Ateneo - UPO

Objective patient examination: observation and assessment. Joint assessment and muscle testing of all areas. Patient posture, fixation techniques, and resistance application. Evaluation of single- and two-joint muscles. Examination and assessment of muscle activity in some functional movements. Sit-to-stand movement analysis. Grip techniques. Overview of the main sensory assessments. Innervation of individual muscles.

Esame del sistema muscolare: L.Daniels-C.Worthingham Verducci Editore 9a edizione Valutazione Cinesiologica Esame della mobilità articolare e della forza muscolare Hazel M. Clarkson Donald A. Neumann Edizione Piccin Edi-ermes

The module aims to provide students with the fundamental principles for the physiotherapeutic assessment of joint range of motion and muscle strength—whether of individual muscles or muscle groups—along with an understanding of the key innervations involved. Through the analysis of video footage showing the "sit-to-stand" postural transition, students will learn to observe and evaluate how this motor task is performed by healthy individuals and compare it with performance in individuals with pathologies, thereby identifying critical components of the movement.

Anatomy of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, and muscles). Anatomy of the peripheral nervous system (plexuses, peripheral nerves, spinal roots). Basic concepts of physics applied to movement (forces, moments, levers).Knowledge of joint kinesiology. Principles of muscle contraction physiology.

 Team-based learning (TBL) will be implemented as an innovative strategy. This teaching methodology focuses on active learning, both independently and in small groups, based on the principles of the flipped classroom. The materials used (PowerPoint slides, video recordings, and other teaching materials) will be provided to students in advance. "Team application" sessions will be included to assess the acquisition of the required skills, as well as practical simulations with plenary discussion.

The clinical practicum, carried out in the gyms of rehabilitation services, involves students performing joint and muscle tests on patients, under the supervision of clinical tutors, in order to consolidate the practical application of the theoretical competencies acquired during the module.

Assessment of learning will take place through a written examination, structured as multiple-choice questions. It should be noted that this module is part of an integrated course, comprising additional teaching modules; the final assessment will therefore be a single, comprehensive evaluation covering the entire integrated course, taking into account the content covered in each module.

Fundamentals of joint and muscle biomechanics relevant to joint and muscle testing: axes and planes of movement, anatomical and functional measurements.Theoretical guide to joint testing: goniometry (principles, positioning, reliability), active vs. passive ROM, functional assessment of all joint regions with particular attention to end-feel (physiological vs. pathological end-feel and its clinical correlation with diagnostic hypotheses).Introduction to the concept of force and biomechanical parameters applied to muscles: definition of muscle force and units of measurement, length-tension relationship, force-velocity relationship of contraction, joint torque and lever arms, neuromuscular vs. structural factors.Types of muscle contraction (isometric, concentric, eccentric), with an overview of the functional implications of each type in clinical assessment.Theoretical guide to Manual Muscle Testing (MMT): strength grading scales, principles of test standardization (positioning, stabilization, resistance), identification of the muscles examined, peripheral innervation of the tested muscles.Overview of neurology applied to muscle assessment: dermatomes and distribution of cutaneous sensation, myotomes and their radicular correspondence, main deep tendon reflexes.Analysis of functional movements, with a particular focus on Sit-to-Stand: definition and clinical relevance of the motor task, phases of the movement, kinematic and kinetic parameters, facilitating and hindering factors.

 Know how to apply the principles underlying all aspects of physiotherapy assessment: apply the specific theoretical elements related to joint and muscle testing to practice, including applying relevant logical reasoning.