Medical And Surgical Lifespan

Through lectures, videos, and analysis of relevant research, students integrate principles of motor control and motor learning to the instruction of psychomotor skills to patients. This course focuses on mobility training, including gait training with/without assistive devices and with/without orthotics, and instruction of transitional movements including transfers, sit to stand, stand to sit, bed mobility, and wheelchair navigation. Students learn to document mobility interventions in a manner that demonstrates skilled intervention. Selective applications of assistive, adaptive, orthotic and prosthetic devices are explained and assessed, based on appropriate patient populations and mobility needs. Patient/client related education is a cornerstone of physical therapist practice, and lifelong learning a foundation of doctoring professions. Principles of teaching/learning, health literacy, and barriers / facilitators of learning are explored and applied to self and others.  Students learn a patient-centered approach to patient education, including assessing readiness for learning, adapting instruction to the learner’s needs, and evaluating learning outcomes.