Rehabilitation Techniques

Describe the physical therapy management of patients with selected diseases and disorders; demonstrate rehabilitation techniques for diseases and disorders; and demonstrate communication skills.

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

1. Understand the process of finding and securing a job.
2. Understand the roles of selected providers in the treatment of athletic injuries.
3. Understand energy conservation consistent with the physical therapy plan of care
4. Understand the effects of aging on individuals and the rehabilitation process.
5. Understand the role of physical therapy in the treatment of cardiac conditions.
6. Understand the role of physical therapy in the treatment of respiratory conditions.
7. Understand the classification and characteristics of burns and the physical therapy component of burn management.
8. Understand the role of physical therapy in women’s health.
9. Understand the role of physical therapy in treatment of patients with diabetes.
10. Understand the role of physical therapy in the treatment of amputees.
11. Understand the function and use of selected orthotics.
12. Understand the characteristics of normal and abnormal development and their impact on the rehabilitation process.
13. Understand the requirements and components of occupational rehabilitation programs and physical therapy techniques typically used in the rehabilitation of injured workers.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the process of finding and securing a job. (F1, F2, F11, C5, C6, C7)
   1. Describe the essential elements of an effective résumé and cover letter.
   2. Prepare a résumé for submission to potential employers.
   3. Describe effective interview strategies.
2. Understand the roles of selected providers in the treatment of athletic injuries
   1. Identify and describe typical components of a sports medicine program.
   2. Identify characteristics of sports injuries.
   3. Describe the role of the athletic trainer.
   4. Identify precautions and safety concerns for the application and use of supportive taping.
   5. Perform selected athletic taping procedures.
   6. Describe patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
   7. Describe / discuss the role of athletic taping procedures in achieving short and long term goals within the plan of care.
3. Understand energy conservation consistent with the physical therapy plan of care. (F1, F2, F11, C5, C6, C7)
   1. Describe various principles of energy conservation consistent with the physical therapy plan of care.
4. Understand the effects of aging on individuals and the rehabilitation process. (F1, F9, F11, C5, C7)
   1. Identify and describe normal and pathological physiological aspects of aging that impact the provision of physical therapy.
   2. Identify and describe psychosocial aspects of aging that impact the provision of physical therapy.
   3. Describe the rationale for modifications in the provision of physical therapy to geriatric patients.
   4. Identify and describe typical modifications for geriatric physical therapy interventions.
   5. Identify safety factors and precautions specific to geriatric physical therapy interventions.
   6. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
5. Understand the role of physical therapy in the treatment of cardiac conditions. (F1, F9, F11, C5, C7)
   1. Identify and describe selected cardiac pathologies and their clinical manifestations.
   2. Describe the rationale for cardiac rehabilitation.
   3. Identify and describe important components of a cardiac rehabilitation program.
   4. Identify safety factors and precautions specific to a cardiac rehabilitation program.
   5. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
   6. Explain the role of physical therapy interventions for cardiac rehabilitation in achieving short and long term goals within the plan of care.
6. Understand the role of physical therapy in the treatment of respiratory conditions. (F1, F9, F11, C5, C7)
   1. Identify and describe selected respiratory pathologies and their clinical manifestations.
   2. Describe the rationale for physical therapy in the treatment of respiratory conditions.
   3. Identify and describe basic techniques for examination of the respiratory patient to include cough and sputum characteristics, chest wall expansion and excursion, recognition of cyanosis, thoracoabdominal movements and breathing patterns with activity, and activities that affect symptoms.
   4. Identify and describe important components of a physical therapy program for respiratory conditions.
   5. Identify safety factors and precautions specific to a physical therapy program for respiratory conditions.
   6. Explain and/or demonstrate performance of selected respiratory physical therapy interventions to include breathing exercises and coughing techniques.
   7. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
   8. Explain the role of respiratory physical therapy interventions in achieving short and long term goals within the plan of care.
7. Understand the classification and characteristics of burns and the physical therapy component of burn management. (F1, F9, F11, C5, C7)
   1. Identify critical aspects of acute burn care.
   2. Describe the rationale for physical therapy intervention in burn care.
   3. Identify and describe important components of a physical therapy program for burn injury.
   4. Identify safety factors and precautions specific to a physical therapy program for burn injury.
   5. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
   6. Explain the role of physical therapy interventions for burn care in achieving short and long term goals within the plan of care
8. Understand the role of physical therapy in women’s health. (F1, F2, F11, C5, C6, C7)
   1. Describe how prenatal and postnatal exercise can be of benefit to patients.
   2. Identify treatment considerations for the pregnant patient.
   3. Define urinary incontinence.
   4. Identify treatment considerations for urinary incontinence.
   5. Identify common women’s health problems in physical therapy today.
   6. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
9. Understand the role of physical therapy in treatment of patients with diabetes. (F1, F2, F11, C5, C6, C7)
   1. Identify risk factors associated with diabetes.
   2. Identify the different types of diabetes from a pathophysiologic perspective.
   3. Describe the diabetic exercise mode based on current evidence.
   4. Identify precautions related to physical therapy treatment for the diabetic patient.
   5. Identify common foot deformities for the patient with diabetes.
   6. Given a plan of care and under the supervision and direction of a licensed physical therapist, develop a treatment plan for a patient with diabetes.
10. Understand the role of physical therapy in the treatment of amputees. (F1, F9, F11, C5, C7)
    1. Identify and describe various causes and levels of amputation and describe their functional implications.
    2. Describe the rationale for physical therapy intervention in amputee care.
    3. Identify and describe typical components of a pre-prosthetic and a prosthetic physical therapy program.
    4. Identify safety factors and precautions specific to pre-prosthetic and prosthetic physical therapy programs.
    5. Identify and explain typical prosthetic care instructions to be given to patients/caregivers.
    6. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
    7. Explain the role of physical therapy interventions for amputees in achieving short and long term goals within the plan of care.
11. Understand the function and use of selected orthotics. (F1, F9, F11, C5, C7)
    1. Describe the rationale for use of orthotics.
    2. Identify the function of various types of orthotics.
    3. Identify safety factors, precautions and application guidelines for proper use of selected orthotics.
    4. Identify and explain typical orthotic care instructions to be given to patients/caregivers.
    5. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
    6. Explain the role of orthotics in achieving short and long term goals within the plan of care.
12. Understand the characteristics of normal and abnormal development and their impact on the rehabilitation process. (F1, F9, F11, C5, C7)
    1. Identify and describe the normal sensorimotor developmental sequence from birth to three years.
    2. Identify and describe selected neonatal reflexes and righting and equilibrium reactions.
    3. Explain the interrelationship between the developmental sequence and neonatal and postural reflexes.
    4. Describe the relevance of developmental activities to the provision of physical therapy
    5. Describe the rationale for modifications in the provision of physical therapy to pediatric patients.
    6. Identify and describe typical modifications for pediatric physical therapy interventions.
    7. Identify safety factors and precautions specific to the provision of physical therapy to pediatric patients.
    8. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
13. Understand the requirements and components of occupational rehabilitation programs and physical therapy techniques typically used in the rehabilitation of injured workers. (F1, F9, F11, C5, C7)
    1. Describe the requirements for occupational rehabilitation programs in Texas.
    2. Describe the rationale for occupational rehabilitation and differences between occupational rehabilitation and other rehabilitation programs.
    3. Identify and describe typical components of occupational rehabilitation programs.
    4. Identify and explain patient responses that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.
    5. Explain the role of physical therapy interventions for occupational rehabilitation in achieving short and long term goals within the plan of care.