module specification

Students will gain experience in a variety of sports therapy arenas alongside providing the student with the theoretical knowledge and practical expertise to apply electrotherapeutic techniques safely and effectively.

ST5010 ST5011

Students will be gaining work experience in a variety of sports therapy settings whilst developing  a more advanced range of cognitive and practical skills. Learning experience will be extended  by applying academic skills to the sports therapy working environment, developing areas such as awareness of ethical and professional issues, evaluative, problem solving and decision making skills, and working within a team setting. In addition, students will be able to apply their theoretical knowledge and practical expertise to administer electrotherapeutic techniques safely and effectively as well as developing an awareness of the ethical and moral codes surrounding the use of electrotherapeutic techniques within the work place.

The total number of placement hours required for sucessful completion of the module is between 100-200 hours. The content of which is to include:

- placements (as approved by the module convenor)
- professionalism
- note taking
- ethical, equal opportunity and legal issues
- clinical reasoning
- clinical skills
- anatomy, biomechanics, inflammation, healing and repair
- rehabilitation, manual therapy, assessment, differentiation tests
- evidence based practice

Alongside placement hours, the module will encompass the following via directed as well as self-directed learning pathways:

- physical principles, dangers, effects and safety aspects of electrotherapy
- ethical matters regarding the use of electrotherapy
- underpinning physics, physical effects, physiological effects, therapeutic effects, dangers, and contraindications of therapeutic ultrasound, interferential therapy, and trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
- clinical and practical applications of therapeutic ultrasound, interferential therapy, and trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
- critical evaluation of electrotherapy research literature.

Clinic based:
- Student centred learning – articles, key texts.
- Sports therapy clinic. All students will spend a period of time working in the clinic where they are supervised by university staff. Learning is by reflection and discussion in small groups.
- Placements in a variety of sports therapy work places where they may be supervised assessing, planning and treating a variety of sports injuries. Learning is by discussion and demonstrations. Some of these will be student led seminars where there will be peer feedback on performance.

Classroom based:
A mixture of small practical groups and seminars where the students learn the safe practice of electrotherapy. Theory is learnt through lectures and directed learning.

Distance Learning:
The theory is learnt through a web based platform with an accompanying handbook. Seminars and practicals are in a concentrated block where safe practice and ability is developed.

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

1. Assess, diagnose and treat musculoskeletal dysfunction particularly in the sporting field using clinical reasoning based on critical analysis of research
2. Develop into a professional role with regard to personal presentation, patient and peer communication, and awareness of others
3. Develop knowledge of the extent of the role of the sports therapist in the sporting field
4. Develop handling skills through personal and peer reflection
5. Understand the principles and practice of maintaining electrical safety in relation to the usage of electro-medical apparatus.
6. Apply the mediums of ultrasound, interferential, and trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapies safely and effectively to traumatised tissues

The assessment strategy will include a literature review of electrotherapeutic modalities (20% LO5). The presentation will require students to present a multidisciplinary athlete study conducted during the module that they have experienced first-hand (20%) [LO 1,2,3]. The practical assessments are designed to assess students’ clinical competence in delivering sports therapy treatments within a sporting scenario (Electrotherapy assessment 20% [LO 5,6]; Practical clinical assessment 40%) [LO 1,2,3,4]. Students will need to provide evidence of having completed a minimum of 100 ‘hands on’ hours that must be signed off by the supervisor and the module leader in order to successfully complete this module.

Students must obtain at least 40% to pass this module. In addition students must normally obtain at least 35% in each component of assessment within this module. A mark of between 35% and 39% may be compensated by other components if the performance in practical components is safe. If the module is passed on reassessment, then the maximum mark awarded will be 40%. Satisfactory attendance must be achieved for progression from this module to be awarded.

Satisfactory competency related attendance must be achieved for progression from this module to be awarded.

1. Andrews, J.R. Harrelson G.L and Wilk, K.E (2012) Physical rehabilitation of the injured athlete, 4th Edition. W.B. Saunders Company, London
2. Arnheim, D. D and Prentice, W.E (2010) Principles of athletic training (14th edition) WBD McGraw-Hill Boston, USA
3. Brukner P & Khan K (2011) Clinical Sports Medicine. McGraw Hill
4. Buschbacher R., Prahlow, N., Dave, S.J. (2008) Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation - A Sports Specific Approach. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN: 0781777453
5. Fox, J. and Sharp, T. (2007) Practical Electrotherapy: A Guide to Safe Application. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN: 978-0-443-06855-3
6. Konin, J.G., Wiksten, D.L., Isear, J.A (2006) Special Tests for Orthopaedic Examination (Spiral bound) 3rd ed, Slack Inc, ISBN: 1556427417  
7. Pargman, D. (2007) Psychological Bases of Sports Injury, 3rd Ed, Fitness Information Technology, ISBN: 1885693753
8. Prentice. W.E (2010) Rehabilitation techniques in sports medicine, 5th edition. WCB McGraw-Hill, Boston, USA
9. Palastanga, Field and Soames (2011) Anatomy and Human Movement: Structure and Function (6th Ed). Butterworth and Heinemann
10. Robertson, V., Ward, A., Low, J. and Reed, A. (2006) Electrotherapy Explained – Principles and Practice. 4th Edition. Butterworth Heinemann. ISBN: 0-7506-8843-2
11. Watson, T. (Ed) (2008). Electrotherapy – Evidence Based Practice. 12th Edition. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN: 978-0-443-10179-3

Online journal resources: www.pubmed.com