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Musculoskeletal Disorders in Women (PHTY90097)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability | July - Dual-Delivery |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides the opportunity for students to further advance their knowledge and clinical competency in the area of women's health physiotherapy. It exposes students to advanced theoretical knowledge and skills required of physiotherapists working as primary contact practitioners in women's health clinical practice, with the focus on musculoskeletal disorders.
This subject covers theory and management of musculoskeletal conditions affecting women throughout the lifespan. Topics include conditions that affect women in their child-bearing years: pelvic girdle pain, thoracic and low back pain, coccydinia, abdominal and pelvic floor muscle weakness, breast conditions, myalgias, gestational diabetes mellitus; conditions that affect women in their older years: osteoporosis, gynaecological and breast oncology, and lymphoedema. Other topics include pelvic pain and conditions affecting female athletes. Sound clinical assessment with a strong emphasis on clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis and effective evidence-based physiotherapy management will be covered.
Intended learning outcomes
The subject aims to provide:
- a greater understanding of the role and responsibilities of physiotherapists as first contact practitioners in the field of women's health
- advanced theoretical knowledge of the musculoskeletal conditions that present specifically in pregnancy, parturition and menopause
- the ability to perform an appropriate musculoskeletal examination of female patients, with due cognisance of the anatomical, physiological, gender, and cultural issues that present in women at various life-stages
- clinical competence in selecting and applying evidence-based physiotherapy treatment and management skills, specific to the presenting woman and disorder; and
- the ability to refer for appropriate investigations and to other relevant health providers when required.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject, students will have developed the following generic skills:
- a capacity for self-directed learning and the motivation for life-long independent learning.
- well-developed problem solving abilities, with flexibility of approach.
- an advanced level of oral and written communication at the graduate level. The ability to understand and articulate complex situations. An appreciation of the team approach to learning in complex areas.
- an advanced understanding of professional responsibility and ethical principles in relation to individuals and community.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Working knowledge and clinical experience of orthopaedics, spinal and skeletal structure and function, manual therapy.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Working knowledge and clinical experience of othopaedics, spinal and skeletal structure and function, manual therapy.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Written assignment
| End of semester | 80% |
Individual oral presentation in Journal club
| during intensive teaching week | 20% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- July
Principal coordinator Elise Fraser Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours There will be face to face intensive teaching from 27 August to 29 August. Students will be required to attend campus during this time. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 12 July 2021 Pre teaching requirements Students are required to undertake pre-reading in preparation for the study period. Teaching period 19 July 2021 to 12 September 2021 Last self-enrol date 13 July 2021 Census date 6 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 27 August 2021 Assessment period ends 19 September 2021
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Certificate in Physiotherapy (Exercise and Women's Health) - Links to additional information
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022