Chapter One:  Introduction to Physical Agents

1. Describe, categorize, and compare the types of physical agents used in rehabilitation.

2. Summarize the history of the clinical

application of physical agents.

3. Explain the role of rehabilitation in patient care.

4. Explain the role of physical agents in

rehabilitation.

5. Identify the physiologic effects of physical agents.

6. Outline the general contraindications and precautions for the use of physical agents.

Chapter Two: Inflammation and Tissue Repair

1. Define inflammation and identify its possible causes.

2. Identify the five cardinal signs of inflammation and their causes.

3. List the phases of tissue inflammation and repair and their relative time frames.

4. Describe the four responses of the inflammatory phase.

5. Discuss edema and its qualitative variability.

6. Describe the four processes that occur in the proliferation phase of healing.

7. Differentiate between the different types of collagen and their roles in tissue repair.

8. Describe the differences between the cellular

responses in acute and chronic inflammation.

9. Identify local and systemic factors that can affect tissue healing.

10. Discuss how different types of musculoskeletal tissue heal.

11. List the physical agents that can affect or modify tissue healing.

Chapter Three: Pain

1. Differentiate acute, chronic, and referred pain.

2. Discuss the peripheral and central mechanisms of nociception and pain transmission.

3. Appraise current theories of pain control.

4. Select and apply appropriate methods and tools to quantify and qualify pain.

5. Compare and contrast various medical and physical therapies used to control pain.

6. Evaluate the use of physical agents for

controlling pain.

Chapter Four: Tone Abnormalities

1. Define muscle tone and identify tone changes in the normal adult.

2. Use appropriate terminology to describe abnormal muscle tone.

3. Describe quantitative and qualitative methods used to measure muscle tone, determining when each is appropriate.

4. Identify the active and passive elements of muscle that contribute to muscle tone.

5. Describe the function of the alpha motor neuron and its conduction of electrochemical signals.

6. Identify peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal sources of input to the alpha motor neuron.

7. Describe muscle tone differences resulting from changes in excitatory and inhibitory input to alpha motor neurons.

8. Discuss various pathologies that might

result in abnormal muscle tone, including the type of tone abnormality that is likely to occur.

9. Identify clinically relevant consequences of increased, decreased, or fluctuating muscle tone.

10. Determine appropriate management of patients with abnormal muscle tone,

stating the expected effect of various

treatments.

Chapter Five: Motion Restrictions

1. Define different types of motion.

2. Describe different patterns of motion

restrictions.

3. Identify tissues that can restrict motion.

4. Discuss pathologies that can contribute to motion restrictions.

5. Select and apply appropriate tools and methods

to quantify and qualify motion restrictions.

6. Select and apply appropriate methods to determine the structures and

pathologies contributing to motion

restrictions.

7. When presented with a clinical case involving a motion restriction, evaluate the clinical findings, propose treatment goals, and identify possible interventions.

Chapter Six: Thermal Agents: Cold & Heat

1. Identify the physical properties of, and the physiological responses to, thermal agents.

2. Analyze the physiological responses to thermal agents necessary to promote particular treatment goals.

3. Assess the indications, contraindications, and

precautions for the use of thermal agents with respect to different patient management situations.

4. Evaluate different types of thermal agents with respect to their potential to produce desired physical and physiological effects.

5. Choose and use the most appropriate thermal agent to obtain desired treatment goals.

6. Presented with a clinical case, evaluate the clinical findings, propose goals of treatment, assess whether a superficial thermal agent would be the best treatment, and, if so, formulate an effective treatment plan, including the most appropriate thermal agent, for achieving the goals of treatment.

Chapter Seven: UltraSound

1. Recognize and distinguish the terminology used to describe therapeutic ultrasound.

2. Analyze the physiological responses to ultrasound necessary to promote particular treatment goals.

3. Identify the physical properties of, and the physiological responses to, therapeutic ultrasound.

4. Evaluate the indications, contraindications, and

precautions for the use of therapeutic

ultrasound with respect to different patient management situations.

5. Design appropriate methods for selecting therapeutic ultrasound treatment parameters to produce desired physical and physiological effects.

6. Choose and use the most appropriate

therapeutic ultrasound device and treatment parameters to obtain the desired treatment goals.

7. Evaluate different therapeutic

ultrasound devices with respect to their

potential for treating different patient problems.

8. Presented with a clinical case, evaluate the clinical findings, propose goals of treatment, assess whether therapeutic ultrasound would be

the best treatment, and, if so, formulate an effective treatment plan, including the

appropriate treatment parameters, for achieving the goals of treatment.

Chapter Eight: Introduction and History to Electrical Currents

1. Define the basic settings for the use of electrical stimulation as they are applied in the management of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal dysfunctions and wound care.

2. Identify the physiological effects of electrical stimulation.

3. Be familiar with the multiple uses of electrical stimulation including muscle re-education and strengthening, gait training, spasticity reduction, wound care, and pain modulation.

4. Discuss the basic principles of electrode size and materials, and demonstrate appropriate placement techniques for each application.

5. Compare the basic similarities, differences, and

functional applications of high volt, medium frequency and interferential, and DC for iontophoresis and then choose the appropriate device to obtain the desired treatment goals.

6. Be familiar with the guidelines, precautions, and contraindications in working with electrical stimulation devices.

7. When presented with a clinical case, analyze the clinical findings, propose goals of treatment, assess whether electrotherapy would be an appropriate treatment, and if so, formulate an effective treatment plan including the appropriate device and treatment parameters for achieving the goals of treatment.

Chapter Nine: Hydrotherapy

1. Discuss the physical properties of water, including heat transfer, buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure.

2. Identify the physiological effects of

cleansing with water and of water immersion.

3. Examine how the physical properties and physiological effects of hydrotherapy can be used for cleansing, musculoskeletal

support and resistance, cardiovascular and respiratory training, and for psychological benefits.

4. Assess the indications, contraindications, and precautions for the use of hydrotherapy.

5. Choose and use the most appropriate

hydrotherapy treatment technique to promote progress toward desired treatment goals.

6. Presented with a clinical case, evaluate the clinical findings, propose goals of treatment, assess whether hydrotherapy would be the best treatment, and, if so, formulate an effective treatment plan including the appropriate hydrotherapy treatment technique for achieving the goals of treatment.  

Chapter 10: Traction

1. Discuss the physical properties of traction.

2. Identify the physiological effects of traction.

3. Examine how the physical properties and physiological effects of traction can promote particular treatment goals.

4. Assess the indications, contraindications,

and precautions for the use of traction with respect to different patient management situations.

5. Design appropriate methods for selecting traction devices and treatment parameters to produce desired physical and physiological effects.

6. Choose and use the most appropriate traction device and treatment parameters to obtain the desired treatment goals.

7. Evaluate different traction devices with respect

to their potential application for treating

different patient problems.

8. Presented with a clinical case, evaluate the clinical findings, propose goals of treatment, assess whether traction would be the best

treatment, and, if so, formulate an effective treatment plan including the appropriate device and treatment parameters for achieving the goals of treatment.

Chapter 11: Compression

1. Discuss the physical properties of compression.

2. Identify the physiological effects of compression.

3. Examine how the physical properties and physiological effects of compression can promote particular treatment goals.

4. Assess the indications, contraindications, and

precautions for the use of compression with respect to different patient management situations.

5. Design appropriate methods for selecting compression devices and treatment parameters to produce desired physical and physiological effects.

6. Choose and use the most appropriate compression device and treatment parameters to obtain the desired treatment goals.

7. Evaluate different compression devices with respect to their potential application for treating different patient problems.

8. Presented with a clinical case, evaluate the clinical findings, propose goals of treatment, assess whether compression would be the best treatment,and, if so, formulate an effective treatment plan including the appropriate device and treatment parameters for achieving the goals of treatment.

Chapter 12: Electromagnetic Radiation:

Physical Properties of Electromagnetic Radiation, Physiological Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation

1. Discuss the physical properties of

electromagnetic radiation.

2. Classify the different ranges and types of electromagnetic radiation used therapeutically, including infrared, ultraviolet, cold lasers, shortwave, and microwave.

3. Identify the physiological effects of the different ranges of electromagnetic radiation.

4. Determine how the physical properties and physiological effects of electromagnetic radiation can promote particular treatment goals.

5. Assess the indications, contraindications, and

precautions for the application of

electromagnetic radiation of different frequency ranges with respect to different patient management situations.

Chapter 13: Integrating Physical agents into Patient Care

1. Summarize the attributes to be considered in the selection of physical agents.

2. Design treatment plans for a variety of patient problems that integrate the use of physical agents within a complete rehabilitation program.

3. Evaluate clinical findings to determine when to use specific physical agents and when to change agents or treatment parameters.

4. Make decisions regarding the application of physical agents under different health care delivery systems.

Chapter 14:  Directions for future Research and Application

1. Explain why there is a need for further research on the use of physical agents in rehabilitation.

2. Identify the areas in which further research on the effects of physical agents is needed.