Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Specific Methods of Intervention in Physiotherapy in Neurology
Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish
Teaching staff
Make an appointment by e-mail:
Theoretical block:
Rosa Maria Cabanas Valdes, PhD: rosacabanas@uic.es
Practical block
Mrs. Selma Pelaez Hervàs spelaez@uic.es
Mrs. Andrea Macià andrea_acroarts@uic.es
Subject holder: PhD. Rosa Mª Cabanas Valdés rosacabanas@uic.es
Introduction
The course is divided into two blocks, a theoretical one and a practical one.
Theoretical block: Neurological Physiotherapy
Neurology is an increasingly important and necessary field of physiotherapy. The growing number of people who suffer a traffic accident, injuries that occur in the world of work (in construction), sports injuries and others of a medical nature (vascular, tumor and degenerative diseases) that cause severe physical and mental disability, create the need for physiotherapists to help, guide and stimulate the patient towards the recovery of functional abilities that have been altered by the injury.
Practical Block: Neurological Evaluation Seminar
The teaching of neurological assessment will be delivered through the integration of theoretical knowledge, clinical simulation, clinical case studies, clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice, hereby promoting the acquisition of skills applicable to real-world clinical practice.
Pre-course requirements
It is necessary to pass this subject " Anatomia del Sistema Nerviós".
Objectives
- To develop clinical reasoning through the structured analysis of neurological clinical cases, integrating the medical history, physical examination, interpretation of findings and decision-making based on scientific evidenceAcquire a basic and, at the same time, extensive knowledge of the most important neurological disorders which will allow for a treatment plan within the possibilities of the patient and the structure.
- Getting technical and practical knowledge of the world of Neurology, as well as to distinguish the different neurological diseases, clinical manifestations and possible evaluations.
- Acquire an adequate and rigorous methodological way to analyse disability, to research and to face the therapeutic goals that arise when the student is a professional in the health sector.
- Understanding why and what is the function of the neurological patient assessment.
- Carry out the evaluation methodically, watching the neurological patient in all his/her aspects: engine, sensitive and cognitively.
- Know and correctly evaluate the different functions that can be altered.
- Know and apply treatment protocols based on scientific evidence whenever possible.
- Establish a prognosis and treatment objectives from the completed evaluation and develop a treatment from these data.
- Monitor the patients and carry out reassessments to modify the treatment if necessary.
- Understand the importance of anamnesis and medical history as a tool to better understand the disease and to improve treatment planning.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 01 - Have the ability to analyze and synthesize.
- 02 - The ability to organize and plan.
- 17 - The ability to work responsibly and autonomously, so as to handle job-related activities without the need for strict supervision.
- 28.1 - Capacity for oral and written communication in the native language.
- 28.3 - Show respect, appreciation and sensitivity towards the work of others.
- 30.1 - Teamwork skills.
- 43 - Knowledge of physiotherapeutic procedures based on techniques and methods specific to physiotherapy interventions applied to the various disorders of all systems and medical and surgical specialisations, as well as health promotion and disease prevention.
- 48.2 - The ability to assess the patient's/client's needs in order to give priority to the ones that could compromise the rehabilitation process.
- 49 - The ability to design a physiotherapy treatment plan.
- 50 - The ability to execute, direct and coordinate a physiotherapy treatment plan while attending to the client's individual needs and using therapeutic tools specific to the physiotherapy profession.
- 50.1 - The ability to establish and implement physical therapy in treatments provided by all other medical and surgical specialties whenever it is deemed necessary.
- 53 - The capacity to participate within the areas of health promotion and disease prevention.
- 55 - The capacity to incorporate scientific research and an evidence-based practice within the professional culture.
- 57.1 - The ability to critically appraise methods, protocols and treatments applied in physiotherapy, and ensure they are always based current scientific evidence.
- HB12 - Design physiotherapy care protocols based on scientific evidence, promoting professional activities that boost research in physiotherapy.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- MAT03 - 03. Demonstrate an attitude of learning and improvement.
- MAT03 - 02. Demonstrate the capacity for autonomous learning.
- MAT03 - 04. Demonstrate the ability to carry out work responsibly.
- MAT08 - 08. Demonstrate an attitude of motivation and improvement in your learning process.
- MAT08 - 06. Properly record the significant data of the assessment in the Physiotherapy Clinical History.
- MAT08 - 07. Create a Physiotherapy discharge report.
- MAT11 - 05. Design the physiotherapy intervention plan incorporating scientific research and evidence-based practice.
- MAT12 - 06. Demonstrate an attitude of motivation and improvement in your learning process.
- MAT13 - 05. Apply therapeutic exercise in different regions and structures to improve ambulation and activities of daily living.
- MAT15 - 03. Explain the principles and foundations on which postural control is based, the cognitive theories that affect balance and gait.
- MAT15 - 04. Apply appropriate neurological physiotherapy therapy to the upper and lower extremity.
- MAT15 - 01. Describe the principles and foundations on which neurological physiotherapy is based.
- MAT15 - 02. Apply the therapy according to the neurological disease that the patient presents.
Syllabus
Theoretical block: Neurological Physiotherapy
1. Upper Motor Neuron Syndrome
2. Neuroplasticity
3. Motor Control and its Main Theories
4. Motor Learning
5. Mirror Neurons
6. Neuromodulation
7. Bimanual and Healthy Side Restriction Therapy
8. Specific Treatments for the Most Frequent Neurological Disorders
Practical Block: Neurological Evaluation Seminar
1. Evaluation in Neurology. General concepts.
1.1 How to develop a clinical history in neurological physiotherapy
1.2 CIF Concept
1.3. Introduction to clinical reasoning in neurological physiotherapy.
2. Assessment of sensitivity
3. Muscle tone assessment
4. Coordination and balance evaluation
5. Assessment of gait
5.1. Introducción a las herramientas instrumentales de valoración en neurología
como complemento de la exploración clínica.
6. Assessment mental functions and cranial nerves
6.1. Introduction to the clinical assessment of the peripheral nervous system and
basic concepts of clinical neurodynamics.
Bibliography and resources
Fisioterapia en la rehabilitación neurológica. By Sheila Lennon, Gita Ramdharry, Geert Verheyden, 2025 Eslsevier
Control y aprendizaje motor. Fundamentos, desarrollo y reeducación del movimiento humano. Cano de la Cuerda. Editorial Panamericana. 2017
Exploració clínica pràctica. Moguer, Bancell L, Barcelona A. . Científic-Mèdica 1998.
Neuroanatomía clínica. Aldo Pieroni, Dall’osservazione all’esercizio: la pianificazione del trattamento riabilitativo, Gnocchi.
Fisioteràpia en neurologia, Sistema respiratori i aparell cardiovascular. Serra M.R., Díaz J., De SandeLl. Editorial Masson. 2005.
Netter F.H. Sistema Nerviós. Trastorns neurològics i neuromusculars. Editorial Salvat.2003.
Neurologia. Zarranz J.J. . 4ª edició. Editorial Elsevier 2003.
Neurological Physiotherapy Pocketbook. 2nd edition. Sheila Lennon, Gita Ramdharry, Geert Verheyden
Neurorrehabilitación. Métodos específicos de valoración y tratamiento. Cano de la Cuerda, Collado Vázquez. Editorial Panamericana. 2012.
CASH. Neurología para fisioterapeutas. 4 edición. Downie. Editorial Panamericana.
Motor Control. Translating research into clinical practice, fifth edition. Shumway-Cook, A and Woollacott,M. 2012
Pratique de la rééducation neurologique. 2 edition Anne de Morand. 2014.
Broken Movement: The Neurobiology of Motor Recovery After Stroke. by John W Krakauer, S. Thomas Carmichael Published June 7th 2022 by MIT Press. Paperback, 288 pages (ISBN13: 9780262545839)
Neuromuscular Rehabilitationn in Manual and Physical Therapies. Eyal Lederman. Churchill Livingston. Elsevier 2010Fisiologia del ejercicio José López Chicharro, Almudena Fernández Vaquero. Editorial Panamericana. ISBN9788491107491.