Clinical Physiology

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

Campus based lectures, tutorials and seminars

80 hours

None

None

Undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy

None

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject covers aspects of applied physiology within the context of evidence-based physiotherapy clinical practice. It examines the neurophysiology of pain and how pain is managed in clinical practice. It includes the management of different types of pain and presents the evidence supporting a variety of interventions. Furthermore the subject explores the theoretical concepts related to muscle and exercise physiology, motor control and motor performance and how these relate to current physiotherapy clinical practice.

Students who successfully complete this subject will have had the opportunity to:

• Develop advanced knowledge of the theory and research underpinning the neurophysiology of pain including the different types of pain and their clinical features
• Acquire an understanding of pain assessment methods across the lifespan
• Develop advanced knowledge of the multi-disciplinary approaches to pain management
• Acquire theoretical knowledge of: a) muscle physiology including muscle structure, mechanical properties, response to use and abuse; b) exercise physiology including exercise metabolism, cardio-respiratory response to exercise, energy, nutrition and environmental factors in exercise; c) physiology of motor skill learning and motor control and its application to physiotherapy clinical practice
• Develop evidence-based therapeutic exercise interventions for clinical populations

• 1 x oral presentation (5 min) and annotated bibliography of approximately 1000 words at either mid semester or end of semester (30%)
• 2000 word written assignment worth 35% due mid-semester.
• 2000 word written assignment worth 35% due at the end of the semester.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will have had the opportunity to:

• Develop an appreciation of the team approach to learning in complex areas
• Develop an appreciation of the importance of, and development of, good written and verbal communication skills to articulate knowledge in exercise and motor learning
• Build on their ability to evaluate and synthesise research and professional literature, and apply this information to novel situations