Learning Outcomes:
On completion of the module, students should be able to:
1. Comprehensively relate pathologies of the peripheral and central nervous systems to the clinical presentations of paediatric and adult populations in neurology.
2. Evaluate assessment findings to plan safe and effective treatments including goal setting, appropriate outcome measure selection, appropriate referral to members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and employing advanced clinical reasoning skills using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework in neurology.
3. Administer facilitation and handling techniques and/or physical agents or appliances effectively to ensure safe and competent practice including modulation of tone and facilitation of normal movement patterns.
4. Understand the role of exercise in the management and prevention in chronic neurological diseases and aging, demonstrating competence and safety in exercise testing and prescription for individuals with neurological disability and/or clinical frailty.
5. Evaluate treatment paradigms and other factors affecting motor control, recovery and motor relearning following injury to the central nervous system (CNS) in neurological rehabilitation.
6. Appraise the best available evidence in the management of neurological diseases and apply key findings to enable safe and effective physiotherapy practice across a variety of clinical environments.
Indicative Module Content:
Topics covered include:
• Peripheral nerve injury
Mechanisms; Wallarian degeneration/regeneration; Advanced sensory assessment techniques; Physiotherapy management; Peripheral nerve injuries including Radial / ulnar / median / common peroneal injuries and Facial Palsy
• Neurological Pathologies
Neuromuscular conditions: Motor Neurone Disease ; Polyneuropathies including Guillan Barre; Ataxias – Cerebellar, Sensory & Vestibular; including Friedrich’s Ataxia; Traumatic Brain Injury; Myopathies; Spinal Cord Injury; Traumatic brain injury; Neurosurgery including brain tumours, epilepsy, SAH, cranial surgery
• Paediatric Neurology:
Normal Development of the Brain; Developmental Milestones; Common conditions in paediatrics: Cerebral Palsy; Spina Bifida; Muscular Dystrophy
• Clinical exercise in neurology
Exercise prescription and training post stroke; Falls prevention theory and clinical exercise
• NMES
• Treatment of hypotonia & hypertonia (identifying compensations in the trunk): Handling skills
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Upper limb rehabilitation
• Management of hemiplegic shoulder pain
• Lower limb rehabilitation
• Gait training and re-education
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Theoretical constructs in Neurological Rehabilitation
• Neuroplasticity
• Motor control theories and motor learning
• The role of the Multidisciplinary team in patient management in neurology
• International Classification of Functioning (ICF)
• Case studies in Neurology using ICF
• Post neurosurgery following AVM excision / TBI: Early ICU; late rehabilitation
• Principles of splinting and positioning / serial casting practical