Ateneo - UPO

The main contents of the course are: main methods of observation, measurement and evaluation; general principles of kinesitherapy techniques (joint and vertebral mobilization, neuro-muscular strengthening and proprioception) in patients with musculoskeletal disorders and traumatic injuries from an evidence-based.

The slides projected during lessons will be provided (pdf format) at the beginning of the lessons.

Students will also find it useful to consult the following texts:
- Braddom RL. Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione. Vol 1 e 2. Roma: Delfino editore; 2006.
- Magee DJ. Orthopedic physical assessment. St. Louis: Saunders - Elsevier; 2008.
- Magee DJ, Zachazewski JE, Quillen WS. Scientific foundations and principles of practice in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. St. Louis: Saunders - Elsevier; 2007.
- Nordin M, Frankel VH. Basic biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system. 3^ ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Co: 2001.

The main objective of the course is to acquire knowledge about orthopedic physical assessment (observation, instruments, and outcome measure) and treatment (manual therapy, muscle flexibility, strength, proprioception, and endurance) of the musculoskeletal disorders and soft-tissue injuries from a evidence-based point of view.
Where necessary, the concepts will be integrated with basic concepts regarding the construction of a therapeutic exercise program.
At the end of the course the student is expected to be able:
- to know the main tools, tests, questionnaire, and outcome measures for checking the effectiveness of the treatment;
- to be able to perform a thorough assessment of a patient with musculoskeletal disorders, and acute injuries; know how to apply the learned techniques (manual therapy, muscle strength, endurance and proprioception;
- to acquire cross-competences such as communicative skills, autonomy in clinical reasoning, synthesis skills, and re-elaboration of information and knowledge coming from different sources.

Anatomy, biomechanics, physiology of exercise are needed to understand the topics discussed in the course. There are no constraints on propedeuticity.

The objectives will be achieved through:
- frontal lessons supported by slides projection;
- - knowledge exercises (Wooclap platform);
- problem-solving exercises and clinical cases discussions.

Erica Albizzati receives by appointment: erica.albizzati@uniupo.it

The exam will take place in written form: multiple choice closed-ended questions, with only one or more correct option out of 4 or 5. To pass the exam, the student must achieve a grade of not less than 18/30 (eighteen thirty).

The acquisition of the different knowledge and skills expected will develop in parallel throughout the course, in which the following topics will be treated:
- Introduction to the course and state of the art of rehabilitation in the orthopedic field
- Medical history, observation, measurement and kinesiological and functional evaluation of the orthopedic patient (instruments, clinical and functional performance tests, scales and measurement questionnaires)
- General and rational principles of the main kinesitherapy techniques and neuro-muscular and proprioceptive strengthening techniques according to an Evidence-Based orientation

The expected learning outcomes concern the knowledge and understanding of the methods of conducting the functional assessment and the theoretical rationale of how to deal with the clinical disability of each individual patient through an autonomy of clinical reasoning, as well as acquiring transversal skills such as communication skills, ability to synthesis and elaboration of information and knowledge also coming from different sources.
In order to achieve the knowledge and skills corresponding to sufficiency, the student is asked to know the theory underlying the functional assessment of the patient with orthopedic pathologies, to know the properties of the tissues (bone, connective tissue, muscle), to know the rationale, modalities and timing of the main neuro-muscular and proprioceptive strengthening techniques; with regard to skills, the student must be able to distinguish between the different observation and measurement tools, be able to identify and distinguish different methods of evaluation through tests, scales and questionnaires, and identify the theoretical rationale that determines the therapeutic choice. To achieve the maximum score, the student must be able to use the knowledge and skills learned to propose suitable and coherent solutions regarding the evaluation and treatment choices for the patient with orthopedic pathologies.