PTA 101 Introduction to Clinical Practice 1

Admission into the PTA program required. This course introduces physical therapy practice patterns for acute and chronic soft tissue injuries across the healing continuum. Students are introduced to principles of body mechanics, gross mobility training, positioning, biophysical agents, and aquatic therapy. Evidence-based practice is also introduced.

Credits

5

Prerequisite

PTA 101L or PTA 101LR with a C or better (may be taken as a corequisite)

Corequisite

PTA 100 

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Identify the role of the PTA in the provision of physical therapy interventions included in this course
2. Develop an identity as an SPTA through timely and collaborative communication and problem-solving with student colleagues and instructors throughout course discussions and electronic communications
3. Apply problem-solving algorithms and classification models (i.e., International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health) to develop clinical decision making for selecting, modifying, and discontinuing PT interventions included in this course
4. Identify activities and behaviors that demonstrate respect for the patient (e.g., informed consent and right to refuse, draping, examination of possible social and cultural biases and differences, etc.)
5. Recognize situations that require additional information, direction, or supervision from the physical therapist for PT interventions and case simulations included in this course
6. Define evidence-based practice and principles as it is used in physical therapy
7. Integrate appropriate evidence-based resources to support assertions and claims in discussions
8. Define principles of motor learning theory that are used during patient encounters to optimize movement and prevent injury
9. Describe soft tissue disorders in terms of pathological mechanisms, epidemiology, common diagnostic procedures, management, and rehabilitation
10. Describe the influence of soft tissue healing stages on selecting and applying interventions included in this course
11. Describe theory, therapeutic benefits/outcomes, and application (precautions, contraindications, and procedures) of interventions used to promote healing, functional recovery, and pain management:
11a. body mechanics training/proper lifting techniques
11b. positioning
11c. basic wheelchair mobility and transport
11d. transfers
11e. superficial and deep thermal agents
11f. cryotherapy
11g. electrotherapeutic agents
11h. compression therapies
11i. hydrotherapy
11j. light
11k. soft tissue mobilization
11l. passive range of motion
12. Demonstrate competence in interpreting data collected during a physical therapy patient encounter, specifically:
12a. Relevant subjective information provided by the patient independently or with prompts
12b. Vital signs (HR, RR, BP, O2 saturation, temperature)
12c. Standardized pain assessments
12d. Skin condition – (e.g. color, capillary refill, swelling)
12e. Movement strategies – body mechanics (lifting, carrying, bending, standing)
12f. Anthropometric measures related to wheelchair fitting
12g. Assistance provided during a patient transfer or movement activity (e.g., physical, equipment, cuing, level of assistance; functional independence measures (FIM))
12h. Light touch sensation integrity prior to administering biophysical agents
13. Describe objective data that should be included in documentation of PTA-patient encounters for interventions included in this course (e.g., parameters, position, location/body region, time, intensity, sets/repetitions, equipment, etc.)
14. Use proper medical format when documenting simulated patient encounters included in the course