Core Units
Dissertation
The dissertation is designed to enable you to produce a scholarly piece of work which demonstrates application of the knowledge learned on the Research Methods and Data Handling units. It may take the form of empirical research or critical literature review using a systematic approach.
Advanced Physiotherapy Project
The MSc APP Project is designed to enable the student to produce a scholarly piece of work, which demonstrates application of the knowledge learned on the Research Methods and Data Handling units. It will take the form of either empirical research/audit/clinical enhancement, or a literature review, plus an oral examination.
Research Methods
The purpose of this unit is to enable the physiotherapist to utilise and undertake sound and clinically relevant research. It is designed to give students an enhanced knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research processes for professional, practice and personal development.
Likely Optional Units
Clinical Placement Lower Quadrant
The aim of the unit is to synthesise the theoretical and practical components of the students learning developed through the core manual therapy units. The student will work in a musculoskeletal setting to further consolidate and develop their university learning.
Multi-Professional Approach to Stroke Rehabilitation
This unit critically reviews the rehabilitation pathway and multi-professional management of stroke patients across all sectors. There will be a focus on critically evaluating the evidence behind rehabilitative strategies in order to recognise the challenges faced by stroke survivors as they aim to achieve their full potential for recovery. Participants attending this unit must be registered health care professionals who have worked within stroke services for a minimum of one year. This unit is commissioned and developed in partnership with the NHS Greater Manchester and Eastern Chesire and supported by the Operational Delivery Network.
Musculoskeletal Medicine Injection Therapy
This module in injection skills is designed to develop cognitive and psychomotor skills essential to the advancement of the clinician specialising in injection treatments for musculoskeletal lesions. The module aims to develop the knowledge of the clinician in the theory, application and practice of injection treatments in musculoskeletal disorders. It further aims to enhance constant critical reasoning and evaluation in the application of injection skills.
It should be noted that this module is only open to those who can demonstrate that medical supervision is in place for the inter-unit course work.
Content:
- Evidence base of injection therapy
- Medico-legal aspects of injection therapy
- Principles of diagnosis and treatment
- Absorption and elimination of drugs
- Drug nomenclature and doses
- Local anaesthetics and Corticosteroids
- Equipment
- Safety
- Aseptic no touch technique
- Injection technique
- Emergencies and complications
- Record keeping and treatment protocols
- Regional injection techniques
- Aspiration
- Supervised clinical practice
- Anatomy laboratory session
- Injection protocols
Musculoskeletal Medicine Lower Quadrant
This course in musculoskeletal medicine is designed to develop the cognitive, psychomotor and clinical reasoning skills essential to the advancement of the clinician specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal lesions in musculoskeletal medicine, particularly in primary care.
Musculoskeletal Medicine Upper Quadrant
This unit in musculoskeletal medicine is designed to develop the cognitive, psychomotor and clinical reasoning skills essential to the advancement of the clinician specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal lesions in musculoskeletal medicine, particularly in primary care.
Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice
The unit is intended to develop the knowledge and skills required by the autonomous, advanced physiotherapy practitioner working within musculoskeletal practice, to make complex decisions for patient management and onward referral. This unit is suitable for experienced musculoskeletal practitioners working in or towards advanced practice in an extended role.
This unit will cover the following areas:
- Advanced musculoskeletal practice (overview and legal implications)
- IRMER training
- Requests for and interpretation of radiographic procedures (scanning and x-rays) and blood tests
- Red flags/spinal masquerades
- MSK pharmacology
- Differential diagnosis in rheumatological, neurological and vascular presentations
- Current orthopaedic surgical interventions
- Advanced clinical reasoning and consolidation (case based)
- Formative presentations (with peer and tutor feedback)
Biomechanical Analysis (Lower Limb)
This unit is intended to develop skills in relation to biomechanical gait analysis of the lower limb. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate and synthesise literature in relation to lower limb biomechanical gait analysis.
In this unit, the student will:
- Study the phases of human gait
- Critically evaluate the evidence surrounding biomechanical analysis
- Use 2D and 3D motion analysis system, and will generate kinetic and kinematic data. The normative data they collect in the process will be analysed by themselves using Qualysis and Visual 3D software
- Complete a project involving the 3D motion analysis system and critically discuss their findings
Soft Tissue Manipulation
This unit is intended to develop practical and theoretical skills to manage soft tissue injury and will cover:
- Principles of soft tissue therapy
- Functional anatomy and biomechanics
- Subjective and objective patient examination
- Treatment modalities to support soft tissue repair
- Massage and soft tissue manipulation to prevent and manage injury
Assessment and Management of Neuromusculoskeletal Dysfunction in the Lower Quadrant
This unit is intended to develop both cognitive and psychomotor skills of the practitioner specialising in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction.
Students will explore:
- Functional anatomy and biomechanics
- Subjective and objective patient examination
- Differential diagnosis
- Manual treatment techniques and other strategies
- Clinical reasoning applied to management of neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction of the lower quadrant
Assessment and Management of Neuromusculoskeletal Dysfunction in the Upper Quadrant
This unit is intended to develop both cognitive and psychomotor skills of the practitioner specialising in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction.
Students will explore:
- Functional anatomy and biomechanics
- Subjective and objective patient examination
- Differential diagnosis
- Manual treatment techniques and other strategies
- Clinical reasoning applied to management of neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction of the upper quadrant
Evidence Based Approach to Acute Stroke Management
This unit will cover core concepts of the acute stroke journey. Utilising case based learning, the unit will facilitate qualified Health Care professionals to critically evaluate the current policy, guidelines and literature that underpins stroke assessment and management within the acute phase. This unit will help qualified Health Care professionals from a range of disciplines to gain an in-depth understanding of the causes, nature, assessment and identification of stroke, including: investigations, emergency treatment, common stroke mimics, scoring systems, stroke thrombolysis and intra-arterial and surgical interventions. The unit will also cover post stroke care including early mobilisation, positioning, nutrition, mood, medication, monitoring and end of life care. Participants attending this unit must be registered health care professionals who have worked within stroke services for a minimum of one year.
Approaches to Neurological Rehabilitation
This unit considers rehabilitation interventions that can be utilised in management of people with neurological conditions. It critically examines the evidence for their efficacy and considers the theoretical and physiological constructs which underpin current practice and its relevance. It also critically considers a range of outcome measures, investigating their reliability, validity, sensitivity and clinical utility.
Rehabilitation in Sport
This unit will explore the theoretical aspects of rehabilitation in sport with particular emphasis on the role of the physiotherapist. It will include assessment and rehabilitation of the athlete including children, and the psychological implications of injury in sport. Students will be supported to enhance their knowledge and skills to critically appraise the current available literature and to independently consider its relevance in relation to sports rehabilitation.
Clinical Placement Upper Quadrant
The aim of the unit is to synthesise the theoretical and practical components of the students learning developed through the core manual therapy units. The student will work in a musculoskeletal setting to further consolidate and develop their university learning.
Principles of Health Economics
This unit is designed to enable practitioner/students to explore health economics and equip them with the basic principles of economics. Students will examine the current fundamental economic principles and their application to health care. These include the supply of and demand for health and health care, scarcity, choice and opportunity cost. It also examines, economic evaluation of health care systems and health care reforms, methods of economic evaluation in healthcare, and priorities setting using health economics. The unit will also examine economic analysis of healthcare technologies and valuation of health.
Physical Activity and Health
The overall aim of this unit is for students to critically explore the relationship between physical activity and health in different client groups and critique public health interventions and the broader policy context relating to promoting activity.
Foundation for Effective Leadership and Management within an Organisation
This unit aims to develop self-awareness and skills in self-management in order to enhance personal and professional development. It will enable participants to explore key areas in managing people at work in order to enhance and refine effective working relationships. Participants will develop the analytical, reflective and planning skills required to facilitate effective management.
Management of the Acutely Ill and Critically Ill Patient
In the management of the acutely ill patient unit, students will develop knowledge and skills of how physiological deterioration can be recognised and the appropriate and timely intervention that can avoid resultant organ failure and potentially cardio-respiratory arrest. The unit explores the multi-professional approach in critical care units relating to rehabilitation and the necessary support of organ failure.
Independent Study
This unit provides an opportunity for you to explore work-related issues and articulate the theoretical, evidential, background that supports practitioner developments. The unit can also be used as a means of accrediting prior experiential learning (RPL).
Management of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
This unit considers the complex issues that surround patients with chronic pain and which make treatment and rehabilitation a challenge. Various theories and concepts are explored and best practice in the assessment and management of chronic pain patients is covered with reference to the available evidence base
Rehabilitation of Older People
The unit will synthesise and evaluate the different approaches of patient-centred holistic care for older people with reference to the multi-professional approach. It will critically examine the theoretical, physiological, psychological, and social constructs that underpin this practice.
Principles of Clinical Management for Patients with Neuromusculoskeletal Dysfunction (Foundation Unit)
This unit provides a comprehensive foundation to the assessment, treatment and management by manual therapists for patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. It is vital underpinning for further units dealing with specific clinical presentations.
- Functional anatomy and biomechanics
- Theory of manual therapy, including indications and contraindications within a biopsychosocial framework
- Manual treatment techniques and other strategies
- Clinical reasoning applied to the management of neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction, including assessment, management, prognosis and discharge.
- Communication strategies
- Theory of pain sciences and their integration into practice
- Principles of assessment and management of neurodynamics, haemodynamics and motor control
- Integration of research into clinical practice