KINESIOLOGICAL EVALUATION
A good knowledge of anatomy is necessary for understanding the topics covered in the course. The attendance and the passing of the anatomy course, is therefore preparatory.
The exam will be both in oral and in written form. The oral exam will consist of a practical test during which the learning of movement evaluation techniques, the recognition of anatomical landmarks, and the principles of applied kinesiology will be verified. The written test will include questions formulated in order to verify the theoretical content of the course. The final vote will be determined by the degree of acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills, also taking into account the property of scientific language and clinical reasoning skills. To pass the exam, the student must have a minimum of 18 (eighteen) vote.
The aims of the course are the acquisition of basic notions on the study of movement (kinesiology) and its evaluation by means of joint mobility and muscle strength examination. In particular, some of the available measurement instruments for movement's evaluation are presented to students. Where necessary, basic notions concerning anatomy, palpatory anatomy and muscle and joint physiology are integrated. The course takes place in the form of a laboratory to encourage the development of the first skills necessary for physiotherapic evaluation: observation, palpation, kinesiological evaluation and hints of functional evaluation. The course introduce manual mobilization and stabilization techniques of body segments neaded for kinesiological evaluation. Working in small groups, students can compare to each other and experience intra- and inter-operator variability, and the difficulty in approaching patients with different phenotypes.
At the end of the course the student is expected to be able to:
- express itself using specific terminology;
- describe the different types of movement in space;
- recognize the various types of mobilization and be able to propose active and passive kinesitherapy exercises;
- know the different types of muscle contraction and the peculiar characteristics of polyarticular muscles;
- perform the assessment of joint range of motion of a healthy subject, using outcome measures such as the goniometer and the tape measure;
- knowing how to evaluate muscle strength through manual muscle testing.
The topics covered during the lessons will be the following:
- Evaluation and measurement: definitions and value in rehabilitation (1 hour)
- Introduction to movement assessment: basic concepts of kinesiology, and the specific terminology to define movement (1 hour)
- General introduction to the examination of joint mobility and muscle strength (2 hours)
- Polyarticular muscles: characteristics and functioning during the assessment of muscle strength and ROM measurement (1 hour)
- Introduction to active and passive mobilization in the clinical setting. Practical exercises (1 hour)
- Lower limb / hip: observation, hints of palpatory anatomy, examination of joint mobility and muscle strength (4 hours)
- Lower limb / knee: observation, hints of palpatory anatomy, examination of joint mobility and muscle strength (4 hours)
- Lower limb / ankle and foot: observation, hints of palpatory anatomy, examination of joint mobility and muscle strength (2 hours)
- Upper limb / shoulder: observation, hints of palpatory anatomy, examination of joint mobility and muscle strength (4 hours)
- Upper limb / forearm: observation, hints of palpatory anatomy, examination of joint mobility and muscle strength (2 hours)
- Spine: observation, hints of palpatory anatomy, joint mobility examination (2 hours)
The objectives of the course will be achieved thanks to lectures (6 h) and practical activities (18 h) for a total of 24 hours of teaching for each group of students. Lessons are supported by slide show. During practice, students will be divided in pairs for palpation techniques, mobilization and measurement, or in small groups for observation. For practical activities, students will also use measurement tools, such as the tape measure and the traditional goniometer.
If needed, the teacher can dedicate the first part of each lesson to clarifications and insights into the topics covered in the previous lessons. Referring to the students' referent, it is also possible to ask for additions on specific topic of common interest to be addressed during the lessons. For further information on topics of exclusively personal interest and not included in the program, the student can request information from the teacher via the University e-mail address.
In order to facilitate learning, students are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes during lessons, and to bring a change consisting of shorts and t-shirts (boys) or shorts, t-shirts and tops (girls). Light coloured garnments should be preferred, which ease to read the results obtained by goniometer measurement.
It is strongly recommended to come to class having at your disposal the slides provided in advance by the teacher. In fact, they will be studied in depth from a theoretical point of view and they will be the exclusive reference for the practical activities, as well as subject to final examination.
The teacher receives by appointment remotely, upon request by e-mail. The teacher only responds to e-mails signed and from domain@studenti.uninsubria.it.