Unit Outline

This unit builds upon the foundational knowledge and skills introduced in the previous units to examine musculoskeletal physiotherapy (CXA705, CXA736, and CXA737). It therefore retains the focus on applying the biopsychosocial model of practice, person-centered practice, evidence-based practice, reflective practice, critical thinking, and interprofessional collaboration. Students are required to synthesise new knowledge and skills related to responding to clients with clinical neuro-musculoskeletal conditions and trauma affecting the upper extremity, spine, and pelvis and common rheumatological and metabolic bone disorders, and integrate them into the application of clinical reasoning cycle and physiotherapy clinical decision-making model, culturally safe practice for diverse populations, determining the quality of information sources and professional interaction and communication. Students will develop physiotherapy clinical skills and knowledge of the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical presentation of the common upper extremity, spine, and pelvis neuro-musculoskeletal conditions including common rheumatological and metabolic bone disorders, and trauma affecting upper extremity, spine, and pelvis. Students will be introduced to the concepts of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, classes of drugs, adverse drug effects, drug toxicity, and its application in common neuro-musculoskeletal conditions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Describe the aetiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and conservative and surgical management and associated complications of the common neuro-musculoskeletal disorders affecting the upper extremity, spine, and pelvis.
2	Apply the upper extremity, spine, and pelvis anatomy and physiology knowledge, to relevant neuro-musculoskeletal conditions and their presentation in various medical imaging.
3	Explain concepts of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, classes of drugs, adverse drug effects, and drug toxicity to medicines commonly used for neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.
4	Apply critical self-reflection and the attributes of life-long learning, inquiry and relate to ongoing professional development.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA736 Foundations of Physiotherapy and CXA737 Physiotherapy Practice 1
Co-requisite	CXA709 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Based on the consistent feedback from the first and second cohorts, the online learning resources have been reviewed and updated to ensure they remain concise, impactful, and minimize cognitive load for students. The additional weekly webinar will continue as an effective learning activity, focusing on the application of theoretical knowledge to hands-on practical skills. Additional pre-recorded lectures will be included within the online theory content. The task descriptions for the oral presentation (AT1) and final written assessment (AT2) have been revised. The word limits for the AT2 assignment have also been revised.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Oral Presentation	Week 7	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Differentiating the clinical presentations of two neuro-musculoskeletal case studies.	Week 10	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Four Quizzes - Neuro-Musculoskeletal Conditions	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Oral Presentation

Task Description:

Oral presentation (Online) – Pathophysiology, pharmacological and/or surgical management, and prognostic features of the given neuro-musculoskeletal conditions.

In this assessment, you are required to take an evidence-based approach to present a current update on the aetiology, epidemiology, pathoanatomy, pathophysiology, clinical and radiological features (as applicable) of the given neuro-musculoskeletal condition affecting upper extremity, spine, and pelvis. You are required to discuss specific clinical and radiological signs and symptoms of the given clinical condition with its relevant sensitivity and specificity values where applicable. You are required to discuss the pharmacological and surgical management of the given conditions with their associated side effects and complications, as well as the short-term and long-term prognostic features of the pain and movement system impairment of the given condition. You are required to demonstrated skills relevant to critically analysis of existing evidence to relevant aspects of conditions, and its current management and prognosis. You are required to demonstrate attributes of critical reflection and lifelong learning, through effective communication and your response to questions. Your unit coordinator will assign you with a neuro-musculoskeletal condition for the presentation. You are required to perform this oral presentation to the teaching team and peer group, which includes a 3-min question and answer session.

Task Length:

10 minutes presentation time, and 3 minutes QA time (13 min/presentation)

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrates contemporary understanding of the given neuro-musculoskeletal conditions by explaining the type of the lesion, epidemiology, relevant pathoanatomy or pathophysiology, clinical features, and where applicable the radiological features.	LO1, LO2
2	Demonstrates a clear understanding of the pharmacological and surgical management and associated complications of the given neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, with the evidence-based short and long-term prognosis of pain and movement system impairment	LO1, LO3
3	Demonstrate responsible communication skills with self-reflection and life-long learning attributes when answering the questions where applicable.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Differentiating the clinical presentations of two neuro-musculoskeletal case studies.

Task Description:

You are required to use an evidence-based clinical reasoning approach to analyse two case studies of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions. Your analysis of each case study should evaluate and relate the etiological mechanisms (pathophysiology and pathoanatomy), disease severity, biopsychosocial impairments, risk factors, and flags, determine prognosis, and address interdisciplinary health care needs. Finally, compare these aspects between the two case studies.

Your evidence-based clinical reasoning approach should include the following steps:

1. Identify and relate the different types of lesions or etiological mechanisms (i.e., pathophysiological diagnostic labels) to neuro-musculoskeletal structures (pathoanatomy diagnostic labels) within each case study. Justify these interpretations based on relevant clinical, radiological, and other investigation reports. Analyse and justify whether similar types of etiological mechanisms exist between the two case studies.
2. Differentiate the stage (or severity) of lesions relevant to each neuro-musculoskeletal structure (pathoanatomical diagnostic labels) based on the relevant investigation findings. Relate the severity of the lesions to specific movement system impairments, functional and activity limitation measurements within each case study. Analyse and justify if similar patterns of relationships exist between specific pathoanatomical (structural) and functional impairments in the two case studies.
3. Interpret any unique clinical presentations associated with the side effects of medications and/or complications of surgical management and highlight any potential red flags.
4. Identify the prognosis aspects of different clinical presentations or impairments (e.g., pain, function, psychosocial, structural changes, etc.) based on current management as reported in each case study. Reflect on and justify any potential differences in the prognosis of specific impairments between the two case studies.
Discuss the necessary interdisciplinary referrals to rule out and/or address potential confounding problems that could impact current physiotherapy management in each case study. Justify these referrals based on your analysis of relevant investigation reports. Analyse and justify the potential similarities and/or differences required for interdisciplinary referrals for any common and/or different clinical features between the two case studies.

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify the types of lesions associated within and between the case studies.	LO1
2	Differentiates clinical presentation of the neuro-musculoskeletal structures and function based on the type and stages of lesions within and between the case studies.	LO1, LO2
3	Identify and differentiate the potential clinical presentations caused by adverse effects of the medications and/or complications of the surgical management as identified in the individual case studies.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Differentiate the prognostic nature of the various clinical presentations within and between the case studies in line with the diagnosis, current conservative and/or surgical management.	LO1, LO3
5	Identify and discuss the clinical presentation that requires interdisciplinary referrals to exclude and/or address the potential confounding problems that would impact the physiotherapy rehabilitation within and between the case studies.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Four Quizzes - Neuro-Musculoskeletal Conditions

Task Description:

Four Quizzes – Neuro-musculoskeletal conditions on, shoulder girdle (10%), cervical and thoracic spine (10%), elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand (10%), and lumbar spine and pelvis (10%)

This online multiple-choice quiz assesses the knowledge related to applied musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology, and clinical and radiological presentation of the common neuro-musculoskeletal conditions affecting the shoulder girdle, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand, spine, and pelvis.

Task Length:

30 minutes

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify features of the neuro-musculoskeletal system structure and function relevant to the neuro-musculoskeletal conditions and their presentation in medical imaging.	LO1, LO2, LO4
2	Identify epidemiology, aetiology and pathogenesis, and clinical presentation related to physiological and pathophysiological neuro-musculoskeletal conditions.	LO1, LO2
3	Identify the conservative and surgical management of the selected musculoskeletal disorders, and their implication for physiotherapy practice.	LO1, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

You will be able to access the topic-specific reading list via the Readings List section on the Mylo homepage. You will be directed to topic-specific readings to complete related activities on each topic.