Rehabilitation

Catalog description

This course introduces the basic principles, diagnoses, impairments, and treatment interventions utilized by the PTA in the rehabilitation setting. Participants will review basic skills necessary for treating rehabilitation patients safely and overview common mobility equipment used in a rehabilitation setting. The following topics will be addressed in lecture and/or lab sessions: basic principles of normal movement and neuro-rehabilitation, teaching and learning theories, and motor relearning; data collection techniques and tools associated with neurological rehabilitation; functional mobility and motor function training techniques for patients with varying levels of disability; wheelchair mobility training and appropriate fitting and adaptations; environmental assessment and ADA considerations; gait deviations and training with and without assistive devices; orthotics; amputations and prosthetics; selected diagnoses in neuro-rehabilitation. This course will address rehabilitation techniques for patients with selected conditions seen in physical therapy neurological and rehabilitation settings. Selected neurological conditions will be covered, including etiology, clinical presentation, medical management, and physical therapy interventions. Neurologic conditions and developmental delays associated with pediatric clients will also be included. In this course, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology will be reviewed and principles of specific neuro-rehabilitation techniques, and neuromotor development will be explored. By the completion of this course, students should be able to recognize and verbalize general signs and symptoms of neurological deficit and demonstrate basic skills used in physical therapy for patients with selected neurological disorders and amputations. Students should also be able to identify specific areas in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system associated with neurological signs, symptoms, and conditions; perform and discuss the value and use of various data collection tools associated with neuro-rehabilitation; demonstrate safe and effective physical therapy interventions as applied to patients with neurological disorders; discuss and demonstrate basic physical therapy interventions for patients with vestibular dysfunction; discuss the basic developmental milestones associated with human growth and development; and demonstrate and discuss safe and effective handling and positioning principles used with pediatric patients. Gait deviations and interventions, wheelchair fitting and use, and specific physical therapy interventions for various diagnoses will be covered. Using extensive examples, exercises, and real life scenarios, this course teaches students skills to assess, treat and document functional outcomes in a clear and logical progression. Lecture, lab activities, and written assignments will be used to discuss clinical decision-making and intervention strategies for related impairments. Enrollment is limited to students admitted to the 2PTA major.