Orthopaedic Physiotherapy/ Clinical Orthopaedic Posting

Basics of history taking, physical examination and specific assessment procedures and clinical judgments, and evaluation of patients with fractures, dislocations, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, neck pain, spinal stenosis, soft tissue injuries etc. Students will also be taught the appropriate ways of communicating treatment goals and plans to patients with orthopaedic conditions. Principles of physical management of skeletal disorders. Epidemiology, pathology and clinical features of skeletal disorders. Assessment procedures and physical treatment of patients. Principles of physiotherapy in fracture management. Definitions, classifications and complications, conservative and surgical management. Bone infection. Disorders of osteoid formation and maintenance. Disorders of bone mineralization. Principles and physical management of disorders of skeletal muscle and adjoining soft tissue. Infection of skeletal muscles. Muscular dystrophy – Progressive, muscular, myotonic, fascio- sac pulohumeral, distal muscular and ocular myodystrophy; Amyotonia and myotonia congenital abnormalities of the foot and hand. Myasthenia gravis. Management of chronic and acute soft tissues injuries (muscular, tendinous and ligamentous injuries, tendonitis etc). acquired and congenital abnormalities of foot and hand. Spinal disorders – neck pain, back pain, sacro-iliac joint pain, cervical and lumbar spondylosis (intervertebral disclesions), spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, ankylosing spondylitis. Infectious conditions – Septic arthritis, tuberculous arthritis, osteomyelitis. Bone disorders – osteoporosis, osteomalacia, Paget’s disease etc. Musculoskeletal deformities- scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis. Myofascial pain syndrome. Fibromyalgia. Connective tissues disorders – polymyositis, systemic lupus erythromatosus. Joint replacements (hip and knee), acute care (including precautions and safety) following surgeries (special consideration for old/ elderly patients).

Learning outcomes for PST 441: At the end of the posting, students should be able to take history, carryout physical examination and other relevant assessment procedures on patients with orthopaedic conditions. Demonstrate skills in clinical reasoning and in making clinical judgments in different orthopaedic conditions. Demonstrate skills in communicating treatment goals and plans with patients with orthopaedic conditions. Demonstrate skills in managing and evaluating patients with orthopaedic conditions commonly seen in physiotherapy. Students will be exposed to history taking, physical examination and specific assessment procedures and clinical judgments, treatment and evaluation of patients in fractures, dislocations, osteoarthritis, rheumatoidarthritis, backpain, neckpain, spinal stenosis, soft tissue injuries etc. Students will also be taught the appropriate ways of communicating treatment goals and plans to patients with orthopaedic conditions.