Introduction to Physical Therapy
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Course Introduction

 

Core Standards of the Course

Strand 1
Students will explore the fundamentals of rehabilitation medicine.

Standard 1
Explore the rehabilitation therapy pathway.

1. Define rehabilitation therapy
   
2. Explore the history of rehabilitation therapy.
   
3. Identify careers in the rehabilitation therapy pathway
   

Standard 2
Investigate the professions in the field of Physical Therapy.

1. Explore the history of physical therapy.
   
2. Explore the members and roles of the physical therapy team.
   
3. Examine the roles and responsibilities of a physical therapist.
   
   • Hospital Setting
   • Long-term care facility
   • Clinic
   • Schools
4. Explore current trends and issues in physical therapy.
   
5. Explore educational requirements, credentialing exams, and costs for a career in physical therapy.
   
   • Physical Therapist
   • Physical Therapy Assistant
6. Explore specialty areas within the field of physical therapy as described by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).
   
7. Describe and understand the importance of involvement in organizations such as APTA to further career development.
   

Standard 3
Investigate the professions in the field of Occupational Therapy.

1. Explore the history of occupational therapy.
   
2. Explore the members and roles of the occupational therapy team.
   
3. Examine the roles and responsibilities of an occupational therapist.
   
   • Hospital Setting
   • Long-term care facility
   • Clinic
   • Schools
4. Explore current trends and issues in occupational therapy.
   
5. Explore educational requirements, credentialing exams, and costs for a career in occupational therapy.
   
   • Occupational Therapist
   • Occupation Therapy Assistant
6. Explore specialty areas within the field of occupational therapy as described by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
   
7. Describe and understand the importance of involvement in organizations such as AOTA to further career development.
   

Standard 4
Investigate the professions in the field of Speech Therapy.

1. Explore the history of speech therapy.
   
2. Explore the members and roles of the speech therapy team.
   
3. Examine the roles and responsibilities of a speech therapist.
   
   • Hospital Setting
   • Long-term care facility
   • Clinic
   • Schools
4. Explore current trends and issues in speech therapy.
   
5. Explore educational requirements, credentialing exams, and costs for a career in speech therapy.
   
   • Speech Therapist/Speech Language Pathologist
   • Audiologist
   • Speech Language Pathology Assistant
6. Explore specialty areas within the field of speech therapy as described by the American Speech-language Hearing Association (ASHA).
   
7. Describe and understand the importance of involvement in organizations such as ASHA to further career development.
   

Strand 2
Medical, Legal, & Ethical-Students will identify the medical, legal, and ethical issues governing the clinical practice of physical therapy.

Standard 1
Identify the rules and regulations of individually identifiable health information.

1. Examine the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
   
2. Identify consequences of violating HIPAA.
   
3. Explain personal responsibilities within the parameters of HIPAA.
   

Standard 2
Identify health and safety regulations in the workplace.

1. Examine the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act).
   
2. Identify common workplace safety hazards.
   
3. Demonstrate proper cleanliness and sanitation practices.
   
   • Handwashing & Hygiene
   • Clinic cleaning (linens, tables, beds, equipment, etc.)
4. Demonstrate proper glove use and removal.
   

Standard 3
Discuss desirable attitudes and behaviors when providing healthcare to diverse patients.

1. Describe cultural sensitivity in relation to healthcare
   
2. Explore ways to treat the underserved and under-represented populations
   
3. Identify ways that people from different cultures and backgrounds are stereotyped
   
4. Describe the importance of treating patients as individuals
   

Standard 4
Describe the required documentation related to physical therapy visits and treatment.

1. Analyze medical records used in a physical therapy setting
   
2. Create a SOAP note for one of the following conditions: musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, or integumentary.
   
3. Understand components of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
   

Standard 5
Discuss the Utah Physical Therapy Act and how it relates to the roles and relationship between the physical therapy team.

1. Identify the scope of practice of the following:
   
   • Physical Therapist
   • Physical Therapist Assistant
   • Physical Therapy Aide

Standard 6
Discuss the Utah Occupational Therapy Act and how it relates to the roles and relationship between the occupational therapy team.

1. Identify the scope of practice of the following:
   
   • Occupational Therapist
   • Occupational Therapist Assistant
   • Occupational Therapy Aide

Standard 7
Discuss the Utah Speech Therapy Act and how it relates to the roles and relationship between the speech therapy team.

1. Identify the scope of practice of the following:
   
   • Speech Therapist/Speech Language Pathologist
   • Audiologist
   • Speech Language Pathology Assistant
   • Speech Aide

Standard 8
Investigate the various types of health insurance and the reimbursement process for physical therapy.

1. Describe health insurance plans.
   
   • Premium
   • Copay
   • Deductible
2. Compare and contrast government funded plans and private insurance plans in regards to the number of reimbursed physical therapy visits
   

Strand 3
Professionalism-Identify professional standards and characteristics of a physical therapy team.

Standard 1
Describe the characteristics of an effective healthcare provider in personal and professional terms.

1. Examine productivity and time management strategies
   
2. Understand the implications the following have on healthcare employment:
   
   • Criminal Background Check
   • Drug Testing
3. Discuss implications of dress and other personal behaviors within the healthcare setting
   
4. Identify best practices in respect to client relations
   

Standard 2
Explain effective communication strategies of a therapist with patients and all members of the therapy team.

1. Demonstrate appropriate verbal communication skills.
   
2. Demonstrate appropriate nonverbal communication skills.
   
3. Demonstrate appropriate listening skills.
   
4. Demonstrate and understand the APTA Core Values.
   
   • Accountability
   • Altruism
   • Compassion/Caring
   • Excellence
   • Integrity
   • Professional Duty
   • Social Responsibility

Strand 4
Medical Terminology

Standard 1
Describe positional terminology in regards to the human body.

1. Describe anatomical position
   
2. Identify body planes and directional terms
   
   • Sagittal
   • Mid-sagittal
   • Coronal/frontal
   • Transverse/horizontal
   • Superior
   • Inferior
   • Anterior
   • Posterior
   • Medial
   • Lateral
   • Proximal
   • Distal
   • Superficial
   • Deep

Standard 2
Compare and contrast body movements.

1. Flexion, extension, and hypertension
   
2. Adduction and abduction
   
3. Pronation and supination
   
4. Retraction and protraction
   
5. Elevation and depression
   
6. Rotation and circumduction
   
7. External rotation and internal rotation
   
8. Lateral flexion (side-bending left and right)
   
9. Inversion and eversion
   
10. Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion
    
11. Radial deviation and ulnar deviation
    
12. Opposition
    

Standard 3
Define terms associated to physical therapy

1. Activities of daily living (ADLs)
   
2. Ataxia
   
3. Base of support
   
4. Bilateral
   
5. Calcaneal valgum
   
6. Calcaneal varum
   
7. Cervical
   
8. Contracture
   
9. Core
   
10. Deformity
    
11. Dissociation
    
12. Distal
    
13. Dynamic
    
14. Education
    
15. Extension
    
16. External rotation
    
17. Fine motor
    
18. Flexion
    
19. Genu valgum
    
20. Genu varum
    
21. Gross motor
    
22. Hamstrings
    
23. Hyperextension
    
24. Hypermobility
    
25. Hypertonic
    
26. Hypotonic
    
27. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)
    
28. Instability
    
29. Internal rotation
    
30. Kinesthesia
    
31. Kyphosis
    
32. Leisure
    
33. Long-sitting
    
34. Lordosis
    
35. Lumbar
    
36. Manual therapy
    
37. Midline
    
38. Motor control
    
39. Motor planning
    
40. Obliquity
    
41. Pes planus
    
42. Prone
    
43. Proprioception
    
44. Proximal
    
45. Quadriceps
    
46. Range of motion
    
47. Recurvatum
    
48. Reflex
    
49. Ring sitting
    
50. Sacral
    
51. Side-sitting
    
52. Sleep
    
53. Social Participation
    
54. Spasticity
    
55. Static
    
56. Supine
    
57. Symmetrical
    
58. Tactile defensiveness
    
59. Tailor-sitting
    
60. Thoracic
    
61. Tone (muscle)
    
62. Unilateral
    
63. Vestibular stimulation
    
64. Weight shift
    
65. Work
    

Standard 4
Define the following abbreviations/acronyms:

1. L
   
2. R
   
3. B
   
4. Tx
   
5. Fx
   
6. PT
   
7. PTA
   
8. OT
   
9. OTA
   

Strand 5
Musculoskeletal System

Standard 1
Identify common Conditions and Injuries of the Musculoskeletal System.

1. General conditions
   
   • Osteoarthritis
   • Osteoporosis
   • Fibromyalgia
   • TMJ dysfunction
2. Shoulder
   
   • Rotator cuff tear
   • Dislocation
   • Frozen shoulder
   • Tendinitis
   • Fracture
   • Shoulder impingement
   • Thoracic outlet syndrome
3. Elbow
   
   • Golfer's elbow
   • Tennis elbow
   • Sprain
   • Strain
   • Fracture
4. Wrist
   
   • Carpal tunnel syndrome
   • Sprain
   • Strain
   • Fracture
5. Neck and back
   
   • Sprain
   • Strain
   • Disc herniation
   • Stenosis
   • Muscle spasm
   • Posture
   • SI joint dysfunction
   • Coccygodynia
6. Hip
   
   • Acetabular labral tears
   • Bursitis
   • IT band tightness/syndrome
   • Tendinitis
   • Total knee replacement
7. Ankle
   
   • Achilles tendinitis
   • Peroneal tendinitis
   • Sprain
   • Strain
   • Fracture
8. Foot and Toe
   
   • Plantar fasciitis
   • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
   • Sprain
   • Strain
   • Fracture

Standard 2
Identify tests that are used to determine musculoskeletal injuries/deformities.

1. Lachman's Test
   
2. Anterior Drawer Test
   
3. Phalen's Test
   
4. Drop Arm Sign
   
5. Hop Test
   
6. Adam's Forward Bend Test
   
7. Straight Leg Raise Test
   
8. Push up Sign
   
9. Goniometer
   

Standard 3
Describe therapeutic exercises and modalities used to treat musculoskeletal conditions and injuries.

1. Strengthening
   
   • Therapeutic exercises
   • Stabilization
2. Modalities
   
   • Traction
   • E-stimulation
   • Astym
   • Ultrasound
   • Laser
   • Taping
   • Heat/ice
3. Home exercise program (HEP)
   
4. Manual Therapy
   
   • Myofascial release
5. Range of motion
   
   • Stretching

Strand 6
Neuromuscular Systems

Standard 1
Identify how to assess neuromuscular conditions.

1. Impact on life expectancy
   
2. Involvement of organ systems
   
3. Family, social, community roles
   
4. Impact of daily functioning
   
   • Ambulation
   • ADLs
   • Communication
   • Nutritional status
   • Community mobility
   • Work performance
   • Functional Tasks
5. Muscle strength
   
6. Joint contractures
   
7. Pulmonary function
   
8. Cardiomyopathy
   
9. Intellectual capacity
   

Standard 2
Identify conditions and injuries associated with the neuromuscular system.

1. Parkinson's disease
   
2. Guillian-Barre Syndrome
   
3. Multiple sclerosis (MS)
   
4. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy
   
5. Cerebral palsy
   
6. ALS
   
7. Traumatic Brain Injury
   

Standard 3
Identify tests that are used to determine neuromuscular injuries/deformities.

1. Neurological classification of spinal cord injury
   
2. Dermatomes
   
3. Rancho Los Amigos Scale-Level of Cognitive Functioning
   

Standard 4
Describe therapeutic exercises and modalities used to treat neuromuscular conditions and injuries.

1. Assistive and Adaptive devices
   
   • Canes
   • Crutches
   • Prostheses
   • Transfers
   • Wheelchairs
   • Walkers
2. Modalities
   
   • E-stimulation
   • Ultrasound
   • Traction
   • Heat/ice
   • Aquatic therapy
3. Range of Motion
   
4. Manual therapy
   
5. Home exercise program (HEP)
   

Strand 7
Cardiovascular System

Standard 1
Identify how to assess cardiovascular conditions.

1. Onset and duration of symptoms
   
2. Previous and ongoing medical and/or surgical treatment
   
3. Lab results and diagnostic tests
   
4. Social history
   
5. Prior functional endurance level
   
6. Home environment
   
7. Family/caregiver support
   
8. Family, professional, social, and community roles
   
9. Patient's goals and expectations of returning to previous life roles
   
10. Prior drug, tobacco, and alcohol use
    
11. Current medications
    

Standard 2
Identify conditions and defects/injuries associated with the cardiovascular system.

1. Pulmonary Embolism
   
2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
   
3. Myocardial Infarction
   
4. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
   
5. High Blood Pressure/Hypertension
   
6. Pacemaker
   
7. Left Ventricular Assist Device
   
8. Heart Transplant
   
9. Aortic Aneurysm
   
10. Cardiomyopathy
    

Standard 3
Identify tests that are used to determine cardiovascular injuries/deformities.

1. Pulse oximeter
   
2. Blood pressure
   
3. Pulse
   
4. Respirations
   
5. VO2 max
   
6. 6-minute walk test
   
7. Step up test
   
8. Pulmonary drainage
   
9. Spirometry
   
10. Spirometry
    

Strand 8
Integumentary System

Standard 1
Identify conditions and injuries associated with the integumentary system.

1. Burns
   
2. Contusions
   
3. Pressure ulcers
   
4. Neuropathic ulcers
   
5. Infection
   
6. Surgical wounds
   
7. Vascular disease
   
8. Abscess
   
9. Traumatic injury
   

Standard 2
Identify tests that are used to determine integumentary injuries/deformities.

1. Wound location and size
   
2. Wound characteristics
   
3. Tunneling and undermining
   
4. Phases of wound healing
   

Standard 3
Describe therapeutic exercises and modalities used to treat integumentary conditions and injuries.

1. Hydrotherapy
   
2. Thermotherapy
   
3. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
   
4. Compression therapies (IPC, VAC)
   
5. Electrotherapy
   
6. Manual therapy
   
7. ROM stretching
   
8. Strengthening exercises
   
9. Adaptive, protective, or assistive equipment
   

Standard 4
Explain the progress of a patient through the phases of physical therapy for integumentary injuries.

1. Pain management
   
2. Range of motion and strengthening
   
3. Wound debridement and dressing application
   
4. Minimize scar/contracture development
   

Strand 9
Pediatric Patients

Standard 1
Understand the stages of Child Development.

1. Normal child development
   
2. Developmental milestones
   

Standard 2
Identify pediatric Diseases and Disorders.

1. Developmental Disorders
   
2. Club foot
   
3. Scoliosis
   
4. Tortocollis
   
5. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
   
6. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
   
7. Down Syndrome
   
8. Cerebral Palsy
   
9. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
   
10. Cystic Fibrosis
    
11. Developmental Coordination Disorder
    
12. Neural Tube Defects
    
13. Osteogenesis Imperfecta
    
14. Hip Dysplasia
    

Standard 3
Identify Special Considerations when it comes to pediatric patients.

1. Child abuse
   
2. Size of patient
   
3. Modifications to therapeutic treatment
   

Strand 10
Geriatric Patients

Standard 1
Identify Common conditions that may be treated in geriatric patients.

1. Osteoarthritis
   
2. Rheumatoid arthritis
   
3. Osteoporosis
   
4. Hip fractures
   
5. Diabetes
   
6. Polio
   

Standard 2
Define Common facilities where geriatric patients may be treated.

1. Hospital
   
2. Long-term rehab
   
3. Skilled nursing
   
4. Short-term rehab
   
5. Assisted living
   
6. Memory care
   
7. Home health
   
8. Hospice
   

Standard 3
Understand Special Considerations that must me understood when working with geriatric patients.

1. Elderly abuse
   
2. Age
   
3. Modifications to therapeutic treatment
   

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