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Gold Coast Session 1 Session 1

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Health and Human Sciences

Pre-requisites

BIO10001 - Functional Anatomy of the Lower Limbs and Foot and Ankle

Co-requisites

BIO20002 - Biomechanics of Gait

Unit aim

Introduces students to the concepts of orthotic and bracing therapy and their role in clinical practice. Students learn about the practice of orthotic and bracing therapy to optimise gait and mobility.

Unit content

Topic 1: The purpose of mechanical therapy
Topic 2: Ortho-mechanical and footwear options in practice
Topic 3: Common conditions requiring ortho-mechanical and bracing therapy
Topic 4: Casting methods
Topic 5: The role of lower limb immobilisation and compression bandaging
Topic 6: Managing patient expectations and orthotic revisions

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 demonstrate an understanding of the concept of mechanical therapy: orthotic therapy: including materials, devices, theoretical rationale, prescription, issuing and reviewing orthoses,
2 describe the role of footwear including function, fitting and uses
3 describe the role of immobilisation: casting, bracing
4 demonstrate an understanding of the principles and applications of various casting methods
5 demonstrate an ability to take a negative and positive cast and manufacture orthoses.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate an understanding of the concept of mechanical therapy: orthotic therapy: including materials, devices, theoretical rationale, prescription, issuing and reviewing orthoses,
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA6:
  2. describe the role of footwear including function, fitting and uses
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA6:
  3. describe the role of immobilisation: casting, bracing
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA6:
  4. demonstrate an understanding of the principles and applications of various casting methods
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA6:
  5. demonstrate an ability to take a negative and positive cast and manufacture orthoses.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • Please note: this book may be available on loan through the SCU library: Valmassy, RL, 1996, Clinical biomechanics of the lower extremities, 1st edn, Mosby, St Louis. ISBN: 0801679869.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.