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Clinical decision making & Diagnosis in physical therapy: Course Outline

The Clinical decision making & Diagnosis in physical therapy course is designed to teach the students about decision making processes that are used in clinical practice.

Course Objectives

  • To introduce the students about the concept and process of differential diagnosis in physical therapy.

  • To enhance the capability of the students to thoroughly review of the different system for proper diagnosis.

  • To enhance the knowledge and skills of the students for interpretation and understanding of the referred, visceral pain and the musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

  • To enhance the knowledge and skills of the students for differential diagnosis and the scope of physiotherapy practice and referral issues.

Course Outline

1.Introduction:

 Introduction of the participants, course overview and the importance of differential diagnosis in physical therapy.

 2. Introduction to differential screening in physical therapy.

  • Case Examples (a, b, c)

  • Physical Therapy Diagnosis (Historical Perspective)

  • Classification System

  • Scope of Practice

  • Decision-Making Process (Client History, pain patterns/Pain Types, associated signs and symptoms of systemic diseases and systemic review)

  • Physician Referral

  • Practice Questions.

  • 3 Introduction to the interviewing process.

  • Interviewing Techniques (Open-Ended and Closed-Ended Questions, Follow-up Questions and Paraphrasing Technique)
  • Interviewing Tools; a) Subjective Examination (Family/Personal History, Core Interview). b) Hospital Information (Medical Chart)
  • c) Objective Examination (Physical Therapy Evaluation & Assessment)
  • Physician Referral
  • Practice Questions

    4. Overview of Cardiovascular Signs & Symptoms.

  • Signs & Symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
  • Cardiac Pathophysiology.
  • Cardiovascular disorders.
  • Laboratory Values
  • Effects of cardiovascular medication
  • Physician referral.
  • Practice Questions.
  • .

Course Outline

5. Overview of pulmonary signs & symptoms.

  • Pulmonary pain patterns.
  • Pulmonary physiology.
  • Pulmonary Pathophysiology.
  • Neoplastic disease.
  • Genetic disease of the lung.
  • Occupational lung disease.
  • Pleura pulmonary disorders
  • Physician referral
  • Practice questions.
  • 6 Overview of Hematological signs and symptoms.
  • Classification of blood disorders. (Erythrocyte disorders, leukocyte disorders, platelet disorders and coagulation disorders).
  • Systemic signs & symptoms.
  • Physician referral.
  • Practice questions.

  • 7. Overview of Gastrointestinal signs & symptoms.

  • Gastrointestinal Organ symptoms.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Gastrointestinal complication of NSAIDs.
  • Diverticular disease.
  • Appendicitis, pancreatitis, pancreatic carcinoma, and inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colorectal cancer.
  • Physician referral.
  • Practice question
  • 8.Overview of renal & urologic signs & symptoms.
  • Urinary Tract
  • Renal and urologic pain
  • Renal and urinary tract problems.
  • Diagnostic testing.
  • Physician referral.
  • Practice question