Movement, function and pain – research and practice

After completing this course the students will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of basic science of pain to the clinical examination and management of people with pain.
• Apply knowledge of basic science of movement, function and motor control to the clinical examination and management of people with movement dysfunction and disabilities.
• Examine and measure the biological and psychosocial factors that contribute to pain, physical dysfunction and disability using valid and reliable assessment tools.
• Examine, analyse and treat movement and function within a system-theoretical framework.

• Reflect critically on research-based knowledge in relation to movement, motor control and pain.
• Develop an evidence-informed physical therapy management program in collaboration with the citizen/patient aiming to modify pain, promote tissue healing, improve function and reduce disability.
• Implement physiotherapy management involving patient education, active approaches (e.g. functionally oriented behavioural movement re-education approaches and exercise) and passive approaches (e.g. manual therapy).
• Demonstrate an awareness of the basic concepts within research/philosophy/theory and scientific methods in order to document, evaluate and manage patients experiencing pain and loss of function
• Involving evidenced-informed practice strategies in clinical decision-making.
• Demonstrate respect for other cultures way of taking care of patients and learn some cultural sensitivity.
• Be explicit about cultural differences regarding clinical examination , communication and intervention

The students are expected to participate actively in the course, independently and collaboratively within groups to support learning and peer-learning. Learning activities include face-to-face dialogue based teaching and student collaboration in groups and Patient cases, patient demonstrations and clinical exercises with patients will be included.

The course will focus feed-forward and feedback in cooperation with patients, peer-students and lecturers. Additionally, students are expected to update personal knowledge when required.

The elective course will contain an assessment at the end of the course. The assessment will consist of a real-life case including a patient. The student will be rated according to a 7-point grading scale due to based on an overall assessment of the extent to which the student’s performance or proficiency meets the learning outcomes.

Compulsory literature for the physiotherapy education at the University College of Northern Denmark is expected to be read. In addition there will be some extra literature and information search included in the module.

Research literature recommended by lecturers.

Physiotherapy students with a passed semester 6 and international students with corresponding prerequisites.