Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the practical skills required to become a practising kinesiologist. Topics include clinical, anatomical, and assessment skills, theory and guidelines for the use of therapeutic modalities, and techniques used in orthopaedic rehabilitation. This course is suited for students considering careers as a practising kinesiologist or employment in an orthopaedic clinical setting.
Course Content
- Introduction to kinesiology and other healthcare professions
- Roles of various health care professionals
- Scope of practice for kinesiologists and other healthcare professionals
- Pain and pain management
- Physiological process of tissue healing
- Factors that impede healing
- Neurophysiology of acute, chronic, and referred pain
- Gate control theory
- Descending pathway pain control
- Pain measurement tools (visual analog scale, pain scale, McGill pain questionnaire)
- Therapeutic modalities and medical imaging
- Heat
- Cold
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
- Shockwave therapy
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- X-rays
- Diagnostic ultrasound
- Head, neck, and thoracic spine
- Relevant anatomy
- Range of motion
- Strength assessment
- Postural and biomechanical assessment
- Treatment options
- Shoulder complex
- Relevant anatomy
- Range of motion
- Strength assessment
- Postural and biomechanical assessment
- Treatment options
- Elbow and wrist
- Relevant anatomy
- Range of motion
- Strength assessment
- Postural and biomechanical assessment
- Treatment options
- Lumbar spine
- Relevant anatomy
- Range of motion
- Strength assessment
- Postural and biomechanical assessment
- Treatment options
- Pelvis and hip joint
- Relevant anatomy
- Range of motion
- Strength assessment
- Postural and biomechanical assessment
- Treatment options
- Knee joint
- Relevant anatomy
- Range of motion
- Strength assessment
- Postural and biomechanical assessment
- Treatment options
- Ankle and lower leg
- Relevant anatomy
- Range of motion
- Strength assessment
- Postural and biomechanical assessment
- Treatment options
- Best practices as a kinesiologist
- Professional ethics
- Promoting a healthy workplace
Learning Activities
Lectures, discussions, practical application, group work, case-study analyses.
Means of Assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:
Case studies 10-30%
Quizzes 0-10%
Midterm Exam 15-25%
Practical Exam 15-25%
Participation 0-10%
Final Exam 15-30%
Total 100%
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- collect a comprehensive physical health history from a patient;
- document and perform a kinesiology assessment;
- describe the various medical imaging techniques used in the health care system;
- discuss physical mechanism of pain;
- analyze the theory, indications, and contraindications for various tools and techniques used by rehabilitation professionals;
- identify skills required to promote a healthy work environment;
- demonstrate and apply professional ethics as a kinesiologist.
Textbook Materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
Houglum, P.A. (Current Edition). Brunnstrom’s Clinical Kinesiology. F. A. Davis Company