Physical Therapies in Sport and Exercise: Module 2: The Lower Extremities

Course Goals:    

This course is intended to instruct the student through self-paced study on the treatment principles and evaluation techniques for athletes with disabilities of the pelvis and lower extremities.  

Student Objectives:               

At the end of this course the student will be able to: 

1. Identify the difficulty in assessing and treating sacroiliac joint problems
2. Identify the importance of the hip being able to attain “full close-pack” and “full loose-pack” for normal functioning
3. Identify strategies for restoring “full close-pack” and “full loose-pack” positions for the hip
4. Identify symptoms of groin muscle strains and osteitis pubis and treatment protocols for each
5. Identify the most common sites for muscle strains in the anterior and posterior thigh
6. Identify the characteristics of the 3 grades of muscle strains
7. List a treatment protocol for each grade of muscle strains
8. List the basic concepts of acute management of muscle injuries
9. List 6 special tests for the posterior thigh
10. List 3 clinical signs of myositis ossificans in the lower extremity
11. Identify a treatment protocol for mild, moderate and severe muscle contusions in the lower extremity
12. List a general treatment protocol for anterior and posterior thigh muscle injuries
13. List 5 criteria that should be met by an athlete with a muscle injury to the anterior or posterior thigh before returning to sports participation
14. List the 3 phases of rehabilitation from a femoral stress fracture and appropriate activities for each phase
15. List the 4 components of the arcuate complex of the knee
16. List 3 basic principles that should be used for accuracy and validity during examination of a knee injury
17. List special tests to assess ligament integrity of the knee joint
18. Identify the 3 phases of knee rehabilitation, the goals for each phase and the milestones that need to be reached before advancing to the next phase
19. List a treatment program for non-operative and operative treatment of an anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injury
20. List a treatment program for non-operative and operative treatment of a medial collateral ligament and menisci injury
21. List a treatment program for non-operative and operative treatment of a tibial plateau fracture
22. List 5 possible sources of pain in the patellofemoral joint
23. List key observation and assessment points for evaluating a patient with patellofemoral pain in the standing, supine, prone and sidelying positions
24. List the 4 components of the patellar position that should be assessed when evaluating a patient with patellofemoral pain
25. Identify taping techniques to address tilt, glide, rotation and fat pad unloading in a patient with patellofemoral pain
26. Identify the 4 compartments of the leg
27. List clinical signs, examination techniques and treatment protocols for a tibial stress fracture, periostitis of the leg, tarsal tunnel syndrome, achilles tendinopathy, tibialis tendinopathy, gastrocnemius-soleus strain or contusion and deep vein thrombosis
28. List clinical signs of acute and chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the leg
29. Identify methods of injury to the common peroneal nerve
30. List the components of the tarsal tunnel
31. List the 3 grades of lateral ankle sprains
32. Identify a treatment protocol for a lateral ankle sprain, high ankle sprain and spring ligament sprain
33. Identify a treatment protocol for posterior tibialis, peroneal and achilles tendonitis
34. List clinical signs of a Jones fracture, Lisfranc dislocation and sinus tarsi syndrome