Course Description

Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, the participant will:

• Articulate the structure and function of the major cellular components of the integumentary system.
• Distinguish the primary events associated with each stage of normal healing.
• Distinguish integumentary conditions most frequently encountered by the physical therapist.
• Articulate factors associated with the development of commonly encountered wounds.
• Compare interventions to minimize risk from commonly encountered wounds.
• Propose a comprehensive physical therapy assessment for individuals with integumentary conditions including:
  • Document review
  • Patient history
  • Quantitative and qualitative tests and measures
• Utilizing information from the physical therapy assessment (including valid and reliable tests and measures), decide on a diagnosis for which the patient will receive physical therapy or determine the need for referral to another medical professional.
• Utilizing information from current, peer-reviewed literature, articulate the evidence underlying the diagnosis, prognosis, expected functional outcomes, and estimated length of intervention.
• Propose a treatment plan that addresses modifiable risk factors, the wound microenvironment and physical therapy interventions including, but not limited to, biophysical technologies and exercise to facilitate healing and return to function.
• Propose the use of selected patient interventions through evidence from the scientific literature.
• Articulate the role of physical therapy in discharge planning.
• Distinguish the components of the discharge plan that need to be considered for specific conditions.