Guide in PDF format

Instrumental Assessment in Physiotherapy of the Locomotor System

Code: 102984
Credits: 6

2026/2027

Degree programme	Type	Course
Physiotherapy	OB	2

Contact lecturer

Name :: Jordi Cuartero Archs
Email :: jordi.cuartero@uab.cat

Teaching staff

: Jordi Cuartero Archs

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

: Josep Padros Valls

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

It is recommended to have acquired basic knowledge and competences of Human Anatomy I and II, Biological Bases of the Human Body, as well as Function of the Human Body.

Objectives

This subject intends to give the student the necessary knowledge for the evaluation of the patient with pathology of the locomotor system, as well as of the nervous system, based on the indispensable criteria that describe the need to evaluate to be able to plan a treatment physiotherapist This subject will be carried out simultaneously with the subjects of Physiotherapy in Neurology I, Pathological Clinical Concepts. Diagnostic Techniques, Clinical Evaluation in Locomotor System Physiotherapy, Therapeutic Techniques in Locomotor System Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy in Locomotor System Pathology I, and Medico-Surgical Pathology, necessary and very useful knowledge to give the patient a quality Healthcare and an optimal return to functionality.

-Demonstrate the importance of monitoring and instrumentation to plan patient treatments.

-To adequately evaluate the different ailments of the patients.

-Determine the evolutionary changes or involved of the patients in relation to certain treatments.

Learning outcomes

Locate the different muscles through surface palpation.
Describe and analyse human movement.
Identify the physiological and structural changes that may occur as a result of physiotherapy intervention in disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Apply physiotherapy methods, procedures and interventions in the different clinical specialisations that treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
Apply specific physiotherapy methods to promote a healthy lifestyle, in relation to the musculoskeletal system, through health education.
Use physiotherapy to treat clinical cases involving musculoskeletal system conditions.
Describe and apply advanced evaluation procedures in physiotherapy in order to determine the degree of damage to the musculoskeletal system and possible functional repercussions.
Establish diagnostic physiotherapy hypotheses through clinical cases with disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Describe and analyse the evidence-based physiotherapy protocols for disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Describe clinical practice guidelines applied to disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Analyse and synthesise.
Organise and plan.
Express ideas fluently, coherently and correctly, both orally and in writing.
Solve problems.
Make the most correct decisions in given situations.
Display critical reasoning skills.
Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
Propose new methods or well-founded alternative solutions.
Weigh up the risks and opportunities of suggestions for improvement: one's own and those of others.
Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing innovative proposals or ideas.
Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one?s own area of knowledge.
Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
Communicate using language that is not sexist.
Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality present in society.
Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.

1 - Measurement and Assessment: What and Why

Observational Methodology
Observation vs. Experimentation

2 - Impairment, Disability and Handicap

ICIDH Model
ICF Model

3 - General Examination

Modulating Factors and Biotypology
Intrinsic Factors
Extrinsic Factors
Physiological Factors
Psychological Factors
Pathological Modulating Factors

4 - Factors Interfering with the Clinical Interview

Communication with the Patient as an Instrumental Tool
Contents of Communication
Variables and Interferences in Communication
Expectations and Beliefs
Readability

5 - Communication with the Patient as an Instrumental Tool

Contents of Communication
Variables and Interferences in Communication
Expectations and Beliefs
Readability

6 - Introduction to Muscle Testing and Joint Assessment

Measurement Variables
Interferences in Measurement
Measurement Systems
New Concepts of Muscle Function

7 - Joint Assessment and Trunk and Head Assessment

Measurement Variables
Measurement Systems

8 - Posture and Balance

Postural Analysis
Characteristics and Main Assessment Systems
Functional Scales

9 - Normal Human Gait

Biomechanics of Normal Gait
Analysis of Individual Gait Patterns
Muscle Dysfunction and Gait
Functional Scales

10 - Teamwork and Models of Collaborative Practice

11 - Assessment of Health Perception and Quality of Life

Validated Scales and Questionnaires

12-Clinical reasoning

Learning activities and methodology

Title	Hours	ECTS
Self Study	30	1.2
READING ARTICLES /REPORTS OF INTEREST	40	1.6
PREPARATION OF WRITTEN WORKS	31.5	1.26
Theory	30	1.2
laboratory practice	15	0.6

The methodology is based on theory (master classes) and practice.

Laboratory hours are mandatory. You must have at least 80% attendance to pass the course.

For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as literature and information searches, text proofreading, or translations.Any irregularity committed in an assessment activity (including academic fraud, plagiarism, or the improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant alteration of the grade will result in that assessment being awarded a grade of 0.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title	Weight	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Assessment :structured test	20 %	0.5	0.02	1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26
Narrative records	20 %	1	0.04	3, 4, 5, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Written avaluation:objective tests	60 %	2	0.08	3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27

Single Assessment

Students are not required to attend practical sessions or PLABs. Content covered in the PLABs may be included in the written examination.

The assessment will take place on the final examination date published in the academic calendar.

On that same date, all assessment activities will be completed and all required coursework must be submitted in order to pass the course:

Multiple-choice written examination (40%)
Clinical case-solving examination (40%)
Complementary activity (20%)

The assessment of the course consists of the following components:

40% of the final grade will correspond to a written exam:

A multiple-choice test with 60 questions worth 1 point each. Incorrect answers deduct 0.33 points. Students must answer at least 70% of the questions correctly.

This exam will include questions from both the lectures and the topics covered in the practical sessions.

40% of the final grade will correspond to the resolution of clinical cases (2 cases):

Determining the examinations to be performed in each clinical case and demonstrating the appropriateness of the scales administered for each case.

20% of the final grade will correspond to a complementary activity to be chosen from among the following:

A video recording related to the practical examination classes.

Commentary on an article.

Oral or written dissertation on a topic addressed in class.

Commentary on clinical cases.

NOTE: To pass the course, a minimum grade above 5 is required. This grade will be the average of the three assessments, and students must achieve at least a 5 in each component in order to compute the average.

If a student fails one part, it is not necessary to take a synthesis test covering the entire course, but only the part that was failed. This part may achieve a maximum grade of 5 in the synthesis test.

This course/module does not offer a single assessment system.

Art. 116.8. When it is determined that the student has not provided sufficient evidence for assessment, this course will be recorded in the transcript as “not assessable.”

Students who have not passed the course through continuous assessment may sit for a final exam or a final resit assessment.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Bibliography

- Sánchez Blanco, I. i cols., Manual SERMEF de rehabilitación y medicina física. Sociedad Española de Rehabilitación y Medicina física, Ed. Panamericana, 2006

- Shumway-Cook,A.,Woollacott, MH., Motor Control, Theory and practical Applications 2nd edition. Lippincot Williams and Wilkins, 2000

- Alcott, D., Dixon, K., Swann, R. (1997). The reliability of the items of the Functional Assessment Measures (FAM): differences in abstractness between FAM items. Disabil Rehabil. 19(9):355-8.

- Badia, X., Salamero, M., Alonso, J. (2002). La medida de la salud. Edimac, 3ª edició.

- Barbeau, H., Ladouceur, M., Norman, K., Pépin, A., Leroux, A. (1999).Walking After Spinal Cord Injury : Evaluation, Treatment, and Functional Recovery. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. Vol. 80, February

- Cid Ruzafa J., Damián Moreno J. (1997). Valoración de la discapacidad física: El Índice de Barthel. Rev. Esp Salud Pública; 71: 127 - 137.

- Harada, N., Chiu, V., Stewart, A. Mobility-Related Function in Older Adults: Assessment With a 6-Minute Walk Test. (1999).Arch Phys Med Rehabil. Vol. 80.

- Hayek, V.E., Gagnon, S., Ruderman, J. E. (1997). Cognitive and Fuctional Assessments of Stroke Patients: An Analysis of Their Relation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil .78:1331-7.

- Heinemann, K. (2003). Introducción a la metodología de la investigación empírica. Editorial Paidotribo.

- Hoppenfeld, S. (1979). Exploración física de columna vertebral y extremidades. Manual Moderno.

- Hoppenfeld, S. (1981). Neurología ortopèdica. Manual Moderno

- Mahoney Fl., Barthel DW (1965). Functional evaluation: the Barthel Index. Maryland State Med J. 14; 61 - 65.

- Riener R., Lünenburger, L., Colombo, G. (2006). Human-centered robotics applied to gait training and assessment. Journal of Rehabilitation Reseach & Development. Vol 43, Nº 5, 679-694.

- Bermejo Pareja, F.,Porta Etessam, J., Díaz Guzmán, J., Martínez-Martín, P. Más de cien escalas en neurología. (Vol. I-II). Serie Manuales, Biblioteca Aula Médica.

Software

No specific software is required.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching	Group	Language	Semester	Shift
(TE) Theory	201	Catalan	first semester	afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories	201	Catalan	first semester	afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories	202	Catalan	first semester	afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories	203	Catalan	first semester	afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories	204	Catalan	first semester	afternoon