s Academic Integrity Policy defines plagiarism as the act of misrepresenting as one’s own original work: another’s ideas, interpretations, words, or creative works; and/or one’s own previous ideas, interpretations, words, or creative work without acknowledging that it was used previously (i.e., self-plagiarism). The University considers the act of plagiarising to be a breach of the Student Conduct Code and, therefore, subject to the Discipline Regulations which provide for a range of penalties including the reduction of marks or grades, fines and suspension from the University.

Bond University utilises Originality Reporting software to inform academic integrity.

Feedback on assessment

Feedback on assessment will be provided to students within two weeks of the assessment submission due date, as per the Assessment Policy.

Accessibility and Inclusion Support

If you have a disability, illness, injury or health condition that impacts your capacity to complete studies, exams or assessment tasks, it is important you let us know your special requirements, early in the semester. Students will need to make an application for support and submit it with recent, comprehensive documentation at an appointment with a Disability Officer. Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Office at the earliest possible time, to meet staff and learn about the services available to meet your specific needs. Please note that late notification or failure to disclose your disability can be to your disadvantage as the University cannot guarantee support under such circumstances.

Additional subject information

This subject aims to address the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. (Please refer to the subject supplement guide for mapping of the subject Learning Outcomes to the Physiotherapy Roles and Key Competencies outlined in the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand).

Subject curriculum

Approved on: Mar 11, 2022. Edition: 2.1
Last updated: Nov 10, 2022