Examination and Management of Spasticity and Weakness
ln thi paper information pertaining to the teaching, within a M pb ical therapy curriculum, of the concept of " pasticity" and "weaknes " i pre ented.These concept are taught in 2 required and 1 elective cour e, which span the 2 year program. tudent are expected to develop both physi cal ma tery of the kill nece ary to treat, confidently and efficiently, as well as the ability to critically analyze each ex amination and intervention procedure. Four questions are u ed to guide the tudents as they learn the material pertain ing to examination and intervention. (1) What is the theo retical rationale? (2) I there basic cience evidence that is consi tent with the theoretical premise? (3)Are clinical effi cacy data available and how con i tent are the e data be tween tudie (4) Could the examinations and intervention that were u ed in controlled publi hed studies realistically be performed by therapi t in a clinical setting? Included in the paper are a cour e overview, de cription of the course content required texts, definition the neurologic exam, examination and intervention for pasticity, and examina tion and intervention for strengtl1. INTRODUCI10N The purpo e of thi paper is to share information per taining to the teaching (within a 2 year MS physical therapy curriculum) of the concept of spasticity and weakness." The e concept are taught in 2 required and 1 elective course, which pan the 2 year program. The cour e are: Neuro cience (2"d eme ter of the 1 year [required] Neurological Rehabilitation (l" semester of the 2"d year [required] and pecial Topic eminar (Ad vanced I u in Motor ontrol [elective] The paper will include an overview, de cription of the course con tents, required text definition the neurologic exam, examination and intervention for spa ticity and exami nation and interventions for strength.