PT103,  Therapeutic Procedures I
Sample syllabus submitted by Professor Cepeda, Fall 2004

Credit Hours:   2

Clock Hours:    15 hours lecture, 30 hours laboratory

              Tutoring: Wednesday 12:40-1:40 PM

Required Text: Physical Agents, Theory and Practice for the

Physical Therapist Assistant, B.Behrens & S.Michlovitz 5^th Ed.               

Physical Agents Lab manual by Karen Hayes 5^th Ed. 

Tappan’s Handbook of Healing Massage Techniques by Frances Tappan & Patricia Benjamin

COURSE DESCRIPTION 

This course presents therapeutic modalities, used by

Physical Therapy Assistants in a safe and effective manner, to reduce pain and promote healing.  It includes the use of heat, cold, massage, and hydrotherapy.  Pre or Corequisites: Biology 204 Human Anatomy and Physiology I; P.T. 102 Basic Health Skills; Health 107 First Aid and Safety etc. 

TEACHING METHODS 

Lecture followed by demonstration and supervised laboratory

practice.  All students are expected to pursue additional independent practice to master the skills. Self Study and Problem Solving is essential to mastery of this course.

REQUIREMENTS 

On time attendance of all lecture and laboratory sessions is mandatory.  Two unexcused absences will result in a ten percent decrease on the final grade.  Because it is essential for all of the skills to be acquired within the time allotted, three or more absences will result in a failure of this course.

SUPPORT SERVICES     

Academic support is available in Student Services, The Resource Center, The Medical Learning Lab, The PTA library, and from PTA tutors when available. 

ATTIRE 

Proper laboratory attire is mandatory and consists of flat

comfortable non-skid shoes, loose fitting shorts and a bikini or halter top for females.  Males and females may wear a T-shirt which would be removed during practice sessions. Laboratory attire must be available for all class sessions unless otherwise informed by the instructor.  During labs, long hair must be fastened up off the neck. Rings and earrings must be conservative.  Necklaces should not be worn.  For labs, particularly massage, nails must be short and neat.  Students will not be admitted to laboratory sessions without proper attire.

LABORATORY 

All students are responsible for putting equipment away, and

for keeping it clean and in order at the end of each class session. Students are responsible for washing and drying the dirty linen.  Do not walk on the mats or mat tables with shoes on.  Do not eat or drink in the laboratory or classroom. 

GRADING DISTRIBUTION 

Mid-Term Exam  .............30%

Final Exam .................40%

Quizzes.....................30% (at the beginning of  each class)

Class Participation ........ 5%  (all or none based on being present at every session and active participation in all skills)

3 Practical exams on a Pass/Fail basis, all of which must be passed in order to pass the course. Detailed criteria for each lab practical will be available prior to each checkout. 

Student must demonstrate safety and competence in all modalities including Ice Massage, Cold Packs, Moist Heat, Paraffin, Massage, Ultrasound, Infrared, Short-wave Diathermy, and Hydrotherapy.

Students will be provided with a practical exam check-off sheet for each skill.  The check-out sheets list core skills for each modality.  Every component of the skill must be performed competently and safely in order to pass the skill.  If a component of the skill is omitted or performed in a way that is deemed unsafe by the instructor, the student will not receive credit or zero for that component and therefore will fail the check off.  Failure to pass a skill on the second attempt, which will be videotaped, will result in failure to pass the course and dismissal from the program.  Further details are found on page 18 of the PTA program student handbook. 

CRITERIA FOR GRADING

     90 -100   = A

80 - 89   = B

75 - 79   = C

Below 75  = F

MAKE UP POLICY  

Students will be allowed to have only one make-up for each practical examination.  Make-up of missed exams will be scheduled as convenient for the instructor. Quizzes can not be made up. 

STUDENT DISABILITY:    

If you have a disability which will require accommodation, please see the instructor after class or during office hours.  It is usually possible to work out whatever arrangements are necessary, be it special seating, testing, or other accommodation.  If you have not already contacted the Disability Support Services office (CAB231), please do so to obtain a letter authorizing your accommodations.

SPECIFIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES: 

Philosophy objectives and polices related to matriculation in the physical therapist assistant program are further detailed in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Student Handbook. Frequently review those policies. 

Classroom Conduct 

Each and every student is expected to behave in ways, which promote a teaching and learning atmosphere.  Students have the right to learn; however, they do not have the right to interfere with the freedom of the faculty to teach or the rights of other students to learn.  Students will be treated respectfully in return for respectful behavior. 

All in-class discussions should be carried out in a way that keeps the classroom environment respectful of the rights of others.  This means that, for example, students should not interrupt someone else who is talking regardless of whether that person is the instructor or another student.  Students should not monopolize class time by repeatedly interrupting and asking questions in a manner which hinders the learning process of others.  Students are also expected to conduct themselves in ways which create a safe learning and teaching environment that is free from such things as violence, intimidation, and harassment. 

Please make sure that you obtain and read a copy of the current Montgomery College Student Handbook, which contains the Student Code of Conduct.  Also, review the Physical Therapist Assistant Student Handbook for the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant adopted by the American Physical Therapy Association. 

The new Student Code of Conduct was approved July 1, 2003.  This document can be accessed through the College Home Page at www.montgomerycollege.org.  A copy is also available in the faculty office.

 PT 103  Course Objectives

Identify related aspects of skeletal and surface anatomy 

Understand concepts relating to Inflammation and Tissue Repair, including Stages and Management of Inflammatory Conditions, Acute and Chronic. 

Understand current theories of the physiology of pain, methods of rating pain, McGill Pain Questionnaire and Visual Analog Scales. 

Explain neural mechanisms of pain perception, including types of nociceptors as A-Delta, C, and A-Beta fibers and their methods of transmission of impulses.   

Understand pain theories such as the Gate Control Theory and Endogenous Opiates. 

Understand the aspects of skin and sensation.   Define the skin receptors such as mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors, and proprioceptors and methods of testing those receptors. 

Explain the principles of superficial and deep heats, the indications and contraindications, the basic physics and physiological effects of heat modalities. 

*Demonstrate competency and skill in the applications of all superficial and deep heat modalities and understand the indications, contraindications, precautions and safety factors relating to application of the modalities.  Superficial and deep heat modalities include moist heat, paraffin, infrared, ultraviolet, hydrotherapy, shortwave diathermy and ultrasound. 

*Understand the biophysics of ultrasound and demonstrate safety and competency in the performance of a variety of ultrasound treatments, including phonophoresis, ultrasound for pain, wound healing, non-thermal effects, and underwater treatments. 

* Explain the principles of cryotherapy and its physiological effects and demonstrate safe application of various cryotherapy modalities, realizing indications and contraindications. 

*Understand the physiological effects of hydrotherapy, the indications and contraindications.   Demonstrate competency and skill in the application of hydrotherapy treatments and safety factors involved in treatments.   

Explain principles of Aquatic Therapy, including buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, specific gravity, viscosity and resistance, and hydromechanics of water.  Relate the principles to various types of safe therapeutic treatments.

Understand the clinical use, safety precautions, indications and contraindications of continuous passive motion device.  Demonstrate safety and competency in application of the CPM device. 

Understand the basic principles of conventional massage, the indications and contraindications for various massage strokes. 

Demonstrate competence and safety in the performance of conventional massage techniques, including proper preparation, draping and progression of strokes. Perform non-conventional treatments such as reflexology, and trigger point therapy, and manual lymph drainage. 

Understand the principles of myofascial release techniques and demonstrate competency and safety in performance of the soft tissue techniques such as biceps tendon release, cranial base release, and piriformis release. 

Skillfully and safely apply each of the modalities to a student/patient lab partner or other individual. 

Experience a treatment with each modality scheduled. 

Display the ethical behavior of a PTA in the classroom and maintain professional attitudes towards fellow students and faculty. 

* Review Guidelines for the Use of Electromedical Equipment in Chapter 1 of Manual for Physical Agents by Hayes. During laboratory practice, refer to the Instructions for correct and safe use of each modality in the Manual for Physical Agents by Hayes.  All modalities and skills will be demonstrated first by the instructor and reviewed during practice sessions.

P.T. 103 COURSE SCHEDULE

(Wednesdays)

FALL 2004 

DATE          TOPICS                           ASSIGNMENTS 

Sept.1        Introduction                      Course syllabus

Skeletal & Surface Anatomy Review Handout,

Introduction to Massage           Text

History, Terminology, Physiol.Eff.,

Indications, Contraindications

8         Massage Strokes: Effleurage,            Massage

          Petrissage, Friction, Tapotement  Ch 1-6

              Vibration

15        Application of Massage to Parts   Text      of the Body, Myofascial Release Ch. 8 & 9

          Techniques

22                                      Total Body Massage, Trigger Point,      Text   

Reflexology, Shiatsu              Ch 8 & 9     

     29,Oct 1  Practical Exam I, Massage Techniques                                 

Oct. 6        Pain: Analysis, Physiology, Measurement    Text

Skin and Sensation

Inflammation and Tissue Repair

13        Cryotherapy

          Basic Physics of Heat                 Text

          Superficial Heat Agents, Including

          Ice massage, cold packs, hot packs

          and Paraffin

20        Superficial Heat Agents               Text

              Deep Heat Agents, including ultrasound

              and diathermy

27                                      MID-TERM EXAM

Hydrotherapy                          Text

Nov.  3       Hydrotherapy                          Text

              Infrared and Ultraviolet

Nov  10        Review of all Modalities

Perform Combination of Student/Patient

Treatments.  Practice all Modalities

     17& 19   Practical Exam II: Cryotherapy, all

          Superficial and deep heat modalities

          Hydrotherapy

24        NO CLASSES

Dec. 1        Problem Solving; Aspects of Total Patient Rx

              Review/Practice

              Continuous Passive Motion Device

     8 & 10    Comprehensive Practical Exam:  Incorporate

              Modalities, massage, myofascial release and

               Exercise in a total program.

15         Comprehensive Final Written

15 & 17   Re-take Practicals

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