94913 Musculoskeletal and Occupational Conditions
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
Students completing this subject consolidate and advance knowledge of gross and functional anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, as well as biomechanics and pathomechanics of the musculoskeletal system. Students also develop their clinical knowledge of ageing, systemic, axial, and appendicular (upper- and lower-body) musculoskeletal conditions across the lifespan, while expanding practical skills in clinical assessment, exercise selection, prescription, delivery, progression, monitoring, and case management, through adopting evidenced-informed practice and applying scientific knowledge. Students extend this knowledge into the occupational setting, focused on the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of workplace injury towards effective return-to-work, including ergonomic assessment, work-specific task analysis, functional capacity evaluation, work conditioning, and return-to-work planning and programming. Students prepare for clinical placement, accreditation, and professional practice using critical thinking and clinical reasoning to deliver optimal outcomes within a person-centred approach.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | Apply, integrate, and adapt knowledge and skills of normal and pathologic anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system as it relates to acute, sub-acute, or chronic disease management, as well as ergonomics, posture, task-appraisal, and functional capacity within the occupational setting. |
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| 2. | Apply appropriate screening, risk management strategies, and behaviour change principles to safely create, prescribe, implement, and evaluate effective interventions for people with musculoskeletal or occupational conditions to optimise health outcomes or return-to-work outcomes within relevant legislative frameworks. |
| 3. | Apply evidence-informed practice and professional decision-making to optimise person-centred care across musculoskeletal and occupational conditions. |
| 4. | Effectively and respectively communicate with clients and other relevant professionals that results in shared decision-making through collaborative and interprofessional musculoskeletal and occupational practice. |
| 5. | Engage with ongoing personal and professional self-development and reflective practice as it pertains to musculoskeletal and occupational conditions. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Engage with ongoing personal and professional self-development and reflective practice (1.1)
- Develop ongoing interprofessional, innovative and collaborative practice. (1.2)
- Apply, integrate, and adapt knowledge and skills to optimise health outcomes across a broad range of face-to-face and digital services. (2.1)
- Apply appropriate risk management strategies and behaviour change principles to safely prescribe, implement, and evaluate effective interventions for clients across the full health spectrum. (2.2)
- Apply evidence-informed practice and professional decision-making to optimise person-centred care. (2.3)
- Effectively and respectively communicate with clients and other professionals to facilitate shared decision making. (2.4)
Teaching and learning strategies
Learning in this subject is designed to place students at the centre of the learning experience, using a range of modes and activities. Five online modules delivered across twelve weeks will form the foundation of the subject, complimented by adjacent face-to-face classes (tutorials, practicals, and an internal clinical placement) that will allow students to put their learnings into practice. The final (fifth) module is optional though strongly recommended as it provides drop-in time to review the semesters content in preparation for your final written exam.
There will also be a portion of clinical learning to be completed during a practicum placement within the UTS Exercise Physiology Clinic (Level 2, Moore Park Precinct). Here, you will apply the theoretical knowledge gained through both this unit and your earlier studies, to a person with a musculoskeletal and/or occupational condition. This portion of the unit is required to meet the specifications of our governing body ESSA to ensure you will meet the entry requirements for the ESSA accreditation as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP). Supervision will be provided by an AEP. Performance is monitored through a portfolio including assessment of your practicum performance (or clinical competence), reflective practice and submission of ESSA accreditation documentation.
The theoretical content will be delivered in the online platform Canvas and will include a range of activities, to allow students to engage with both the content and their peers. These activities and discussions will also foster the development of self-discovery/self-directed learning skills, as well as critical thinking skills. They will challenge students to consider how they can apply learnt concepts to the real-world environment within their clinical placement and beyond.
To be prepared for the planned face-to-face classes (held on Thursdays and Fridays each week for the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology), students are encouraged to engage with the content at the beginning of their week (Monday to Wednesday) each week. Content will remain available past the specific delivery week for review and reflection; however, students will be expected to cover each module as scheduled.
Students will be required to communicate information and demonstrate their understanding in a variety of formats, including written, verbal, and practical forms. Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate application of what they have learned, with individual feedback provided following each of the three assessment tasks.
Content (topics)
Module 1: Introduction to Musculoskeletal and Occupational Conditions
- Week 1: Introduction to Musculoskeletal and Occupational Conditions, understanding ESSA and MCEP Assessments
Module 2: Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Week 2: Overview of Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Week 3: Hip and Shoulder Conditions
- Week 4: Elbow and Knee
- Week 5: Trunk and Vertebral Column
- Week 6: Wrist/Hand, Ankle/Foot
- Week 7: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
- Week 8: Systemic Musculoskeletal Conditions
Module 3: Pain
- Week 9: Pain: Part 1
- Week 10: Pain: Part 2
Module 4: Occupational Rehabilitation
- Week 11: Occupational Rehabilitation
- Week 12: Occupational Workplace Assessments
- Week 13: Occupational Return to Work
Module 5: Musculoskeletal and Occupational Conditions Review
- Week 14: Drop-In Session (Exam Preparation)
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
| Intent: | This assessment evaluates student competency as a novice Exercise Physiologist within the musculoskeletal area of practice, as it relates to acute, sub-acute or chronic conditions to ensure they are suitably prepared for their internal clinical placement. To achieve this, the student must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver person-centred care and apply learned exercise principles and practices in an effective, professional, ethical, inclusive, and collaborative manner for a client with a musculoskeletal condition. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | See criteria provided in class and on Canvas. |
Assessment task 2: Practicum Performance: Program Proposal, Intervention Delivery and Analysis
| Intent: | This assessment will ensure students are competent as novice Clinical Exercise Physiologists, to progress safely to their first external clinical placement in the second and third semesters. To achieve this, the student must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver person-centred care and practice effectively in a professional, ethical, inclusive, and collaborative manner for a person with a musculoskeletal condition within the UTS Exercise Physiology Clinic. As a part of this assessment students will also need to verify that they meet the ESSA’s practicum requirements during their clinical placement. This will be done via completion of a record ('logbook') of their completed practicum activities, student engagement, supervisor reference form, practicum summary as well as clinical documentation. These will have been outlined to you in Week 8 during your Clinic Orientation and Observation week. This task is a hurdle requirement to ensure student competency and proficiency, as well as clinical and technical skills, prior to embarking on external clinical placements in 94924 Clinical Exercise Physiology Placement 1. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 |
| Type: | Journal |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 45% |
| Criteria: | See criteria provided in class and on Canvas. |
Assessment task 3: Written Examination
| Intent: | The purpose of this written examination is to assess students' comprehensive understanding of theoretical and practical material related to the unit. This assessment aims to evaluate students' knowledge accumulation throughout the semester. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Criteria: | See Criteria provided in Class and on Canvas. |
Minimum requirements
There is an expectation that students will attend 100% of learning activities including coursework day/s for this course, in addition to meeting the minimum required placement hours (30 hours). Attendance will be checked for all scheduled learning activities. Where students are absent for medical reasons, a medical certificate must be provided.
Where you do not satisfy the attendance requirements without legitimate reason and approval through the Special Consideration process, you will be required to withdraw from the subject and re-enrol later, or a final result of ‘Fail’ for your enrolment may be recorded for the subject (see section 3.8 Attendance and/or participation requirements of the UTS Student Rules).
Legitimate reasons for non-attendance do not include holidays or external work commitments.
Please note, that even legitimate reasons for non-attendance will not permit students to commence or continue their practicum placement hours without written approval.
Required texts
- Clinical Exercise Physiology 5th Ed. Exercise Management for Chronic Diseases and Special Populations (use code ESSA2020 for a 20% discount) https://www.booktopia.com.au/clinical-exercise-physiology-5ed-jonathan-k-ehrman/book/9781718200449.html
- Coombes, Jeff S., Skinner, Tina L. (Eds). Exercise and Sport Science Australia’s Student Manual for Health, Exercise and Sport Assessment. Second Edition. Elsevier; Chatswood, Australia.
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Coombes, Jeff S., Burton Nicola, Beckman E. (Eds). ESSA’s Student Manual for Exercise Prescription, Delivery and Adherence Second Edition. Elsevier; Chatswood, Australia.
- ESSA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice https://www.essa.org.au/Public/Professional_Standards/ESSA_Code_of_Professional_Conduct___Ethical_Practice.aspx
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts.
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, old exam papers, academic writing guides, health literature databases, workshops, a gaming room and bookable group study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with all your questions.
W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.
The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for managing your studies alongside your health condition. If you’re unsure whether you need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early and we can provide advice on how our service can assist you. Make an appointment with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or Accessibility@uts.edu.au.
The Financial Assistance Service can assist you with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514 1177 or Financial.assistance@uts.edu.au.