Physical Agents

Class

Biophysical principles, physiological effects, efficacy, and application of physical agents. Forty –Eight lecture hours and Thirty-two lecture hours and ninety-six lab hours per semester.

Course Learning Objectives

1. Identify the rationale, physiological effects and indications of each physical agent.
2. Explain the role of physical agents in achieving short and long term goals within the plan of care.
3. List and/or explain contraindications and precautions of each physical agent.
4. Review operation of equipment and necessary supplies prior to performance of a treatment.
5. Inspect and assess sensation of the area to be treated.
6. Explain purpose and effects of each physical agent to patient prior to application.
7. Explain and/or demonstrate skill in the application of each physical agent according to the guidelines established.
8. Monitor the patient's response to each of the physical agents applied and modify the treatment as indicated.
9. Document application of and patient’s response to physical agents.
10. Visually identify normal versus abnormal skin responses (including but not limited to color, blanching and mottling) to application of the physical agents listed above.
11. Identify normal versus abnormal changes in vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiration and temperature) in response to application of the physical agents listed above.
12. Demonstrate skill in assessment of degree of the edema before and after treatment using circumferential measurement; explain and/or demonstrate assessment using volumetric water displacement.
13. Use palpation to assess soft tissue and skin temperature.
14. Identify and explain responses to treatment that necessitate immediate action or adjustments within the plan of care and communication with the supervising physical therapist.

Required Textbooks

Physical Agents in Rehabilitation: From Research to Practice; 5^th Edition; M. Cameron; Elsevier, 2018

Outcome-Based Massage; 3^rd Edition; C. Andrade & P. Clifford; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2013

Course Packet: PTHA 1531 Course Packet for Spring 2018 (available in Canvas classroom)

Evaluation Standards

In order to receive credit for this course, all students must:

1. Complete all unit exams.

2. Complete laboratory check-offs with a minimum grade of C.

3. Complete all assigned Canvas assignments/projects and class presentations.

4. Complete the final exam.

Grade Compilation

Unit Tests 50%

Final Exam 25%

Lab Check-offs 15%

Assignments 5%

Quizzes 5%

Grading Scale

A	90-100%
B	80-89%
C	75-79%
F	<75%

Failed Lab Practical and Skills Check offs

Lab practical examinations and/or skills check-offs will be given to assess the student’s proficiency in laboratory skills taught. ALL lab skill check-off assessments and Lab Practical examinations must be successfully completed and passed. When lab skill check-offs are assigned prior to a lab practical examination, failure to complete ANY of the laboratory skills check offs will result in the inability to sit for the lab practical, resulting in a grade of zero. Students are required to pass all lab practical examinations and skills check offs with a minimum of 75% in order to pass the class. The student will be given 3 opportunities to correct a failed lab practical exam (LPE) and/or check-offs with grade deductions for each attempt. In the event that the student does not pass a LPE or a check off, the student will fail the lab portion of the class, and fail the course and will not be allowed to continue in the PTA program. Both the lab and lecture portions of each class must be passed with a 75% for the student to receive a passing grade in the class. The grade deductions are noted in the course syllabus and on the LPE and check-off forms.

FAILURE OF AN EXAM

If a student makes below a passing grade on an exam (makes a grade below 75%) they are required to seek counseling and remediation from the instructor for the course. It is the students’ responsibility to seek out the instructor promptly for this counseling and remediation during the instructors posted office hours by appointment. If the student fails to contact the instructor within an appropriate time to get remediation prior to the next examination, they are outside the department policy and are subject to disciplinary action. The instructor and student will develop a plan for the student to show competency in knowledge of the material.

If the student fails to show competency in the subject matter, or fails to maintain an overall average above 75% on major exams, the student will not be allowed to pass the class, continue onto other coursework, or continue to clinical rotations. Major exams are defined as the all unit exams and include the final exam. They do not include quizzes, assignments, or daily coursework. All lab Practical exams and check offs must be successfully passed with a 75 or above in order to continue with the program. See the failed lab practical policy above.

For the student who scores below a 75% on a major exam, remediation and reassessment of knowledge must be done. The instructor may employ various methods to determine and reassess the competency and may require a student to retest. However, a student who makes below a 65% on a major exam, must re-test for competency. The student can bring their exam score up to a maximum of a 75% one time only, on the first failed test making a grade below a 65%. If the grade on the re-test is lower than the first attempt, the lower grade will be used in recording and calculation the exam and overall course average. Additional counseling and remediation will be necessary to ensure competency in that material. Students must make a minimum overall score of 75% and a minimum average of 75% on major exams to pass all PTHA classes and continue in the program. If a student academically fails out of the program they have a right to appeal by following the Health Science Technology Appeals procedure located in the PTA Program Student handbook. The student has the opportunity to re-apply to the program. See the Readmission policy for more information.

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL

Students in the PTA Program must successfully complete all general education courses with at least a “C” to continue in the PTA program. If a student makes below a 75% in any PTHA course, they will not be allowed to continue in the program and will be academically dismissed. Additionally, you must maintain a passing average of 75% of major exams, and pass all check offs and lab practical exams in each course to be able to show competency and continue in the program. Major exams are defined as unit tests and includes the final exam. Bonus points or extra credit points will only be awarded after competency is met. If a student does not meet the competency guidelines bonus points will not be applied. See the Bonus Point/Extra Credit Policy in the PTA Program Handbook.

Students must also complete each clinical course with at least a “C” or 75% grade (see Clinical Failure policy). If these standards are not met, dismissal from the program will occur.

If the student fails a class, the student’s progression in the program will be halted. The student is then subject to the same readmission criteria as students who withdraw from the program.

Professional Behavior

Professional behavior is absolutely essential both while the individual is a student in this program as well as after graduation. The Professional Behaviors Assessment form provides a standard for behavior and a mechanism for self-assessment by the student as well as assessment by faculty during the academic component of the program. If a faculty member observes consistent failure to demonstrate acceptable professional behavior by a student, the faculty member will utilize the assessment form as a tool for counseling the student. Failure to respond appropriately to counseling regarding professional behaviors will result in dismissal from the program.

Quizzes

Any quizzes given, whether scheduled or given unannounced, may not be rescheduled if missed. A zero will be the grade recorded for a missed quiz. All quizzes will be averaged together to obtain a percentage of the final class grade and the lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Any exceptions to this policy will be announced in class.

Lab Check-Offs

Lab check-offs are formal procedures in which the student must perform selected skills to a predetermined minimum level of competence; they form the foundation for assuring competence prior to clinical assignment. Critical safety elements are identified on each check-off sheet. If students do not achieve the minimum level of competence, that includes satisfactory performance on all the critical safety elements, the check-off must be repeated until their performance is adequate. Students will be allowed a maximum of three attempts; all required check-offs must be completed satisfactorily in order to pass the course.

Course Progression

INTRODUCTION tO pHYSICAL aGENTS
1. Introduction
2. Effects
3. Inflammation
4. Chronic Inflammation
5. Skin
6. Pain
7. Tone Abnormalities
8. Motion Restrictions
9. Red Flags
10. General Contraindications

Thermal Agents
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. General Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
4. Specific Procedures with Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
  1. Moist Heat
  2. Infrared
  3. Paraffin
  4. Cryotherapy
  5. Contrast Bath/Pack
  6. Vapocoolant Spray

Massage
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. General Indications, Contraindications and Specific Precautions
4. Specific Procedures
  1. Back
  2. Extremities
  3. Face

Ultrasound
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
4. Procedures
  1. Continuous
  2. Pulsed
  3. Underwater
  4. Phonophoresis

Diathermy
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. Indications, Contraindication, and Precautions
4. Procedures
  1. Shortwave
  2. Microwave

Introduction to Therapeutic Electric Current
1. Principles
2. Direct Current
  1. Effects and Purposes
  2. Indications, Contraindications and Precautions
3. Alternating Current
  1. Effects and Purpose
  2. Indications, Contraindications and Precautions

Ultrasound/Electrical Stimulation Combination
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
4. Procedure

Electrical Stimulation
1. Principles
  1. DC
  2. AC
2. Types and Effects
  1. Muscle Stimulation
  2. Edema Reduction
  3. Wound Healing
  4. Pain Control

1. Clinical Applications
  1. Iontophoresis
  2. Denervated Muscle
  3. HVPG
  4. Muscle Stimulation
  5. Edema Reduction
  6. Wound Healing
  7. Pain Control
2. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions

Biofeedback
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. Indications, Contraindication, and Precautions
4. Procedures
  1. EMG
  2. Thermal
  3. GSR

Traction
1. Intermittent
  1. Principles
  2. Effects and Purposes
  3. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
  4. Procedures
2. Static
  1. Principles
  2. Effects and Purposes
  3. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
  4. Procedures

Laser
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
4. Procedures

Intermittent Compression
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
4. Procedures

Hydrotherapy
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. General Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
4. Specific Procedures with Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
  1. Full Body
  2. Extremity
5. Texas Hazard Communication Act
  1. Chemical List
  2. MSDS's
  3. Training Program

Continuous Passive Motion
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
4. Procedures

Ultraviolet
1. Principles
2. Effects and Purposes
3. Indications, Contraindications, and Precautions
4. Procedures

Absences

Regular attendance in lecture and lab is critical and has a direct effect on the final grade that a student earns in class. Non-attendance on the part of a student may result in grade penalty or may lead to dismissal from the program.

A student should attend all lecture and laboratory sessions. Good "working" habits would mean arriving 10 - 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time of the class, staying for the complete session and returning from breaks promptly. Habitual or patterned absenteeism in lecture or lab will not be tolerated. Absences in laboratory sessions are particularly problematic because of the lost opportunity to practice skills for them self, and for their lab partner; therefore, students are responsible for arranging to acquire any skills missed during a laboratory absence. Note, not all lab experiences can be made up.

All absences must be reported to the appropriate faculty member prior to the start of class. Try to reach the faculty member by phone at their office phone number. If the faculty member cannot be reached directly, a voice mail message may be left the day of the absence. Email notification is not acceptable and should only be used if phone systems are not available. Contacting a classmate to have him/her notify the faculty member is not acceptable. Failure to notify the faculty prior to class for any absence will result in anautomatic deduction of 2 points from the student’s final grade for each episode.

The student may be allowed to miss 2 class/lab days without it adversely affecting their grade (exception: exam days, lab practical or check off days) if proper notification has been made. Every absence over the allotted 2 days will result in the student’s final course grade being reduced by 2 points each absence. If the student misses more than 30 minutes of class due to being tardy or leaving early, it will constitute an absence. Three tardies, regardless of how late the student is, count as 1 day absence.

If it is necessary for a student to miss an exam, the instructor must be notified prior to the scheduled exam time and arrangements must be made for make-up. It is the instructor’s option to give the same exam as the one missed or a different exam over the same content. It is the students’ responsibility to make arrangements to make up the exam. A 5% penalty will be assessed for taking an exam out of the scheduled time. An additional 5% penalty will be assessed for each day the exam has not been made up. See missing an Exam/Test/Quiz in the PTA Program Handbook for more information.

Acceptance of Late Assignments

Projects or outside assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date. Late papers will receive a 5% per day grade penalty. This penalty will continue to be assessed each day the assignment is not turned in.

Missing an Exam

Exams are defined as formally scheduled examinations covering a major portion of the course content and cumulatively comprising a relatively large percentage of the overall grade for a course. Every effort should be made by the student to be present for all exams. If it is necessary for a student to miss an exam, the instructor must be notified prior to the scheduled exam time and arrangements must be made for make-up. It is the instructor’s option to give the same exam as the one missed or a different exam over the same content. If arrangements to make up the exam are not made within one class day, a 5% per day penalty will be assessed each day the exam is not taken.

Instructional Methods

Lectures, laboratory activities, reading assignments, individual and/or group projects and assignments. Some components of this course will be computer based. Student access to a computer/printer will be required for completing assignments. Computers are available to students in the Academic Support Center in the Mineral Wells Education Center.

Program Learning Outcomes

WECM End of Course Outcomes

Describe the biophysical principles and efficacy of physical agents; relate knowledge of indications, contraindications and precautions to interventions; apply physical agents; demonstrate communication skills.

Disabilities

ADA Statement:

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.

Hope Statement

Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).

SCANS

The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) identified Competencies in the area of Resources, Interpersonal, Information, Systems, and Technology; and foundation skills in the areas of Basic Skills, Thinking Skills, and Personal Qualities. This course is part of a program in which each of these Competencies and skills are integrated. The specific SCANS Competencies that are recognized throughout this course are noted at the end of the appropriate competencies or task listed. (See reference chart at end of syllabus.)

SCANS Competencies required for this class: (F1, F2, F5, F6, F8, F9, F11, C3, C5, C7, C19, C20)

SCANS COMPETENCIES

Foundation Skills	Workplace Competencies
*Basic Skills: Reads, writes, performs arithmetic & mathematical operations, listens, and speaks*	*Resources: Identifies, organizes, plans & allocates resources*

F1	Reading: Locates, understand, & interprets written information in prose & in documents such as manuals, graphs, & schedules	C1	Time & Selects goal-relevant activities, ranks them, allocates time, & prepares & follows schedules
F2	Writing: Communicates thoughts, ideas, information, & messages in writing; & creates documents such as letters, directions, manuals, reports, graphs, & flow charts	C2	Money & Uses or prepares budgets, makes forecasts, keeps records, & makes adjustments to meet objectives
F3	Arithmetic: Performs basic computations ; uses basic numerical concepts such as whole numbers, etc.	C3	Material & Facilities & Acquires, stores, allocates, & uses materials or space efficiently
F4	Mathematics: Approaches practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques	C4	Human Resources & Assesses skills & distributes work accordingly, evaluates performance & provides feedback
F5	Listening: Receives, attends to, interprets, & responds to verbal messages & other cues	*Information: Acquires & uses information*
F6	Speaking: Organizes ideas & communicates orally	C5	Acquires & evaluates information
*Thinking Skills: Thinks creatively, makes decisions, solves problems, visualizes, knows how to learn, & reasons*	C6	Organizes & maintains information
F7	Creative Thinking: Generates new ideas	C7	Interprets & communicates information
F8	Decision Making: Specifies goals & constraints, generates alternatives, considers risks, & evaluates & chooses best alternative	C8	Uses computers to process information
F9	Problem Solving: Recognizes problems & devises & implements plan of action	*Interpersonal: Works with others*
F10	Seeing Things in the Mind’s Eye: Organizes, & processes symbols, pictures, graphs, objects & other information	C9	Participates as a Member of a Team: Contributes to group effort
F11	Knowing How to Learn: Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire & apply new knowledge & skills	C10	Teaches others new skills
F12	Reasoning: Discovers a rule or principle underlying the relationship between two or more objects & applies it when solving a problem	C11	Serves Clients/Customers: Works to satisfy customers’ expectations
*Personal Qualities: Displays responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity, & honesty*	C12	Exercises Leadership: Communicates ideas to justify position, persuades & convinces others, responsibly challenges existing procedures & policies
F13	Responsibility: Exerts a high level of effort & perseveres towards goal attainment	C13	Negotiates: Works toward agreements involving exchange of resources, resolves divergent interests
F14	Self-Esteem: Believes in own self-worth & maintains a positive view of self	C14	Works with Diversity: Works well with men & women from diverse backgrounds
F15	Sociability: Demonstrates understanding, friendliness, adaptability, empathy, & politeness in group settings	*Systems: Understand complex interrelationships*
F16	Self-Management: Assesses self accurately, sets personal goals, monitors progress, & exhibits self-control	C15	Understands Systems: Knows how social, organizational, & technological systems work & operates effectively with them
F17	Integrity/Honesty: Chooses ethical courses of action	C16	Monitors & Corrects Performance: Distinguishes trends, predicts impacts on system operations, diagnoses systems’ performance & corrects malfunctions
		C17	Improves or Designs Systems: Suggests modifications to existing systems & develops new or alternative systems to improve performance
		*Technology: Works with a variety of technologies*
		C18	Selects Technology: Chooses procedures, tools or equipment including computers & related technologies
		C19	Applies Technology to Task: Understands overall intent & proper procedures for setup & operation of equipment
	Updated: Spring 2021	C20	Maintains & Troubleshoots Equipment: Prevents, identifies, or solves problems with equipment, including computers & other technologies.