Aim and Content

Aim:

After completed education, the student should hold an advanced level of knowledge and skills in clinical examinations, treatment and handling of illness and disease in the neuro-muscular-articulate system, and master clinical skills in manual therapy.

Contents:

MANT312 is based on MANT311. Additional techniques of examination and treatment procedures are taught. The teaching focuses on perfecting clinical skills where knowledge from basic courses (anatomy, biomechanics, pain physiology, human movement science and training theory) and theoretical support courses (clinical reasoning, communication, health and disease, classification and social security medicine) are integrated. The main focus is on discussing the utility areas of various treatment techniques, as well as discussing how the students as a primary contact should approach the patient. The measures are to be based on scientific documentation and clinical reasoning.

Central in this module is to understand the connection between structure and function in the neuro-muscular-articulate system, to acquire and understand different examination procedures, and to develop the ability to conduct oneselves physically and verbally around co-students and patients.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the course, the students should hold advanced level of knowledge and skill in clinical examination, treatment and handling of illness and diseases in the neuro-muscular-articulate system, set from a bio-psychological perspective, and be able to

- integrate theory and practice

- independently give necessary care and remedial actions when meeting the patient

- plan and initiate adequate treatment strategies that attend to the patient`s needs both in the short and the long run

- explain health and disease from an overall bio-psycho-social perspective

- explain a basic understanding in that malfunctions in the musculo-skeletal system may be caused by psychological and social conditions

- evaluate examinations and measures according to the ICF model

After completing the course, the students should be able to

- perform general and specific examination techniques of the neuro-muscular-articulate system

- use knowledge and findings from patient interviews and clinical examinations when treating patients

- demonstrate a reasonable skill level in soft tissue techniques on extremities and columna

- demonstrate a reasonable skill level in articulation techniques on extremities and columna

- demonstrate a reasonable skill level in manipulation techniques on extremities and columna

- demonstrate a reasonable skill level in the use of common orthopedic, neurologic and circulatory examination procedures

- demonstrate insight in general and specific exercise and ergonomic counseling considering injuries in the neuro-muscular-articulate system

Course offered (semester)

Spring and autumn (third and fourth semester)

Course Unit Level

Master

Pre-requirements

MANT312 is based on the course MANT311

Teaching Methods

Learning and skill training of procedures for examination and techniques in manual therapy take place in compulsory teaching at the university. The lessons vary between theoretical and practical introductions. Demonstrations, assignments, personal guidance and colloquia are used as pedagogical aids when introducing practical skills. These are subsequently used in patient treatments in the clinical work placement periods. The students will use their skills at an approved clinical work placement under supervision from their supervisor, who is approved by the group for Master studies in physiotherapy at the University of Bergen. The supervisor should make sure that all the techniques and procedures taught at the university are used. All of the students must experience having the procedures and techniques tried on themselves, as they practice on each other during teaching.

The third and fourth semester hold in total 180 hours of theoretical and practical lessons at the university. In the periods in between, the students attend their allotted work placements 28 hours per week, where they work with patients under supervision by a physiotherapist specialized in manual therapy. During the last year of the study, the student should have examined and treated a minimum of 900 patients and had 125 hours of supervision.

Compulsory Requirements

A minimum of 900 patient consultations and 125 hours supervision must be documented.

Assessment methods

The student is evaluated continuously according to expected learning outcomes and measures of quality.

The students will write a protocol, written by set standards, describing treatments made during the total period of their clinical work placement. The protocol is handed in every six months. The student`s supervisor continuously evaluates the student`s ability to communicate with the patients, colleagues and collaborators, as well as use of various written and oral communication tools in the diagnostic process. Written feedback to the student and the course coordinator is given every six months.

A clinical final exam is held at the end of the fourth semester. This is a clinical practical exam where the candidate is assigned a real patient. The student will examine the patient, present a case summary, clinical findings, diagnostic conclusions and suggestions for treatments both on short and long term. Afterwards the student is examined in the suggested treatment remedial actions. In addition, the student is examined in other treatment techniques to ensure that a.o. manipulation is practiced after set standards. This exam takes about one hour, in addition to the students` examination of the patient and the writing of the case record 1,5 hours in advance of the exam.

The exam is performed by one of the MT lecturers at UiB. The exam is censored and evaluated by an external examiner present at the examination, who may also ask additional questions.

Before the student is allowed to take the final practical exam in manual therapy, he or she must have passed all previous assignments and exams. By application, the final clinical exam may be taken before the master`s thesis is handed in. The student`s absence rate must be maximum 20% or lower. Documentation from supervisor documenting completed and approved clinical practice must be provided before the final exam.

Grading Scale

Grading scale A-F

Reading List

Literature that composes the basis for the students` learning activity will be suggested. This literature will be usable in various exams and assessments.

Place of Teaching

The clinical work placements take place at a physiotherapy clinic. These clinics are distributed around Norway, and most of the placements are not in Bergen