Course coordinator
Mr Damo McClymont
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Health & Rehab Sci School
Focus on developing professional competencies in the areas of assessment, clinical reasoning, diagnosis & treatment selection relating to the physiotherapy management of musculoskeletal conditions of the lower limbs.
The course will provide students with the knowledge, communication, clinical reasoning and practical skills to manage clients with musculoskeletal pathologies of the lower limb. The course uses lectures, tutorials, practical classes, problem-based learning cases and tutor and peer feedback to deliver material. Themes addressed in this course include the recognition and physical manifestations of lower limb pathologies (including muscle injuries, ligament injuries, bony stress injuries and tendinopathies); the clinical reasoning process in assessment,ﾠdiagnosis, physiotherapy treatment options, rationales and treatment selection;ﾠand the role and scope of the physiotherapist as part of the multi-disciplinary team. Generic information, including biomechanical analyses of static and dynamic postures, joint examination, ligamentous stress tests, muscle testing and neuromuscular function will be covered for lower limb musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, specific needs of specialty areas of sport, work, overuse, poor use and inflammatory and degenerative conditions will be explored. Students will develop the communication and practical skills needed to safely and competently assess and treat clients with lower limb musculoskeletal disorders, to predict and evaluate outcomes and to develop programs for promotion of good musculoskeletal health for the prevention of injury and re-injury to the lower limb.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students entering this course must have completed the following courses: ANAT1012, PHTY1200 andﾠPHTY1221. These courses provide necessary specific background knowledge and skills which are built on in PHTY2110.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ANAT1012, PHTY1200, PHTY1221
Restrictions
BPhty Students
Course contact
Lecturer
Mr Damo McClymont
Tutor
Mr Damo McClymont
Course staff
Tutor
Mr Connor Duff
Ms Jennifer Oakley
Mr Ben Currie
Ms Erin Flatman
Mr Henry Hamilton
Mr James Jansz
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
1. Be knowledgeable regarding the specific musculoskeletal pathologies and conditions of the lower limb pertaining to acute injury, repetitive use, inflammatory and degenerative conditions as acquired through sport, work, recreation or ageing.
2. Be informed as to the scope of medical investigations, diagnoses and management of lower limb musculoskeletal presentations.
3. Effectively perform physiotherapy assessment and management techniques and procedures for clients with lower limb musculoskeletal injuries or conditions.
4. Be able to use clinical reasoning and reflection on scientific evidence to effectively plan and implement the physiotherapy assessment, diagnosisﾠand treatment for clients with lower limb musculoskeletal injuries or conditions.
5. Develop skills to effectively, accurately and appropriately communicate with clients, carers and other health practitioners in the clinical context.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Knowledge - Understand the pathology, key features of presentation, medical investigations, and inter-disciplinary management of lower limb musculoskeletal conditions.
LO2.
Psychomotor skills - Perform and record an effective and efficient interview of a client with a lower limb condition, and their carer where appropriate.
LO3.
Psychomotor skills - Effectively and efficiently perform and record an assessment of a client with a lower limb condition.
LO4.
Psychomotor skills - Effectively and efficiently perform and record a range of safe physiotherapy interventions for treatment and prevention, specific to a client with a lower limb injury.
LO5.
Psychomotor skills - Effectively and effecienty prescribe exercise to clients with lower limb conditions.
LO6.
Understanding/Clinical reasoning - Interpret information from the patient interview to devise a physical examination plan and establish diagnostic hypotheses.
LO7.
Understanding/Clinical reasoning - Explain the clinical significance of the results of the physical examination, and confirm/negate your diagnostic hypotheses.
LO8.
Understanding/Clinical reasoning - Justify a physiotherapy intervention based upon clinical assessment, client goals and understanding of the literature.
LO9.
Understanding/Clinical reasoning - Evaluate the effectiveness of your physiotherapy intervention.
LO10.
Evidence-based practice - Critically reflect on the evidence for assessment, diagnosis, and inter-disciplinary management of musculoskeletal pathologies of the lower limb.
LO11.
Evidence-based practice - Apply scientific evidence about lower limb pathologies and their assessment and management in a clinical context.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/ Demonstration, Role play/ Simulation |
In-Semester Practical Exam
|
15% |
3/04/2025 8:00 am |
| Examination |
In-Semester Written Exam
|
20% |
Week 7 |
| Examination, Practical/ Demonstration |
End of Semester Practical Exam
|
30% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
| Examination |
End of Semester Written Exam
|
35% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
In-Semester Practical Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration, Role play/ Simulation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
3/04/2025 8:00 am
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L06, L07, L11
Task description
This practical exam will examine your ability to conduct effective and efficient components of a patient interview and physical examination on a patient with a lower limb injury/condition. Your exam will consist of the following two stations:
1. Patient interview.
2. Physical examination skills.
This exam will be conducted face-to-face, on-campus (St Lucia).
Artificial Intelligence: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Feedback: You will receive individual written electronic feedback following the exam. If you would like further feedback, this request should be in writing to the course coordinator. Additional feedback will be provided within 14 calendar days.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
In-Semester Written Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Week 7
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L06, L07, L08, L09
Task description
The in-semester written exam will examine lecture and tutorial material from week 1 through week 5 of the course (inclusive). The exam will be based on clinical cases. You will be given a number of client cases and you will be asked a series of questions about each case.
This exam will be conducted face-to-face, on-campus (St Lucia) and is a closed-book invigilated exam.
Artificial Intelligence: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Feedback: Written and oral group feedback will be provided by the course coordinator. Requests for individual feedback must be submitted to the course coordinator.
Exam details
| Planning time | no planning time minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
End of Semester Practical Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Examination, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L08, L09, L11
Task description
This practical exam will examine work covered in all of the course. You will receive 10 minutes of perusal followed by two practical exam stations. The two stations in the exam are:
1. Assessment and/or treatment of a client with a lower limb injury.
2. Treatment of a client with a lower limb injury.
This exam will be conducted face-to-face, on-campus (St Lucia).
Artificial Intelligence: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Feedback: You will receive individual written electronic feedback following the exam. If you would like further feedback, this request should be in writing to the course coordinator. Additional feedback will be provided within 14 calendar days. End-semester practical exam marks will not be released until after the release of the final grade.
Hurdle requirements
You must pass this assessment item to pass the course.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Other |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
End of Semester Written Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L06, L07, L08, L09, L11
Task description
The end of semester written exam will examine all work covered in the course.The exam will be based on clinical cases. You will be given a number of client cases and you will be asked a series of questions about each case.
This exam will be conducted face-to-face, on-campus (St Lucia).
Please note: Where an assessment item requires the student to "List 'x' number" of responses (for example, "List 2 potential causes" of a specified condition) only the first 'x' responses listed by the student will be assessed. Any further responses listed will not be assessed.
Artificial Intelligence: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Feedback: Students are given the opportunity to review end of semester exam papers within 21 days of grade release, and the first two weeks of the following semester. Requests must be submitted in writing to the course coordinator. End-semester written exam marks will not be released until after the release of the final grade.
Hurdle requirements
You must pass this assessment item to pass the course.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 34 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of ﾠ0 - 34%. |
| 2 (Fail) | 35 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment ofﾠ 35 - 44%. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 54 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 45 - 54%. A grade of 3 will be awarded to a student who achieves a final mark of 55% or higher but who does not pass the 'must pass' assessment items noted below. |
| 4 (Pass) | 55 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 55 - 64%ﾠ andﾠ has passed all of the 'must pass' assessment items as noted below. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 65 - 74% ﾠand ﾠhas passed all of the 'must pass' assessment items as noted below. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 75 - 84% ﾠand ﾠhas passed all of the 'must pass' assessment items as noted below. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 85 - 100%ﾠ and ﾠhas passed all of the 'must pass' assessment items as noted below. |
Additional course grading information
Final marks falling between whole percentages will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage. Tie-breaking will be conducted using the round half up method whereby half-way values are always rounded up, meaning, for example, that 89.5% and above will be rounded to 90% and 89.49% and below will be rounded down to 89%.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This course contains ‘must pass’ assessment items, as follows: End of semester written exam, and End of semester practical exam. You must pass these items to pass this course overall, i.e. even if your final percentage mark is 55% or higher the individual ‘must pass’ assessment items must have been passed.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Due Times for Assessment
All assessment/exam times are scheduled in Australian Eastern Standard time. If you are not in Queensland, please ensure you take any time differences into account.
Resubmission/Resit of assessment items
The School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences supports the concept of resubmission or resitting of failed assessment items in specific and defined circumstances.ﾠIn this course, there are no items eligible for consideration of the resubmission/resit option.
Deferred exams
Students may be eligible for a deferred exam if there are exceptional or unavoidable circumstances, or as a one-off discretionary request. Deferred exam requests should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than five calendar days after the date of the original exam. Further details, including how to apply, can be found at - https://my.uq.edu.au/node/189/0#0. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Lecture notes, tutorial notes, skills videos and practical class manualsﾠwill be available on the course Blackboard site.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lectures The lectures in this course provide content to develop understanding of pathology, assessment and treatment of patients with lower limb injuries and conditions. Lectures will be pre-recorded and available for you to view online. Refer to Blackboard for detailed schedule. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11 |
Tutorial |
Tutorials The tutorials in this course use problem-based learning activities to develop clinical reasoning in the management of lower limb injuries and conditions. Refer to Blackboard for detailed schedule. Learning outcomes: L01, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11 |
|
Practical |
Skills Videos Skills videos provide you with demonstrations and explanations of the skills that you will be practicing in the practical classes. It is expected that you will watch the videos and practice the skills before attending the associated practical class. Refer to Blackboard for detailed schedule. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
|
Practical |
Practical classes In the practical classes, you will practice the practical skills in the course under the supervision of and with feedback from physiotherapy tutors. These classes will also contain standardised patient activities for you to integrate your skills and reasoning into a clinical context. Refer to Blackboard for detailed schedule. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Recommended readings There are recommended readings and accompanying study guides to increase your understanding of injuries and conditions affecting the lower limb. Refer to Blackboard for details. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.