AHPT 828: Theory and Practice II
Prerequisite: Students must successfully complete AHPT 826 or permission of the Department
Credit Hours: (4)
Theory and Practice II focuses on treatment intervention techniques such as therapeutic
exercise, massage, extremity mobilization, spinal tractions, and prepares students
to design, implement, and evaluate intervention programs. The course prepares students
to perform patient interventions specifically in the outpatient setting, acute care,
subacute, rehabilitation, and homecare environments. The course integrates learning
content from anatomy, neuroanatomy, patient management courses, clinical medicine,
and kinesiology-biomechanics. Theory and Practice II preapres tudents to participate
successfully in their first clinical experience.
Detailed Description of Course
The course focuses on treatment intervention techniques such as therapeutic exercise,
massage, extremity mobilization, spinal tractions, and prepares students to design,
implement, and evaluate intervention programs. The course prepares students to perform
patient interventions specifically in the outpatient setting, acute care, subacute,
rehabilitation, and homecare environments. The course integrates learning content
from anatomy, neuroanatomy, patient management courses, clinical medicine and kinesiology-biomechanics.
Theory and Practice II prepares students to participate successfully in their first
clinical internship experience.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Instructional methods may include lecture, physical demonstration, oral presentations
(student), student demonstrations (laboratory) laboratory competency testing, and
practical laboratory examinations. Student may also engage in evidence-based practice
during oral presentations and student demonstrations of the application of modalities
and exercise interventions found in patient care
Goals and Objectives of this Course
Will require students to:
1) Describe the factors that affect exercise prescription;
2) Identify and apply components of safety guidelines in an exercise prescription ;
3) Analyze and apply resistive exercise program to meet patient needs;
4) Synthesize and apply theories of strength development;
5) Define specific terms related to stretching such as contracture, soft tissue tightness, irreversible contracture, overstretching, and selective stretching;
6) Describe the physiological effects of massage;
7) Define types of traction and reasons for their application;
8) Identify and apply contraindications for therapeutic exercise activities;
9) Define the effects of mobilization;
10) Identify indications and goals for therapeutic exercise during each stage of tissue healing process;
11) Apply active and passive ROM techniques;
12) Identify the benefits and procedures for the use of continuous passive motion equipment;
13) Describe the precautions, contraindications and guidelines for soft tissue stretching;
14) Identify equipment commonly used in the care and life support of a hospitalized patient (e.g., nasal gastric tubes, catheters, IV lines);
15) Describe joint mobilization theory with respect to treating hypomobile joints and pain;
16) Differentiate exercises aimed to improve strength, power, and muscular endurance;
17) Describe the differences between open and closed chain exercises;
18) Identify the principles of application of manual resistive exercises;
19) Apply the use of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques to develop strength and increase ROM;
20) Discuss and demonstrate various forms of and indications for relaxation exercises;
21) Discuss the goals and rationale for massage;
22) Identify goals and apply indications for and contraindications for extremity mobilization;
23) Identify the effects of spinal traction;
24) Identify and apply indications, precautions, and contraindications for the use of spinal traction;
25) Describe safety rules and procedures for mechanical and manual traction techniques;
26) Identify potential learning needs and learning styles to best meet patient needs;
27) Demonstrate proper techniques when applying stretching procedures to the spine and extremities;
28) Examine joint mobility and apply appropriate joint mobilization techniques;
29) Demonstrate professional behavior and the ability to effectively communicate when providing patient education;
30) Apply basic mechanical, positional, and manual traction techniques to the spine;
31) Apply appropriate spinal stabilization exercise;
32) Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of isometric, isotonic and isokinetic and plyometric strengthening programs;
33) Assess various exercise program outcomes to see if they met patient goals
34) Prescribe, monitor and modify a thorough and appropriate home exercise program based on the needs of the patient and team.
35) Design and critique treatment programs for patients throughout each stage of the healing process;
36) Design, monitor, and modify a treatment plan for a hypothetical patient in both acute and subacute settings with multiple diagnoses, identifying the factors influencing patient care;
37) Organize, plan, and deliver an educational workshop or lecture for a local school or community agency ;
38) Evaluate and critique the performance of a peer student while they are instructing a hypothetical patient in an exercise program;
39) Compare two forms of treatment for a hypothetical patient scenario and choose the most appropriate treatment based on the individual patient's needs;
40) Critique the current literature related to therapeutic exercise, massage, mobilization and traction;
41) Practice in a safe setting and manner to minimize risk to patients, PTs, and others;
42) Evaluate the performance of peer students during debate assignment;
43) Evaluate and examine joint mobility and perform proper joint mobilization techniques.
Assessment Measures
May include by are not limited to:
Examinations, practical lab examinations, and laboratory competency testing .
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
April 30th, 2018
February 10, 2014