Course coordinator
Dr Katrina Williams
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
Development of knowledge & skills for the physiotherapist to use to manage neurological disorders. The assessment process, interpretation of findings, clinical reasoning, selection/application of techniques to progressively manage defined problems, & to quantify outcome is emphasised.
This course aims to build on previous coursework and provide students with the knowledge and skills required to be a competent graduating physiotherapist in the field of neurological physiotherapy. Specifically, it will: develop an understanding of a variety of neurological disorders, symptomatology and management strategies; develop an understanding of assessment procedures to define activity limitations and impairments; promote the use of clinical reasoning as a basis for treatment planning and progressive management to address goals established with clients;ﾠaid students with their understanding of the evidence base for neurological physiotherapy, and use this information to assist with the appropriate selection and optimal application of treatment strategies, fostering client self-management at all stages of rehabilitation; and develop skills in the selection and application of outcomes measures. Skills in communication, assessment, observational analysis, problem solving, treatment planning, selection/application of evidence-based treatment strategies through task set up / progression, handling and other treatment strategies/technical applications will be developed to ensure competency prior to graduation as a physiotherapist. The capacity to evaluate the literature for evidence of the efficacy of management procedures will be fostered. An understanding of the legal and ethical requirements of the profession and organisation of employment will be promoted, such as informed consent and appropriate written records/statistical information. An awareness of the role of inter-professional teams and service providers will also be fostered.
Course requirements
Assumed background
All students will have successfully completed Years 1 and 2 of the Undergraduate Physiotherapy Program to be admitted to this course
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
PHTY2220, PHTY2230, PHTY2240, PHYL2064
Restrictions
BPhty Students
Course contact
Lecturer
Dr Katrina Williams
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Robyn Lamont
Professor Sandra Brauer
Tutor
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Learning will commence on Monday, 24th of February 2025. All lectures will be pre-recorded and online, except for a week 12 Q&A sessions which will be held in week 12; 12-2 pm.
It is recommended that all lecture material provided each week is viewed prior to the practical sessions for each week. Please see the timetable on the blackboard for further information.
Practical classes are scheduled for Thursdays at: 8-10 am; 10-12 pm, 12.30-2.30 pm and 2.30-4.30 pm. If you need to swap groups, this will need to be completed through the central system prior to classes commencing. ﾠFor any 'one' off changes please contact k.williams2@uq.edu.au with the person you are swapping with cc'd into the email advising of the swap, no later than 9 am the day prior to the scheduled practical class. If you are unable to attend, please notify Katrina Williamsﾠvia email (k.williams2@uq.edu.au) and ensure notes ﾠare collected from a student colleague in the first instance.ﾠ
Additional clinical learning activities:
To further assist you in your development of skills in neurological physiotherapy, we have arranged a number of clinical activities.
1) In week 9ﾠpractical classes, people with Parkinson’s disease may attend your practical sessions to allow you the opportunity to practice assessment and clinical reasoning skills. Please wear your full clinical uniform to this session.
2) In week 12, practical classes, you will undertake a simulation patient session. There may be slight timetable variationsﾠon this day to allow all students the opportunity to access this clinical learning activity.ﾠPlease wear your full clinical uniform to this session.
3) Throughout the semester, you will have the opportunity to visit the Neurological Ageing and Balance Clinic.ﾠThis visit isﾠnot compulsoryﾠbut simply an extra opportunity to observe patients with neurological conditions who are working with final-year physiotherapy students. Please wear your full clinical uniform to this session. The following form must be completed by week 2 and uploaded into Blackboard via the turn-it-in link provided if you decide to participate in this opportunity:ﾠhttps://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/volunteer-registration-form. Please see Blackboard for more details.
Please note that prior to attending the NAB clinical site visits, youﾠmustﾠcomply with program requirements which can be viewed here:ﾠhttps://habs.uq.edu.au/how-complete-your-pre-placement-requirements, and occupational health and safety requirements as described here:ﾠhttps://shrs.uq.edu.au/current-students/resources-current-students. If you are not compliant, you will not be able to attend these visits. For further assistance with completing these requirements, please contact:ﾠhabs.placementready@uq.edu.au.
Aims and outcomes
The aims of the course are to develop the student’s knowledge and skills in:
- Understanding the pathological processes, the symptomatology,ﾠclinical course, medical and physiotherapy management and outcomes that may present with vascular and traumatic lesions, viral and degenerative processes affecting the central nervous system and how they influence assessment and treatment within a neurological physiotherapy framework.
- Applying the ICF framework across the continuum of care in neurological physiotherapy practice and recognise the rolesﾠof members of the inter-professional teamsﾠin this field.
- Using a patient/client-centred approach that is culturally safe and appropriate to the assessment and delivery of functional goal-oriented programs that are developed with each patient/client.
- Applying competent communication skills: verbal, non-verbal and written in the holistic management of the patient/client across the course of rehabilitation and continuum of care.
- Applying observational analysis and a clinical reasoning process to identify functional limitations and underlying impairments to plan and deliver task/goal oriented rehabilitation programs with measurable outcomes
- The selection and application of appropriate assessment tools and outcome measures to establish funcitonal limitations and impairments, to monitor progress / outcomes of patients/clients with a neurological disorder to optimise rehabilitation and client societal participation.
- Developing a rationale for the selection and application of techniques to address deficit
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Know the pathological processes, the symptomology , clinical course, medical management and outcomes for vascular and traumatic lesions, viral and degenerative processes and how these influence physiotherapy assessments and treatment selections / executions.
LO2.
Understand the application of the ICF framework to neurological rehabilitation practice and the roles of the physiotherapists and other professionals within this model
LO3.
Know how to use a patient/client-centred approach that is culturally safe and appropriate in the assessment and delivery of a functional goal-oriented program that keeps the client's interests at the centre of the care process.
LO4.
Demonstrate competent communication skills: verbal, non-verbal and written in the holistic management of the patient/client across the course of rehabilitation and continuum of care.
LO5.
Use observational, handling and specific assessment procedures to recognise, analyse and identify the influence that motor, sensory perceptual and spatial dysfunction may have on posture and movement following neurological dysfunction to plan and deliver an effective treatment program
LO6.
Know how to use and interpret findings from a range of assessment tools that the physiotherapist may use to measure functional motor and impairment outcomes for neurological clients.
LO7.
Demonstrate use of problem solving skills and clinical reasoning (rationale) for the selection and application of assessment and treatment techniques to manage problems related to neurological disorders.
LO8.
Demonstrate the ability to evidence and apply current assessment and treatment principles and evidence base to guide the physiotherapy management of clients with neurological disorders to optimise societal participation
LO9.
Demonstrate competancy in the execution of techniques and delivery of programs to manage specific clinical problems pertaining to the neurological patient.
LO10.
Have an understanding of the effects of injury to the central nervous system on non-motor functions and abilities and adjust management approaches appropriately (e.g. such as communication) or to integrate treatment strategies to address these impairments.
LO11.
Understand legal and ethical issues/requirements relevant to neurological physiotherapy. These may include record keeping/ statistical data entry, informed consent and confidentiality of information.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
In-Semester Theory exam - Movement Analysis
|
15% |
31/03/2025 12:00 pm |
| Examination, Practical/ Demonstration |
In-Semester Practical exam - Practical skills & problem solving exam
|
25% |
17/04/2025 |
| Examination, Participation/ Student contribution, Translation/ Interpretation |
End of Semester Theory-Oral Viva Examination
|
30% MUST PASS |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Exact times will be determined by the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science - Physiotherapy Course Co-ordinator staffing. |
| Examination, Practical/ Demonstration |
End of Semester Problem solving Practical Exam
|
30% MUST PASS |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Exact times will be determined by the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science - Physiotherapy Course Co-ordinator staffing. |
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 Theory exam - Movement Analysis
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
31/03/2025 12:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L05, L06, L07, L08, L10
Task description
A video will be presented at an allocated examination time. You will observe a person with a neurological condition undertaking a functional task and asked to choose the most correct answer in the form of a MCQ examination. The duration of your exam will be 60-minutes, with an additional 10-minutes for perusal. This is a multiple choice question examination, marking will be based on the grading scheme outlined on the course Blackboard site. Final times and venue will be advertised on the Blackboard site in the assessment folder.
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.
Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply 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 - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
In-Semester Practical exam - Practical skills & problem solving exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Examination, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
17/04/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11
Task description
Students could be examined in practical skills related to assessment procedures, analysis of movement, position and handling techniques, task training and other strategies/methods developed up to the date of assessment.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 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.
Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply 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 - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
End of Semester Theory-Oral Viva Examination
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Examination, Participation/ Student contribution, Translation/ Interpretation
- Weight
- 30% MUST PASS
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Exact times will be determined by the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science - Physiotherapy Course Co-ordinator staffing.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11
Task description
EOS Theory-Oral Viva Exam for Principles of Neurological Physiotherapy. This theory-oral viva exam will examine all content covered across learning materials and activities (e.g. lectures, practical's, clinical activities, self-directed learning material and consolidation work). It will examine your understanding of principles of neurological physiotherapy, your clinical reasoning skills, how you interpret and apply evidence based practice and communication skills.
The EOS Theory-Oral Viva Examination will run sequentially with the EOS practical Examination.
16 cases will be supplied in week 4 of semester. The student will use these cases to develop their practical treatments to address the outlined patient goal and to prepare for their theory-oral viva. A series of stimulation questions will be provided for the cases.
Responses will be in an oral format to question stimulus provided by the examiner.
Students are encouraged to prepare a one page answer for each question, they will be permitted to bring in this one page to their oral viva exam for reference, students are not permitted to read directly from the pre-prepared one page. This one page will be collected at the end of the examination. The one page must use font no smaller than size 11 with normal margins.
The Theory-Oral Viva Exam will be one case randomly selected from the pre-supplied cases.
Students will have a 15 minute perusal time, where they review their allocated pre-prepared cases (for the practical and oral viva - 2 cases in total).
Hurdle requirements
You must pass each rubric criteria and the exam with 55% overall to pass the course.Exam details
| Planning time | 15 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - specified written materials permitted |
| Materials | One A4 sheet of typed notes, single sided, is permitted |
| Exam platform | Other |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply 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 - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
End of Semester Problem solving Practical Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Examination, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 30% MUST PASS
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Exact times will be determined by the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science - Physiotherapy Course Co-ordinator staffing.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11
Task description
This exam will assess the student practical skills covered in the course, and clinical reasoning in neurological physiotherapy.
The EOS Practical Examination will run sequentially with the EOS Theory-Oral Viva Examination
16 cases will be supplied in week 4 of semester. The student will use these cases to develop their practical treatments to address the outlined patient goal.
The practical exam will be one case randomly selected from the pre-supplied cases.
Students are encouraged to prepare a one page answer for each question, they will be permitted to bring in this one page to their practical exam for reference. This one page will be collected upon completion of the practical examination. The one page must us font no smaller than size 11 with normal margins.
Students will have a 15 minute perusal time, where they review their allocated pre-prepared cases (for the practical and oral viva - 2 cases in total).
Students will have 12 minutes to demonstrate an assessment and / or intervention that you deem most appropriate for the patient case scenario that you have been given.
This exam is a must pass examination - The student must pass each assessment criteria outlined on the assessment marking criteria (e.g. a grade of 4 - 54.5% or above).
Hurdle requirements
You must pass each rubric criteria and the exam with 55% overall to pass the course.Exam details
| Planning time | 15 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - specified written materials permitted |
| Materials | One A4 sheet of typed notes, single sided, is permitted |
| Exam platform | Other |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply 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 - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
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 0 - 34%. |
| 2 (Fail) | 35 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 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%.ﾠ 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%ﾠandﾠhas passed 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% andﾠhas passed 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%ﾠandﾠhas passed 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% andﾠhas passed 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.ﾠYou 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.
Your must-pass items include:
1. End of Semester Practical exam (to pass, must obtain an overall grade of 55% for this assessment item) - and pass each assessment criteria on the assessment rubric.
2. End of Semester Theory examﾠ(to pass, must obtain an overall grade of 55% for this assessment item) - and pass each assessment criteria on the assessment rubric.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Resubmission/Resit of assessment items
A resit or resubmission of assessment items is not available for this course.
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 -ﾠhttps://my.uq.edu.au/node/189/0#0. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
Submitting assessment in Blackboard and Turnitin
When assessment is submitted through Blackboard you will receive a confirmation page as a digital receipt.ﾠThis information will also be sent to your student e-mail account.ﾠPlease ensure you keep this email.
When assessment is submitted through Turnitin you will receive a confirmation page displaying “Submission Complete!” and can then proceed to download your digital receiptﾠfrom yourﾠAssignment inbox.ﾠIt is suggested that you save a copy of the receipt for your personal records.
Instructions on how to submit assignments through Blackboard and Turnitin are available at: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-assessment. Please review this information so you understand how to successfully submit your assessment items.
Use of Generative AI in Assessments
Assessment tasks in this course evaluate students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
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
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Please refer to the Black-Board site for all lecture, skills videos and additional resource material referred to within the coursework including several ILPs. DVD resources are available in the Biological Sciences Library.ﾠﾠ
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 |
Fieldwork |
Clinical observation activities Clinical observation sessions are available for students to observe in the Neurological Ageing and Balance Clinic. These activities are voluntary - and designed to enhance your learning but are not directly examinable. These will take place at UQ during designated sessions. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Fundamentals in neurological physiotherapy This lecture series will provide you with a framework for practice in the neurological field and will develop skills of assessment, problem solving, selection and application of techniques with established efficacy for use in a task/goal-orientated approach to retraining sensorimotor function after acquired brain injury or for those with viral, or degenerative disorders. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11 |
Practical |
Practical classes Weekly practical class will assist you to develop skills in assessment and technique/strategy selection and application within a task-oriented context for retraining functional motor tasks. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11 |
|
Week 12 |
Case-based learning |
Clinical simulation patients Roleplaying standardised patient sessions where students practice the assessment process, and undertake an element of treatment with formative feedback from fellow students & clinical educators. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, 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.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: