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Rehabilitation in Neurology (REHB90008)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
Contact information
Term 3
Email: continuing-education@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Contact hours: https://unimelb.edu.au/professional-development/contact-us
Overview
Availability | Term 3 - Online |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This wholly online subject introduces students to the rapidly evolving field of neurorehabilitation. The theories and the evidence supporting the theories will be reviewed to identify why selected neurorehabilitation approaches are effective for people with neurological conditions. This subject will provide students with an opportunity to critically review their own neurorehabilitation practice in the areas of assessment, analysis and treatment planning. Students will be required to synthesise and interpret the evidence to demonstrate how it could be applied in their own setting to improve their current practice.
This subject is divided into modules to allow flexibility for students to choose areas of neurorehabilitation that best match their interests or work context. Similarly, there is flexibility in the assessment tasks to allow students to focus upon areas of neurorehabilitation that are of interest and relevant to their working context.
All students will complete a foundational theory module that reviews the relevant neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuropathology that is the basis for understanding theories related to recovery following a neurological injury. Students will then choose two from three modules that best meet their learning interests and/or practice needs.
These modules are:
1. Strength Training: This module will examine theories and evidence related to neuropathology and recovery at the level of body structure and function using strength training as a specific example. Normal walking and muscle function will be reviewed and the evidence that is emerging from research into strength training in stroke and other neurological conditions will be evaluated to identify how the knowledge could be applied in the clinical context.
2. Activities and Participation: This module will examine the relationship between activities and participation for people with neurological conditions. The module will also review the application of person-centred goals and the delivery of evidence-based treatments to achieve them. The effectiveness of new therapeutic approaches to improving activity and participation will be examined including the use of virtual reality.
3. Environment: This module will examine the role of the environment in neurorehabilitation including emerging evidence from animal and human studies that show how environmental enrichment affects recovery at the level of body structure and activity. The module will also examine how innovative technologies such as telerehabilitation could be applied to in the neurorehabilitation context.
The final module is an integration and application of the concepts explored during the foundational and selective streams. Students will have an opportunity to further explore the themes that have emerged through student and expert presentations.
Intended learning outcomes
The curriculum is designed around three elements, which provide both horizontal and vertical integration throughout the course.
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
Rehabilitation Theory and Practice
- Identify and critically evaluate evidence from recent neuroanatomical and neurophysiological studies to explain how the evidence informs theories for effective therapy approaches in neurorehabilitation.
- Synthesise evidence to design neurorehabilitation assessments that are evidenced based and patient centric.
- Use theories and evidence in neurorehabilitation to demonstrate advanced analysis of physical, cognitive and behavioural problems in people with neurological conditions.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of contemporary theories and evidence in neurorehabilitation to develop treatment plans that are appropriate for individuals within their personal and environmental context.
Evidence and Innovation
- Discuss how innovations in neurorehabilitation at the level of body structure, activity and participation may be applied in the neurorehabilitation context.
- Identify how innovations in the areas relevant to the personal and environmental context for people with neurological conditions such as bioengineering and telerehabilitation may be applied in the neurorehabilitation context.
Clinical Practice in Context
- Critically appraise clinical practice in their own rehabilitation context and discuss how contemporary theories and evidence could be adopted to improve practice.
- Design an evidenced-based service improvement that could be implemented in their own neurorehabilitation context.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students will have had the opportunity to develop the skills associated with:
- applying knowledge and reasoning skills to complex problems in a range of contexts
- effective oral and written communication skills
- inquiry and creative solutions to challenges in their practice context
- awareness of and appropriate responsiveness to the social and cultural diversity in their practice and ensuring cultural safety for rehabilitation consumers and workers from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds
- self-assurance and confidence in their knowledge, yet flexible and adaptable, and aware of their limitations
Last updated: 8 November 2024