module specification

In this module, you will be introduced to the fundamental knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours required for early physiotherapy practice within cardiorespiratory and neurological settings. The module contributes to the wider physiotherapy programme by developing the core assessment, treatment, and clinical reasoning skills that underpin later specialist modules and practice based learning.

You will engage in simulated clinical activities, interactive workshops, case based discussions, and patient educator sessions to support your understanding of the physiotherapist’s role across both acute and rehabilitation pathways within cardiorespiratory and neurological care. These learning experiences are designed to help you integrate theory with practice and begin applying safe, evidence informed, and person centred approaches to physiotherapy assessment and intervention.

You will explore common cardiorespiratory and neurological conditions, examine typical clinical presentations, and develop an awareness of how physiotherapists contribute to multidisciplinary team working. The module also supports your emerging professional identity by fostering confidence in communication, teamwork, and reflective practice. These capabilities will support your progression towards placement based learning and developing competence within real world clinical environments.

By engaging with this module, you will:
1. Develop foundational knowledge of common cardiorespiratory and neurological conditions and understand their impact on movement, function, and wellbeing across acute and rehabilitation contexts.
2. Learn and practise core physiotherapy assessment skills, including respiratory assessment, neurological screening, movement analysis, and functional evaluation, within simulated practice environments.
3. Begin to apply clinical reasoning to identify key problems, prioritise patient needs, and plan safe, appropriate early interventions.
4. Practise fundamental treatment techniques relevant to early physiotherapy practice, such as breathing exercises, positioning, facilitation techniques, early mobilisation, and safe patient handling.
5. Develop professional behaviours and identity, including effective communication, empathy, teamwork, and an understanding of the physiotherapist’s role within multidisciplinary teams and across care pathways.

Available for Study Abroad? No

Knowledge
• Overview of the pathophysiology and clinical presentations of common cardiorespiratory and neurological conditions (LO1).
• Introduction to respiratory and neurological systems, including typical patterns of impairment and their impact on function (LO1).
• Understanding of physiotherapy roles in acute and rehabilitation cardiorespiratory and neurology pathways (LO1, LO5).
• Introduction to multidisciplinary team structures and the contribution of physiotherapists across care settings (LO5).
• Case based learning to support understanding of how assessment findings inform problem lists and early management decisions (LO3).

Skills
• Development and practice of core assessment skills, including:
o Respiratory assessment (observation, palpation, auscultation where applicable) (LO2)
o Neurological screening (tone, coordination, sensation) (LO2)
o Movement analysis and functional assessment (LO2)
• Practice of fundamental treatment and handling techniques, including:
o Breathing exercises, positioning, treatment (LO4)
o Facilitation and early mobilisation techniques (LO4)
o Safe patient handling and assisted movement (LO4)
• Opportunities to apply early clinical reasoning to interpret assessment findings and prioritise patient needs (LO3, LO4).
• Communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills developed through simulation and peer practice (LO5).

Attitudes
• Development of professional behaviours, including empathy, respect, and person centred communication in simulated environments (LO5).
• Engagement in collaborative practice, recognising scope of practice and working safely with peers (LO5).
• Cultivation of reflective practice, identifying strengths, challenges, and areas for development in preparation for practice based learning (LO5).

This module provides a structured blend of scheduled teaching and guided independent learning to support your development of foundational cardiorespiratory and neurological physiotherapy skills. You will attend lectures, practical skills sessions, simulation activities, and case-based discussions. These sessions are designed to introduce key theoretical concepts, demonstrate core assessment and treatment techniques, and give you extensive opportunities to practise and apply skills in a supportive environment.

Teaching will be highly interactive, offering hands-on practice, structured peer feedback, and facilitated debriefs to help you build confidence and competence. Simulation activities allow you to experience realistic clinical scenarios, encouraging you to integrate knowledge, clinical reasoning, communication, and teamwork. Lectures and group workshops will provide the underpinning theory needed to understand clinical presentations and physiotherapy management within both acute and rehabilitation contexts. On practice, structured peer feedback, and facilitated debriefs to help you build confidence and competence. Simulation activities allow you to experience realistic clinical scenarios, encouraging you to integrate knowledge, clinical reasoning, communication, and teamwork. Lectures and group workshops will provide the underpinning theory needed to understand clinical presentations and physiotherapy management within both acute and rehabilitation contexts on practice, structured peer feedback, and facilitated debriefs to help you build confidence and competence.

Alongside scheduled teaching, you will be expected to engage in independent study, including preparatory reading, consolidation of taught content, online learning tasks, and reflective activities. This independent work supports your ongoing personal and professional development (PDP) and enables you to deepen your understanding of key concepts introduced during teaching sessions.

The module follows a blended learning approach, with online resources, videos, and guided study materials available to support your learning outside of class. You will be encouraged to use reflective logs and self-assessment activities to monitor your progress, identify strengths and development needs, and prepare for future practice-based learning, assessment activities to monitor your progress, identify strengths and development needs, and prepare for future practice based learning.

By the end of this module you will be able to:

1. Describe the key pathophysiological features and common clinical presentations of selected cardiorespiratory and neurological conditions relevant to physiotherapy practice.
2. Perform and document core assessment techniques used in cardiorespiratory and neurological physiotherapy (e.g., respiratory assessment, neurological screening, movement analysis, and functional assessment) with guidance and appropriate safety considerations.
3. Identify and interpret basic assessment findings to begin forming problem lists and early clinical reasoning related to patient needs in both cardiorespiratory and neurological contexts.
4. Demonstrate foundational treatment techniques, including breathing exercises, positioning, facilitation techniques, early mobilisation, and safe handling; appropriate to simulated cardiorespiratory and neurological scenarios.
5. Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, peers, and facilitators during simulated learning activities, showing developing empathy, teamwork, and awareness of the physiotherapist’s role within interdisciplinary care.

Introduction to Cardio-respiratory and Neurology | London Metropolitan University

Key Professional and Evidence Informed Resources Informed Resources
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) – Professional guidance and resources for physiotherapists
https://www.csp.org.uk/
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – Guidelines on respiratory, neurological, and rehabilitation care
https://www.nice.org.uk/
• eLearning for Healthcare (eLfH) – Physiotherapy related online learning modules
https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/
• British Thoracic Society (BTS) – Guidelines, best practice standards, and clinical statements relevant to respiratory care
https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/