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Pharmacology in Physiotherapy

Code: 102994
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Physiotherapy OP 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Rosa María Antonijoan Arbos
Email :
rosamaria.antonijoan@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Pol Molina Perello
Caridad Pontes Garcia
Claudia Erika Delgado Espinoza
Kristopher Carlos Amaro Hosey

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

It is convenient for the student to have attained the basic knowledge and skills of biology, physiology (function of the human body) and medico-surgical pathology.

Objectives

The subject is an elective one in the third year of the Degree in Physiotherapy. It is scheduled when students are already reached basic knowledge of Biology, Physiology and Medical-Surgical Pathology.

The learning objectives of the subject are to show the scientific basis of drug discovery and medicines development including basic and clinical phases. The subject describes the different processes that a drug is submitted in the organism from its administration, its desirable and undesirable (adverse) effects and its interactions. In addition, the pharmacological characteristics of the main groups of drugs are studied.

Learning outcomes

  1. Describe the concepts of drug, medication, and toxic.
  2. Define the concept of pharmacological interaction and know the principal mechanisms of interactions between medications and between medications and other substances.
  3. Analyse and synthesise.
  4. Organise and plan.
  5. Easily recognise and cope with changes.
  6. Refer patients to another professional when necessary.
  7. Collect the pharmacological anamnesis data.
  8. Determine the importance of self-medication.
  9. Describe the principal types of alternative medicines. Know the principles of homeopathy, acupuncture and phytotherapy.
  10. "Demonstrate teamwork skills; identify the role of drugs in patient therapy."
  11. Keep the patient treatment is applied, including pharmacological and encourage it to cooperate at all times with compliance.
  12. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  13. Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
  14. Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing innovative proposals or ideas.
  15. Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one?s own area of knowledge.
  16. Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
  17. Communicate using language that is not sexist.
  18. Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality present in society.

Contents

Contents


Theory: 30 lectures.


Practices: 15 classroom practices.


THEORY


I. GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY 


Unit 1. Introduction to Pharmacology. Concept, History,  Divisions,  Methods of study. Types of medicines. Generic medicines.


Unit 2. General cycle of drugs in the body. Transport and absorption of drugs through the membranes. Distribution. Routes of administration.


Unit 3. Metabolism and excretion of drugs in the body. Metabolic pathways. Renal excretion and others sites of elimination


Unit 4. Pharmacokinetics. Parameters that determine the concentrations of the drugs. Half-life of elimination, volume of distribution and clearance.


Unit 5. General principles of the mechanism of action of drugs Concept of pharmacodynamics. Concept of action and of effect. Levels of action of the drugs: systemic, tissue, cellular and molecular. Relationship between concentration-effect and parameters that characterize this relationship.


Unit 6. Mechanism of action of drugs. Targets of drug action.


Unit 7. Pharmacological interactions. Concept. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions. Concept of synergy and antagonism. Importance of pharmacological interactions. Polypharmacy.


Unit 8. Undesirable effects of drugs. General concepts and terminology. Classification according its cause: classical and modern classification of type A, B, C, D and E. Concept of therapeutic risk.


Unit 9. Physiological and pathological factors that influence the response to drugs I. Pharmacology in pregnancy, pediatrics, elderly and others.


Unit 10. Physiological and pathological factors that influence the response to drugs II. Pharmacology in organ dysfunctions and illness (liver and renal failure). Pharmacogenetics.


II. PHARMACOLOGY OF CHEMICAL MEDIATORS: PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. 


Unit 11. Pharmacology of adrenergic transmission. Agonists and antagonists of the different adrenoceptors.


Unit 12. Pharmacology of cholinergic transmission. Agonists and cholinergic antagonists. Ganglion and neuromuscular blockers. Local anesthetics.


III.FARMACOLOGY OF CHEMICAL MEDIATORS: CENTRAL NERVIOUS SYSTEM 


Unit 13. Pharmacology of the central noradrenergic and serotonergic system. Characteristics and functions of the noradrenergic and serotonergic neurotransmission. Neurochemical bases of depression and mania.


Unit 14. Pharmacology of the central cholinergic system. Characteristics and functions of cholinergic neurotransmission. Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacology of convulsions. Anticonvulsants.


Unit 15. Pharmacology of the central dopaminergic system. Characteristics, functions and alterations of the dopaminergic neurotransmission. Drugs in Parkinson's disease. Drugs in the treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis.


Unit 16. Pharmacology of the GABA system. GABA transmission and modulation. Anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs. General anesthetics.


Unit 17. Pharmacology of other central mediators: opioid peptides. The opioid system and opioid drugs.  Pharmacology of pain.


Unit 18. Pharmacology of substance abuse and addiction I. Drugs of abuse, classification and effects. Psychostimulants and hallucinogens.


Unit 19. Pharmacology of substance abuse and addiction II. Alcohol. Tobacco Cannabis. Opioids. Sedatives.


IV. PHARMACOLOGY OF CHEMICAL MEDIATORS AND ANTINEOPLASTIC: ANTI-INFLAMATORIES, IMMUNOSUPRESSANTS, ANTINEOPLASICS. 


Unit 20. Pharmacology of immunity. Pharmacological targets for immunomodulation. Immunosuppressants  and immunostimulants. Antineoplastic drugs. Mechanisms of action and adverse effects.


Unit 21. Pharmacology of inflammation I. Mediators of inflammation. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Antirheumatic drugs.


Unit 22. Pharmacology of inflammation II. Serotonin. Histamine.  Angiotensin, nitric oxide, PAF and cytokines. Pharmacological modulation.


V. PHARMACOLOGY OF MAJOR ORGAN SYSTEMS. 


Unit 23. Endocrine pharmacology. Regulation of hormonal secretion. Pharmacology of diabetes.  Insulin, glucagon and oral antidiabetic agents. Thyroidal hormones. Glucocorticoids.


Unit 24. Pharmacology of sexual hormones. Androgens, estrogens and progestogens. Pharmacology of the fertility.


Unit 25. Pharmacology of lipid and bone metabolism. Lipid-lowering drugs. Modulation of osteoporosis. Hypocrites


Unit 26. Respiratory pharmacology. Bronchodilators, antitussives and mucolytics. Pharmacology of blood. Antianemics. Antiplatelet drugs and thrombolytics. Anticoagulants.


Unit 27. General pharmacology of the digestive tract. Pharmacological modulation of vomiting. Pharmacological modulation of gastric secretion. Pharmacology of motility and intestinal secretion: laxatives and antidiarrheal drugs.


Unit 28. Renal and urinary pharmacology. Diuretics and regulatory hormones. Vascular pharmacology. Vasodilators and antihypertensives.


Unit 29. Heart pharmacology. Antianginals. Cardiotonic drugs. Antidysrhythmic drug.


30. Pharmacology of poisoning. Pharmacological treatment of acute poisoning. Antidotes.


 


PRACTICES 


1. Pharmaceutical forms I.


2. Pharmaceutical forms II.


3. Pharmacological anamnesis I.


4. Pharmacological anamnesis II.


5. Adverse reactions, communication and pharmacovigilance I.


6. Adverse reactions, communication and pharmacovigilance II.


7. Development of medicines. Basic and clinical research. Phases of the development of medicines.


8. Placebo effect.


9. Alternative medicines. Therapeutics and alternative medicines. Homeopathy.


10. Social pharmacology. Therapeutic adherence.  Self-medication.  Well-being medicines.


11. Doping.


12. Legal aspects of the prescription and use of drugs I.


13. Legal aspects of the prescription and use of drugs II.


14. Visit the pharmacology research unit I.


15. Visit the pharmacology research unit II.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
READING ARTICLES/REPORTS OF INTEREST 5 0.2
THEORY (TE) 30 1.2
CLASSROOM PRACTICES 15 0.6
SELF-STUDY 100 4

The subject of Pharmacology consists of three modules of directed activities:

Theory lectures: Lecture classes.

Classroom and computer classroom practices. Clinical cases, problems, search of information with computer, film vision and guided visits to drug research centers. In addition, an extension of the themes of the theory.

Autonomous activity: personal study and reading of recommended articles.


Permitted use of AI: In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as an integral part of the development of coursework, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution by the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection.

Students must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced both the process and the final outcome of the activity.

Failure to disclose the use of AI transparently will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a penalty to the activity grade or more severe sanctions in serious cases.

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
Attendance and active intervention in theory classes 5% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Written evaluation:Objective tests 70% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Continous evaluation of practices and seminars 25% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

The competences of this subject will be evaluated by means of:

Exams. The evaluation consists of two partial examinations of theoretical and practical knowledge. Each exam will be of type essay of restricted questions, and will consist of between 30-40 questions to be answered in a maximum time of 1 hour. To pass a rating of 5 to each of the two tests is needed. The whole evaluation of these tests will represent up to 70% of the final grade.

Continuous evaluation of practices / seminars. The attendance is mandatory to 80% of the practices / seminars.

After each practice or seminar may be a short assessment of the content will be made. Represents 25% of the final note.

Attendance at the theoretical classes.

The subject is approved with a score of 5 (sum of the partial exams, seminars / practices and assistance).

Students who have not passed the subject by means of the evaluation mentioned above will be able to submit to a final test of recapture (essay test of restricted questions).

The student who has not been able to provide sufficient evidence of evaluation such as: not presenting to 80% attendance at the seminars / practices and / or do not do the exams, in the minutes the subject will be awarded as not evaluable.


Unique Evaluation

  • The date of the single assessment will coincide with the date of the last continuous assessment test indicated in the daily schedule and in the calendar of training and assessment activities.
  • The single assessment will consist of:
  • Test 1: A written objective examination, worth 35.0% of the final grade.
  • Test 2: A written objective examination, worth 35.0% of the final grade.
  • Test 3: Submission of a written assignment on two topics from the seminars, worth 30.0% of the final grade.

Recovery activity

A single date is established for the resit assessment activity for all students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the single assessment system or not.


Academic Integrity and Assessment Irregularities

The commission of any irregularity in an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use 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 assessment activity being graded as 0.If the course guide stipulates that obtaining a minimum grade in that assessment activity is an essential requirement for passing the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0.

Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.



Bibliography

1. BAÑOS JE, FARRE M. Principios de Farmacologia clínica: bases científicas de la utilización de medicamentos. Ediciones Masson, 2002.

2. DURAN M, MESTRES C, NOGUES RM. Fundamentos de Farmacologia para Fisioterapéutas. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana, 2017.

3. RITTER JM. FLOWER PK, HENDERSON G. KONG LOKE Y, MacEWAN D, RANG HP. Rang y Dale Farmacología. 9ª ed., Barcelona: Elsevier, 2020.

4. FLÓREZ J. Farmacología Humana. 6ª ed Barcelona: Elsevier 2014.

5. LORENZO P, MORENO A, LEZA JC, LIZASOAIN I, MORO MA, PORTOLES A, eds. . Velázquez. Farmacología Bäsica y Clínica. 19ª ed. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana, 2018.

6. BRUNTON LL, HILAL-DANDAN R, KNOLLMANN BJ. Goodman and Gilman's the pharmacological basis of therapeutics. 13Th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2018. Hi ha una versió en castellà.  

7. UDAYKUMAR P. Pharmacology for Physiotherapy. 2nd ed. New Delhi: JAYPEE, 2004. 8. PANUS P, KATZUNG B, JOBST E, TINSLEY S, MASTERS S, TREVOR A. Pharmacology for the Physical Therapist. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical, 2008.

Software

TEAMS

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/Spanish second semester afternoon
(PAUL) Classroom practices 201 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon