PTA 2024 - Neurological and Complex Medical Conditions and Interventions
4 Credit Hours
Course Description:
This course prepares students to assist in the physical therapy management of individuals with complex rehabilitation needs, including those with neurological, cognitive, and musculoskeletal disorders. Emphasis is placed on understanding and applying enablement models to clinical reasoning and patient-centered care. Through analysis of common conditions such as cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), traumatic brain injury (TBI), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), spinal cord injury (SCI), amputation, and cardiopulmonary impairments, students will explore the pathophysiology, symptomatology, and evidence-informed rehabilitative strategies used to optimize patient outcomes.
Students will develop a working knowledge of gross neuroanatomy and its relationship to movement, sensation, cognition, speech, and functional performance. The course provides a foundation in therapeutic exercise prescription, balance training, gait analysis and retraining, and the use of orthotic, prosthetic, and assistive devices. Special attention is given to cognitive and motor impairments, functional mobility limitations, adaptive equipment, wheelchair prescription, and safety considerations for individuals with complex needs.
Practical skills are emphasized through lab simulations that reinforce clinical competencies such as gait training, bed mobility, transfer training, home exercise instruction, balance assessment, and communication of findings. Students will also learn to recognize when and how to consult the physical therapist and make appropriate recommendations within the PTA’s scope of practice.
The course emphasizes the development of client-centered care, ethical communication, and advocacy. Students will demonstrate adherence to professional standards, respectful use of “people-first” language, and strategies that promote optimal participation and quality of life for patients across various backgrounds and rehabilitation settings.
Prerequisites:
All PTA and BIO courses must be completed and a PTA program GPA of 2.5 or better.
PTA 1312 Practicum I
Corequisites:
PTA 1201 Pediatric Development, Conditions and Treatment
PTA 1211 Geriatric Conditions and Treatment
PTA 2112 Professional Seminar in Physical Therapy
PTA 2021 Clinical Prep II
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