Dec 02, 2024  
Catalog 2019-2020 
    
Catalog 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

PTA 256 Physical Rehabilitation IV

4 credits


PTA skills for working with patients with complex conditions including patients with spinal cord injuries and patients post amputation. Course also covers psychosocial aspects of patient care encountered when working as a PTA.

Psychosocial aspects of care includes topics of chronic pain, grief, depression, and other mental health conditions commonly encountered in physical therapy.

Prerequisites: PTA 190 , PTA 215 , and PTA 255  

Corequisites: PTA 235 , PTA 280 , and PTA 290  

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

  • Discuss the role of the PTA in working with patient with complex conditions
  • Identify the common causes of spinal cord injury
  • Describe the clinical presentation following damage to the spinal cord
  • Discuss the impact of complications associated with spinal cord injury
  • Take appropriate action as a PTA to respond to emergency situations related to spinal cord injury such as autonomic dysreflexia
  • Identify the typical functional outcomes for patients with spinal cord injury at various lesion levels
  • Relate new technology and treatments related to spinal cord injury
  • Safely, effectively, and efficiently implement selected physical therapy interventions and data collection techniques within the PT’s plan of care for a patient post spinal cord injury
  • Identify the common causes of lower extremity amputation
  • List and describe the types of postsurgical dressings used post amputation
  • List the phases of care and related prosthetics post amputation
  • Safely, effectively, and efficiently implement selected physical therapy interventions and data collection techniques within the PT’s plan of care for a patient post amputation
  • Discuss the psychosocial factors that influence rehabilitation
  • Identify the various professionals who may be involved in evaluation and interventions for patients with psychosocial issues
  • Recognize the warning signs of possible post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychosocial crisis points or dangerous behaviors
  • Describe possible actions to take as a PTA when encountering a patient who is demonstrating behaviors dangerous to the patient or to others
  • Broadly describe the grief process and the implications of the interaction of the grief process with physical therapy treatment
  • List defense mechanisms which are common reactions to disability
  • Identify methods to help patients manage anxiety and/or depression during physical therapy sessions which are within the scope of work of the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant
  • Implement relaxation interventions within the PT plan of care
  • Compare and contrast the presentation of acute, persistent, and chronic pain
  • List causes and risk factors for chronic pain
  • Identify the psychosocial factors associated with chronic pain
  • Summarize medical management options for chronic pain
  • Discuss complementary and alternative medicine approaches to managing chronic pain
  • Describe physical therapy intervention approaches appropriate for individuals with chronic pain