Maricopa Community Colleges  PTA203   19936-19936 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 04/27/93
PTA203 19936-19936 LEC
LAB
3 Credit(s)
2 Credit(s)
3 Period(s)
6 Period(s)
Physical Therapy Modalities I
Principles and application of thermal agents. Includes application and documentation of superficial heat and cold, ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, massage, hydrotherapy, light, and traction. Safety stressed. Universal precautions for infection control. Prerequisites: (BIO170, PTA100, and PTA103), or permission of department.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
PTA203   19936-19936 Physical Therapy Modalities I
1. Describe the primary stages of inflammatory responses and tissue repair in the human body following injury. (I)
2. Describe current theories of pain and explain the differences between acute and chronic pain. (II)
3. Describe the guidelines of patient positioning for comfort and safety and adhere to these guidelines in the physical therapy practice setting. (III)
4. Define the term "universal precautions" and explain the implementation of universal precautions in physical therapy. (IV)
5. Demonstrate proper procedures for "universal precautions". (IV)
6. Describe the biophysical effects of the application of superficial heat and cold to patients in the physical therapy practice setting. (V, VI)
7. List the accepted indications and contraindications for the application of superficial heat and cold in the physical therapy practice setting. (V, VI)
8. Apply cold packs and ice massage to selected patients in the physical therapy practice setting utilizing safe techniques. (V)
9. Apply hot packs, paraffin, fluidotherapy, and infrared to selected patients in the physical therapy practice setting utilizing safe techniques. (VI)
10. Explain factors impacting decisions determining treatment frequency and duration of treatment in the application of superficial heat and cold to patients in the physical therapy practice setting. (V, VI)
11. Describe the physical principles involved in the generation of therapeutic ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation used in physical therapy. (VII)
12. Explain the biophysical effects of therapeutic ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation on human tissue. (VII)
13. Describe the indications/contraindications for using therapeutic ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation on patients in physical therapy. (VII)
14. Apply therapeutic ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation to selectedpatients in the physical therapy practice setting utilizing safe techniques. (VII)
15. Describe specific factors influencing decisions regarding treatment frequency, treatment duration, and treatment dosage of therapeutic ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation, for specific physical conditions. (VII)
16. Describe the physiological effects of massage upon patients in physical therapy. (VIII)
17. Explain the clinical indications/contraindications for the application of massage to selected patients in physical therapy. (VIII)
18. Apply therapeutic massage techniques to selected patients in the physical therapy practice setting utilizing safe techniques. (VIII)
19. Describe the theory of utilizing cervical/lumbar traction for patients in physical therapy. (IX)
20. Explain the indications/contraindications for applying cervical/lumbar traction for patients in physical therapy. (IX)
21. Apply cervical/lumbar traction to selected patients in the physical therapy practice setting utilizing safe techniques. (IX)
22. Explain the clinical indications/contraindications for the use of hydrotherapy for patients in physical therapy. (X)
23. Operate and clean hydrotherapy equipment according to manufacturer's specifications. (X)
24. Describe the clinical applications of light in physical therapy. (XI)
25. Explain the biophysical effects and use of therapeutic light devices for selected patients in the physical therapy practice setting. (XI)
26. Explain the biophysical effects of intermittent venous compression in physical therapy. (XII)
27. Explain the indications/contraindications for intermittent venous compression for patients in physical therapy. (XII)
28. Apply intermittent venous compression to selected patients in the physical therapy practice setting utilizing safe techniques. (XII)
29. Document use of specific modalities according to professional standards. (XIII)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
PTA203   19936-19936 Physical Therapy Modalities I
    I. Tissue injury stages
        A. Inflammatory response
        B. Tissue repair
      II. Pain
          A. Theories
          B. Acute vs. chronic vs. referred
          C. Pain assessment
          D. Thermal agents and pain management
        III. Patient positioning
            A. Comfort
            B. Safety
            C. Application
          IV. Universal precautions
              A. Bloodborne pathogens
              B. Precautionary measures
              C. Implementation - procedures
            V. Therapeutic Cold
                A. Biophysical effects
                B. Clinical indications/contraindications/precautions
                C. Methods of application/safety
                D. Duration and frequency factors
              VI. Therapeutic heat
                  A. Biophysical effects
                  B. Methods of application/safety
                  C. Clinical indications/contraindications/precautions
                  D. Duration and frequency factors
                VII. Therapeutic ultrasound and electromagnetic radiation
                    A. Physical principles
                    B. Biophysical effects
                    C. Clinical indications/contraindications
                    D. Methods of application/safety
                    E. Treatment frequency/duration/dosage
                  VIII. Therapeutic massage
                      A. Physiological effects
                      B. Methods of application/safety
                      C. Clinical indications/contraindications/precautions
                      D. Treatment frequency and duration
                    IX. Cervical/lumbar traction
                        A. Theory
                        B. Mechanical and physiological effects
                        C. Indications/contraindications/precautions
                        D. Methods of application/safety
                        E. Treatment frequency/duration/dosage
                      X. Hydrotherapy
                          A. Physiological effects
                          B. Clinical indications/contraindications/precautions
                          C. Methods of application/safety
                          D. Treatment duration and frequency
                          E. Equipment use and care
                        XI. Therapeutic light
                            A. Biophysical effects
                            B. Clinical indications/contraindications/precautions
                            C. Methods of application/safety
                            D. Treatment frequency/dosage/duration
                          XII. Intermitten venous compression
                              A. Biophysical effects
                              B. Clinical indications/contraindications/precautions
                              C. Methods of application/safety
                              D. Treatment frequency/dosage/duration
                            XIII. Documentation
                                A. Subjective/objective/assessment/plan (SOAP) format
                                B. Body area
                                C. Parameters
                                  1. Time
                                  2. Intensity
                                  3. Position
                                D. Patient response
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