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Master of Manual Therapy2009 Residency (FULL)
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Course Accreditation |
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Master of Manual Therapy2009 Residency (FULL)
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Course Accreditation |
Course
Accreditation by the Australian Physiotherapy AssociationUWA Master of Manual Therapy graduates
The review process for the Master of Manual Therapy program at the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Musculoskeletal Studies is now complete, and all graduates of that program will now be eligible to apply for Level 2 (Titled) Membership of MPA. Retrospective recognition applies to all graduates of the program.
The Review Panel (Dr Bill Vicenzino, Mr David Spurrier and Convenor, Dr Jill Cook) having spent considerable time examining the course handbooks and other material, visited the UWA over two days in November, to inspect the facilities and meet staff and students. Their principal task was to determine whether students completing the course meet the requirements of the Professional Practice Standards for Titled Membership of MPA. The panel submitted a comprehensive final report, which indicates that the UWA course satisfies all the evaluation criteria and so will now be recognised by MPA as fulfilling the requirements for Titled Membership.
MPA In Touch (December 2004) Publication of the Australian Physiotherapy Association
Designed to upskill clinicians interested in advancing their scope of practice in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, the Centre for Musculoskeletal Studies offers the Master of Manual Therapy, with two residency intakes each year. This course, accredited by Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia (MPA), is offered to qualified physiotherapists who wish to develop their clinical skills and related biomedical sciences knowledge in the area of manual therapy. Graduates of the UWA Master of Manual Therapy are eligible for level 2 (titled) membership of the MPA. This qualification forms a strong basis for subsequent specialisation in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and ultimately for seeking Fellowship of the Australian College of Physiotherapy by examination.
Applications can be submitted throughout the year and are reviewed competitively, with places offered to physiotherapists with a demonstrated graduate track record in musculoskeletal practice, evidence of participation inrelevant professional continuing clinical education and a declared interest in developing their career in this area of clinical practice.
The semester long [12 week] clinical residency component of the course is developed around the themes of clinical reasoning, diagnosis, manual therapy skills, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. This includes clinical examination and interpretation, in addition to planning and progression of manual therapy treatment programs. Application and development of these objectives is facilitated through supervised clinical practice sessions conducted in physiotherapy outpatient clinics located in teaching and community hospitals in the Perth metropolitan region. Treatment methods include articular mobilisation and manipulation, muscle energy and muscle imbalance techniques, management of neurogenic pain disorders and rehabilitation of the neuromuscular system.
Special emphasis with be given to clinical anatomy, musculoskeletal pathology, radiology and pain management as they relate to clinical reasoning and clinical practice. Broader issues of musculoskeletal rehabilitation, exercise prescription and progression, goal-setting, outcome measurement and evidence-based practice are included in the clinical component. The remainder of the course is completed by off-campus external study modules which are typically commenced prior to the clinical residency in Perth. These units cover a range of issues in musculoskeletal biomechanics, pathology and neurophysiology which have direct relevance to the practice of musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
During the weekly clinical anatomy review sessions in the School of Anatomy and Human Biology, a disection project is undertaken.
Clinical Residency Units - in Perth Diagnostics in Manual Therapy PTMT8557 Manual Therapy Practice PTMT8558 Rehabilitation Science PTMT8559
External Units - may be commenced prior to clinical residencyClinical Sciences PTMT8560 Joint Structure, Physiology & Response to Injury Clinical Sciences PTMT8561 Skeletal Muscle and Tendon Clinical Sciences PTMT8562 Pathoanatomy & Mechanics of the Vertebral Column
The course consists of a 12 week intensive clinical component (3 units) and 3 units which can be completed by external study mode.
The academic teaching faculty include: Kevin Singer, PT, PhD, the program clinical coordinator is manual therapist, Peter Fazey, PT MT, FACP, who is supported by Christoper Barrett, PT, MT, FACP. Several visiting clinicians, including Senior Teaching Fellows: Toby Hall, FACP & Kim Robinson, FACP, with specific manual therapy expertise and interest, teach specialist sessions. Pain review lectures are provided by Professor Stephan Schug, MD PhD, director of the pain medicine clinic at Royal Perth Hospital. Other clinicians cover such topics as: neuroradiology of the spine, rheumatology, pain management, orthopaedics, neurology, neurosurgery, clinical pyschology, pharmacology, and musculoskeletal radiology.
The units of the clinical program are:
The objective of this unit is to develop an advanced level of knowledge and clinical skill in methods of patient interview and physical examination. Physical examination of the articular, muscular and neurological systems within the context of manual therapy practice will be comprehensively reviewed. Students will develop a framework for interpretation of information to facilitate appropriate clinical reasoning strategies. Indications for requesting, and methods of interpretation of medical imaging and other medical investigations will be included with the unit. Methods of diagnosis and classification of disorders in relation to indications for manual therapy treatment will be central objectives of this unit. The unit includes anatomy laboratory sessions and review of the neurophysiology of peripheral and central pain mechanisms.
This unit provides students with an advanced level of competence in planning and implementing appropriate manual therapy treatment programs and develops a high level of competence in the application of passive treatment techniques for articular and associated structures. Associated aspects of patient management including exercise prescription, taping and bracing, and patient education and self-management are reviewed. Consideration is given to the impact of research evidence in relation to the management of musculoskeletal disorders and how this may impact on treatment prescription in the individual case. Specific emphasis is given to determining indications for treatment, treatment prescription and progression, and determining prognosis and response to treatment. The unit includes clinical placements where students have the opportunity to develop clinical examination and treatment methods under the supervision of experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapists. Methods of appropriate patient and medical communication are reviewed in the context of manual therapy practice. Students will become familiar with methods of treatment outcome evaluation and their role in manual therapy practice.
This unit provides physiotherapists with knowledge of the broader aspects of musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Specific modules include an overview of the principles and application of specific rehabilitation programs for patients with musculoskeletal injury and disease, methods of evaluation of physical impairment and disability, developing specific rehabilitation goals and how to measure the achievement of these, the principles of motor control theory as they relate to exercise prescription and the principles practice of sub-maximal cardiovascular exercise testing. Practical sessions are conducted in the rehabilitation gym and hydrotherapy pool. Unit includes practical sessions in the integration of real-time ultrasound and EMG biofeedback into clinical practice.
The weekly timetable involves all sessions and comprises an anatomy review program, rehabilitation lectures and lab sessions, supervised clinical practice in hospitals and manual therapy skills instruction. Clinical reasoning is fundamental to this program and is incorporated into every module. Class exercises involve case histories and clinical problem solving to complement the clinical placement experience in the hospitals. The training facility is available for independent skills practice out of hours.
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The off-campus external study modules integrate aspects of anatomy, biomechanics, pathology and neurophysiology around core themes. This structure is designed to assist integration of concepts from these disciplines and facilitate transfer of information into the clinical context. The units reinforce concepts and information introduced in the on-campus clinical units. Three units must be completed for the Master of Manual Therapy degree. For each unit, students will receive resource material and a unit guide which includes the assignment questions. Each unit seeks an understanding of the reading material through clinical case studies and develops skills in searching for related literature, and providing a concise synthesis and critique of this work.
The available units are:
Joint Structure, Physiology & Response to Injury
This unit provides physiotherapists with a background in joint structure, mechanics and response to injury which is essential knowledge for developing clinical reasoning skills. Specific content includes Structure and mechanics of ligament, mechanisms of injury and repair, inflammation following ligament injury, recovery of ligament mechanics, articular cartilage injury, degeneration & repair, response to joint surface injury, neurogenic inflammation, peripheral pain mechanisms following injury, biomechanical and neurophysiological effects of joint injury, biomechanical consequences of joint injury, clinical issues in anterior knee pain.
Skeletal Muscle and Tendon
This unit reviews the organisation and mechanical properties of skeletal muscle in relation to mechanisms of injury, muscle regeneration, repair, exercise-induced muscle injury and implications for injury management. Other topics include: neurophysiology of muscle pain, muscle proprioception, muscle in the control of joint mobility , biomechanics of the scapulothoracic articulation, tendon structure, response to overuse and degeneration, tendon repair, diagnosis and pathomechanics of achilles tendon and rotator cuff injuries, anatomy and pathology of the thoracic outlet region.
Pathoanatomy & Mechanics of the Vertebral Column
The unit reviews key aspects of articular and neuroanatomy and pathology of the vertebral column from a clinical perspective. Issues reviewed in the unit relate specifically to examination techniques and clinical reasoning in the clinical units. Content includes adaptations of the spine to loadbearing, intervertebral disc and zygapophyseal joint pathoanatomy, biomechanics, and clinical presentations.