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Physiotherapy in Neurology II

Code: 102987
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Physiotherapy OB 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
María del Carmen Sánchez Mato
Email :
mariadelcarmen.sanchez@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Soraya Juan Hidalgo
Maria Muñoz Carvajal

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

Have basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system to interpret diseases and how to approach them therapeutically.

Objectives

This course aims to convey theoretical knowledge and practical skills to students, so they can perform evaluations and treatments based on scientific evidence in the field of neurological physiotherapy.

The knowledge of this area of physiotherapy is essential within the profile of the degree and the profession, because the increase in the incidence of vascular and neurodegenerative pathologies makes the number of people who are subsidiaries of this specialty more and more important

 

Learning outcomes

  1. Apply the basic physiotherapy methods, procedures and interventions to nervous system conditions.
  2. Use physiotherapy to treat clinical cases involving neurological conditions.
  3. Describe the bases for assessing nervous system conditions.
  4. Apply advanced evaluation procedures in physiotherapy in order to determine the degree of damage to the nervous system and possible functional repercussions.
  5. Design therapeutic exercises and activities for neurological diseases.
  6. Describe and analyse the evidence-based physiotherapy protocols for nervous system disorders.
  7. Describe and analyse the quality-assurance mechanisms of physiotherapy in treatments for the nervous system.
  8. Make the most correct decisions in given situations.
  9. Work in teams.
  10. Display critical reasoning skills.
  11. Establish diagnostic physiotherapy hypotheses through clinical cases with disorders of the nervous system.
  12. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  13. Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
  14. Propose new methods or well-founded alternative solutions.
  15. Weigh up the risks and opportunities of suggestions for improvement: one's own and those of others.
  16. Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing innovative proposals or ideas.
  17. Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one?s own area of knowledge.
  18. Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
  19. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  20. Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
  21. Communicate using language that is not sexist.
  22. Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality present in society.
  23. 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.

Contents


1. Principles of Neurological Physiotherapy

1.1. Clinical reasoning in neurophysiotherapy

1.2. Systematization of the exploration and evaluation of the neurological patient

1.3. Motor control and muscle tone

1.4. Therapeutic approach to spasticity


2. Applied therapies in Neurological Physiotherapy

2.1. Bobath Concept

2.2. Survival Therapeutic Exercise

2.3. Other Neurorehabilitation Techniques

2.3.1. Mirror therapy

2.3.2. Imaginary motor

2.3.3. TMIR

2.3.4. Facial Paralysis Approach

2.3.5. Kabat

2.3.6. Dual task

2.3.7. New technologies


3. Physiotherapy approach in neurological pathologies

3.1. Cerebral damage acquired

3.2. Marrow injury

3.3. Parkinson's

3.4. Multiple sclerosis

3.5. Neurological March

3.6. Facial Paralysis

3.7. Support products in neurology


Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
SELF-STUDY 83.5 3.34 2, 6, 7, 11
THEORY (TE) 18 0.72 17, 19, 20
PREPARATION OF WRITTEN WORKS 28 1.12 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16
LABORATORY PRACTICES (LABP) 12 0.48 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 23

Teaching involves both theoretical and practical classes.

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
Written evaluation: clinical case report 20% 4.5 0.18 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16
Written evaluation: objective multiple-choice questions 50% 2 0.08 8, 10, 17, 19, 20
Practical evaluation : Objective, structured clinical evaluation and simulation 25% 2 0.08 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 23
Neurological evaluation activity 5% 0 0 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11

single assessment

This subject does not provide the single assessment system

Description of evaluation system

Written evaluation via objective quizzes: multiple-choice (final exam: 50% of the final grade)

Questions type test with 4 possible answers, only one is correct. Correct answers will be worth 1 point and each incorrect answer will subtract 0.33 points


Practical evaluation through objective and structured clinical evaluation and simulations:

- Practical exam 25% of the final grade.

Clinical reasoning and hand skill in the application of different techniques will be valued.


Written evaluation via objective tests: applied case test (clinical case submission: 20% of the final grade)

Clinical case (20% of the final grade). At the beginning of the course the methodology and presentation day of the clinical case will be provided. The clinical case will be completed in student groups.


Neurolpgical evaluation activity that will represent 5% of the final grade


The evaluation of active participation in the practical seminars will be continuous. All participants will have to sign in for each attended seminar. Attendance to the practical seminars is mandatory and non-attendance will be penalized proportionally to the missing classes on the final grade of the practical seminars. Absences justified for medical reasons will be accepted, provided the corresponding medical certificate/documentation is submitted.The penalization will be of -0.5 for each fault. Maximum 2 faults.

Students will have the right to request proof of attendance for each of the attended course activities.

The programming of evaluation activities will follow university schedules.


A minimum grade of 5 must be obtained in all assessment components in order for the final average grade to be calculated. Students will be required to sit the resit exam for any failed midterm exams.


All components must be passed with a minimum grade of 5 in order to obtain the final grade. Students who do not to takethe final or practical exam, present theclinical case and/or do not attend 60% of the practical seminars will not be graded.

Test revisions will follow current regulations at the UAB and can be individually requested via written application in the established terms.

Students who fail the course can take a second objective quiz consisting of a multiple-choice test. The maximum grade those students (repeaters) will be able to achieve for the course will be a “pass” (5 score).


To participate in the second quiz repeaters must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities which scores should account for at least two thirds of the full grade for the course.

Repeaters can request to withdraw the clinical case, in which case the course rubric will be as follows: final exam (70% of the final grade), practical evaluation (15% practical exam + 10% grupal activity of the last year) and neurological evaluation activity (5% of the final grade).

The commission of any irregularity in an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or misuse of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course guide) that may lead to a significant alteration of the grade will result in that activity being graded with a 0. If the course guide stipulates that passing the subject requires obtaining a minimum mark in this assessment activity, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same subject, the final grade for the subject will be 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who engages in any of these irregularities.

Bibliography

SPECIFIC BIBLIOGRAPHY:

  • Armenta Peinado. Contribución del método Brunnstrom al tratamiento fisioterápico del paciente hemipléjico adulto. Rev. Fisioterapia. Vol. 25, 2003
  • Asociacion española de terapeutas Bobath. Consultado el 8 Juli de 2020 Disponible en http://www.asociacionbobath.es/
  • Asociacion española de rehabilitación neurocognitiva. Consultado el 8 de Jul de 2020 Disponible en http://www.asociacionperfetti.com/
  • ASPAYM catalunya. Consultado el 8 Jul de 2020 Disponible en https://sid-inico.usal.es/centros_servicios/aspaym-catalunya-asociacion-provincial-de-lesionados-medulares-y-grandes-discapacitados/
  • Bisbe, M., Santoyo, C., Segarra, V. Fisioterapia en neurología. Procedimientos para restablecer la capacidad funcional. Madrid: Panamericana, 2012
  • Butler, D. The sensitive nervous system. Noigroup publications. Adelaide, 2000 Butler, D., Nieto, E. Movilización del sistema nervioso. Editorial Paidotribo, 2002
  • Cano, R., Collado, S. Neurorrehabilitación. Métodos específicos de valoración y tratamiento. Madrid: Panamericana, 2012
  • Carr, J., Sheperd, R. Rehabilitación de pacientes en el ICTUS. Madrid: Elsevier, 2004
  • Carr, J. Sheperd R. Fisioterapia en la rehabilitación neurológica (2a ed.). Elsevier. 2010.
  • Cudeiro, F. J. Reeducación funcional en la enfermedad de Parkinson. Barcelona: Elsevier, 2008
  • Davies, P. Pasos a seguir. Tratamiento integrado de pacientes cono hemiplejia. 2ª ed. Madrid: Panamericana, 2002
  • Edwars, S. Neurological physiotherapy. 2ª ed. Londres: Churchill-Livingstone, 2002
  • Esclarín de Ruz, A; Lesión medular: enfoque multidisciplinario. Ed. Panamericana, 2010
  • González Eslait F, Ruiz Tejada E, Holguín Ruiz JA, León Sarmiento CE, Vélez Rodríguez JJ. Guía para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la parálisis facial periférica idiopática. Acta otorrinolaringol cir cabeza cuello, 2024; 52 (3): 351-376.
  • Harvey, L, Donovan, H. W. Tratamiento de la lesión medular: guía para fisioterapeutas. Elsevier, 2010
  • Heine, M., van de Port I., Rietberg, M, van Wegen E., Kwakkel, G. Tratamiento con ejercicios para la fatiga en la esclerosis múltiple. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015
  • Kandel, E. Principles of Neural science. 4ª ed. McGraw-Hill. Nueva York, 2000
  • Keus, S. H. J., Munneke, M., Graziano, M., et al. European Physiotherapy Guideline forParkinson's disease. KNGF / ParkinsonNet, the Netherlands, 2014
  • Lennon S, Ramdharry G, Verheyden G, Stokes M, editores. Fisioterapia en la rehabilitación neurológica. 5ª ed. Barcelona: Elsevier; 2025.
  • Loeser, J. D. Bonica: Terapéutica del dolor. 3ª ed. McGraw-Hill. México, 2003
  • Lundy-Ekman, L. Neurocience. Fundamentals for rehabilitation. 2ª ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2002
  • Noguer, L., Balcells, A. Exploración clínica práctica. 24ª ed. Barcelona: Científico-Médica, 1992 OMS. Clasificación internacional del funcionamiento, de la discapacidad y de la salud. Madrid: Grafo SA, 2001
  • Paeth, B. Experiencias con el concepto Bobath. Fundamentos, tratamientos y casos. 2 ª ed. Madrid: Panamericana, 2006
  • Pandian, S., Arva, K. N., Davidson, E. W. Comparison of Brunnstrom movement therapy and Motor Relearning Program in rehabilitation of post-stroke hemiparetic hand: a randomized trial. J Bodyw Moy Ther. 2012 Jul.; 16(3): 330-7.
  • Perfetti, C. El ejercicio terapéutico cognoscitivo para la reeducación motora del hemipléjico adulto. Edikamed. Barcelona, 1998
  • Purves, D. Invitación a la neurociencia. Madrid: Panamericana, 2001 Purves. Neurociencia. Editorial Panamericana, 2004
  • Sawner, K., LaVigne, J. Brunnstrom's Movement Therapy in hemiplegia. Neurophysiological Approach. 2 ª ed. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1992
  • Schieber, M. Constraints on Somatotopic Organization in the Primary Motor Cortex. J Neurophysiol.: 2001; Vol. 86
  • Serra, M., Díaz, J., Sande, M. Fisioterapia en neurología, sistema respiratorio y aparato cardiovascular. Elsevier. Barcelona, 2005
  • Shacklok, M. Neurodinámica clínica. Madrid: Elsevier, 2007
  • Spicher, C. Handobook of somatosensory rehabilitation. Montpellier: Sauramps Medicals, 2008 Stokes, M. Fisioterapia en la rehabilitación neurológica. 2 ª ed. Madrid: Elsevier, 2006
  • Sultana, R. La méthode de Brunnstrom. Ed.Masson, 1994
  • Umphered, D. A. Neurological rehabilitation. Saint Louis: Elsevier, 2007
  • Vojta, V., Peters, A. El Principio Vojta. Juegos musculares en la locomoción refleja y en la ontogénesis motora. Springer-Verlag Ibérica, 1995
  • Vojta, V. Alteraciones motoras cerebrales infantiles, Diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz. 2ª Edición Ediciones Morata. 2005

RECOMMENDED TEXTS:

  • Damasio, A. Y el cerebro creó al hombre. Barcelona: Ediciones Destino, 2010 Ramachandram, V. Fantasmas en el cerebro. Madrid: Debate pensamiento, 1999
  • Ramachandram V. Fantasmas en el cerebro. Debate pensamiento. Madrid, 1999
  • Sacks, O. El hombre que confundió a su mujer con un sombrero. 8ª ed. Barcelona: Anagrama, 2007

Software

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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