Orthopaedic Physiotherapy PG (11505.2)

This unit introduces musculoskeletal and structural injury and trauma, and degenerative and inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. It advances the student's understanding of structural and functional musculoskeletal anatomy in the context of musculoskeletal trauma and disease. Physiotherapy, surgery, and therapeutic exercise are introduced and explored for these traumatic and degenerative conditions. There will be a focus on developing knowledge about prevention and evidence-based management of chronic musculoskeletal diseases. Further emphasis will also be placed on developing skills in the prevention and management of physical problems secondary to these trauma injuries and degenerative conditions.

This unit may be co-taught with the undergraduate unit 8975 Orthopaedic Physiotherapy.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of musculoskeletal trauma including fracture classification;
2. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
3. Understand and identify patient problems and principles for physiotherapy management of orthopaedic patients, and be able to discuss this in the context of current evidence;
4. Develop communication skills for talking with, and writing to, professional and lay people;
5. Choose and apply appropriate basic physiotherapy management for routine orthopaedic problems; and
6. Demonstrate safety in manual skills

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

This unit is only available to students enrolled in 768AA Master of Physiotherapy
Students must be concurrently enrolled in, or have already passed, 6447 Cardiothoracic Interventions 1 PG AND
6449 Musculoskeletal Interventions 1 PG OR 11985 Musculoskeletal Interventions 1 PG

Incompatible units

8975 Orthopaedic Physiotherapy

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

Anatomy, functional anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics as per the prerequisites for entry into the Master of Physiotherapy course.