Orthopaedic Manual Therapy is an area of specialisation within Physiotherapy that integrates all the information and experience of Manual Therapy applied since ancient times, classical physiotherapy, sports medicine, orthopaedic medicine, chiropractic and osteopathy, grouped under a common denominator: clinical reasoning and scientific evidence.

With this university master's degree, you will acquire a professional and research profile that consolidates the roles you will need as a specialised manual physiotherapy professional including diacutaneous fibrolysis, neurodynamic techniques and dry needling.

You will use highly specific assessment and treatment approaches that include manual techniques and therapeutic exercises, in compliance with the educational standards of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists Incorporated (IFOMPT).

The subject External Clinical Practicums (PCE) takes place during the second semester, between January and July (inclusive).

The PCE subject totals 5 ECTS credits, of which 75 hours take place onsite and is conducted in external public and/or private clinical centres. You can check the list of centres at the following link.

These hours are closely supervised by the clinical tutor, with a one-to-one supervisory ratio (each clinical tutor supervises only one student at a time).

It is possible to choose the centre, location, specific dates and schedule. This choice is made once training has begun. 

If you are interested in doing the clinical practicum at a centre that is not on the list, you can let us know and the University will begin the procedures to set up the cooperation agreement. The main requirement is that an OMPT physiotherapist who has completed IFOMPT-accredited (International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists Incorporated) training is working in that centre.

Objectives

The general objectives of the curriculum can be summarised as follows:

• To focus their intervention system on the patient-centred care process, current scientific evidence and measurement results.
• Recognise risk factors, precautions and contraindications for the integration of the patient in the assessment and treatment processes.
• Decide on the suitability of a patient for OMPT physiotherapy treatment.
• Perform an exhaustive evaluation of the patient's neuromusculoskeletal system, as well as its function and dysfunction.
• Establish a clinical physical diagnosis and design a comprehensive treatment plan as a main component of the multidisciplinary team within the health system.
• Master all OMPT therapeutic procedures in accordance with the objectives of pain relief and optimisation of patient function.
• Develop clinical practice in accordance with advanced clinical reasoning processes within the patient-centred care model.
• Design and actively participate in health management and promotion programmes, as an indispensable component of the interdisciplinary team within the individualised health care of the patient/client.
• Integrate current scientific evidence through a critical review of this, the patient's preferences and the individual clinical picture in the treatment process

Facilities

Durant el curs acadèmic es fan diversos tallers pràctics en els quals els alumnes posen en pràctica el que han après a les classes teòriques.  

Taller de Neurodynamicsolutions

En aquest taller especialitzat, impartit pel reconegut fisioterapeuta Michael Shacklock, aprofundiràs en l’enfocament Neurodynamic Solutions, una metodologia de referència internacional en l’abordatge del sistema nerviós.

Aprendràs a avaluar i tractar disfuncions del sistema nerviós des d’una perspectiva clínica precisa, integrant el raonament clínic i tècniques específiques de mobilització neurodinàmica. A través d’un enfocament pràctic, treballaràs la identificació de símptomes d’origen neural i el seu tractament eficaç en consulta.

Una oportunitat per adquirir eines avançades, directament aplicables a la pràctica clínica, de la mà d’un dels referents mundials en neurodinàmica.

Research in the Department of Physiotherapy is divided into three thematic topics. The first is related to the evaluation of the effects of physiotherapeutic interventions related to the application of manual and instrumental techniques and active exercise. The second examines the use of therapeutic exercise and movement control techniques to promote neuromotor development and treat of the locomotor and nervous system disorders. The third focuses on the assessment of functional and aerobic capacity, as well as the use of physical exercise as a rehabilitation tool in patients with cardiorespiratory and metabolic diseases.

The Department of Physiotherapy will be using the Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology Laboratory to carry out the studies. 

You can check the details, objectives and composition of the three work groups exploring these areas here.