Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

This clinical master's degree combines three flexible delivery units completed offshore and three units on campus.

The 12-week clinical residency of the course is developed around the themes of clinical reasoning, diagnosis, classification and musculoskeletal management/rehabilitation. This includes clinical examination and interpretation, in addition to planning and progression of both active and passive physical treatment and management programmes. Application and development of these objectives are facilitated through supervised clinical practice sessions within physiotherapy outpatient clinics located in teaching and community hospitals in the Perth metropolitan region.

The approaches and philosophies of various schools of manual therapy to assessment and treatment are presented to ensure a broad view and optimal patient management. Treatment methods include articular mobilisation and manipulation, muscle energy and muscle imbalance correction techniques, management of neurogenic pain disorders and rehabilitation of the neuromuscular system. Special emphasis is given to clinical anatomy, musculoskeletal pathology and pain management as they relate to clinical reasoning and clinical practice.

Broader issues of musculoskeletal rehabilitation, exercise prescription and progression, goal-setting, outcome measurement and evidence-based practice are included in the clinical component. The remainder of the course is undertaken by external study. These units cover a range of issues in musculoskeletal biomechanics, pathology and neurophysiology which have direct relevance to the practice of musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Course outline

The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points comprising

(a) all core units - 60 points

• PTMT8557 Diagnosis in Manual Therapy (20 points)
• PTMT8558 Manual Therapy Practice (20 points)
• PTMT8559 Rehabilitation Science (20 points)

and

(b) three optional units - 36 points

• PTMT8560 Clinical Sciences: Joint Structure, Physiology and Response to Injury (12 points)
• PTMT8561 Clinical Sciences: Skeletal Muscle and Tendon—Structure, Physiology and Pathology (12 points)
• PTMT8562 Clinical Sciences: Pathoanatomy and Mechanics of the Vertebral Column (12 points)
• PTMT8563 Clinical Sciences: Research and Evidence-based Practice in Manual Therapy (12 points)

Admission requirements

Admission to the Master of Neurological Rehabilitation requires the following:

• a bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy, or equivalent as recognised by the Faculty

English Language Competence

All UWA coursework programs have a minimum level of English language competence necessary, for both Domestic and International students.

Course enquiries

Head of the Centre for Musculoskeletal Studies
Professor Kevin Singer

Telephone: (+61 8) 9224 0200
Email: kps@cms.uwa.edu.au