Physioplus courses can be done at your convenience, at any time and in any place that suits you. With new courses added regularly there is always something to do. Please note – a free trial account only provides access to the Introduction to the shoulder and Cervical Arterial Dysfunction courses.
Explore the Physioplus courses below. Please note that courses with accreditation are identified with the icon (view all course accreditation details):
Displaying 38 of 38 courses.
Applied Ethical Reasoning
This course complements existing knowledge of ethical principles, values and frameworks to explore more specific methods and concepts of ethical decision-making in physiotherapy. It takes a deep dive into more defined situations where ethical dilemmas may occur and explores concepts to surmount these. There will be a strong element of analysing real life scenarios in the discussions, so be prepared to share your thoughts and experiences with others, this will allow us to explore our own professional values, to learn from and with others on this course.
Cervical Arterial Dysfunction
Cervical arterial dysfunction (CAD) is term a used in physiotherapy to cover a variety of vascular pathologies which can cause restrictions in blood flow to the brain. When assessing and treating the cervical spine, it is vital to understand diseases of the blood vessels that can present with pain and also to be able to assess the level of risk of a patient experiencing an arterial flow restriction during a physiotherapy assessment or treatment.
In this course you will learn from a topic specialists how to make safe clinical decisions that take into account these very serious issues and how the related framework for clinical practice is being updated in 2018.
Clinical Presentations of Shoulder Pain
This course explores four most common causes of shoulder pain and impairment: rotator cuff / subacromial related, capsular related, glenohumeral instability, and acromioclavicular joint disease. Clinical reasoning skills to differentiate between these presentations will be covered, as well as understanding what affects prognosis including psychosocial factors that affect shoulder pain.
Clinical Reflection
The course will introduce clinical reflection for both the student and the clinician. The different types of reflection will be introduced as well as clinical reasoning and how it is different for the novice and experienced physiotherapist. Clinical reflection for portfolio writing and tips for developing reflection skills will be discussed.
Clinical Reflective Frameworks
Different Reflective Frameworks will be discussed with information on how and when to apply them for Clinical Reflection. Reflective writing and thinking will be explored for both the student and the practising Physical Therapist / Physiotherapist. Practical advice will be shared on how to undertake Critical Reflection in different situations.
Dysfunctional Breathing
In this course we explore Dysfunctional Breathing. It has been reported that around 10% of patients can exhibit hyperventilation syndrome, a condition at the extreme end of the dysfunctional breathing scale. However a much greater number of people have a more subtle, yet clinically significant, breathing pattern disorder. These breathing disorders can mimic many pain presentations including back and neck pain and so it is very important that we are aware of the potential for this to be a part of our clients presentation so that we can manage them effectively.
Ethical Principles and Values
For good ethical clinical decision making healthcare practitioners should utilise a knowledge of ethics that includes an understanding of the underlying basis for ethical principles such as respect for autonomy and justice, and an awareness of the influence one's personal beliefs and values might exert in the decision-making process.
Evidence Based Practice
Evidence based practice (EBP) has now been a part of our profession for over 20 years. The term and methodology was conceived in 1992 and in more recent years has been challenged. It remains an important part of our practice and should be utilised on a daily basis. This is facilitated by the development of enabling tools however in many circumstances it remains difficult to implement due to barriers that continue to exist. One thing is for sure, we should all know about EBP, understand the concepts and appreciate these barriers and challenges. This course will guide you through the EBP process, directing you to many informative resources along the way.
Foot and ankle
This course introduces the foot and ankle complex for development of foundation knowledge that will enable you to effectively assess and treat foot and ankle conditions. Following an initial revision of the anatomy, structure and function of the foot and ankle we will explore common traumatic and pathological presentations in both the foot and ankle. This course will have a strong emphasis on differential diagnosis, to try and develop your clinical reasoning skills within this area.
Frameworks for Ethical Decision Making
In addition to having knowledge of ethical principles and an understanding of ones own moral values, the practice of physiotherapy is governed by various ethical frameworks such as laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines. It is important for physiotherapists to be familiar with these and to understand when each is applicable to a given practice setting and/or specific patient.
Global Health
Global Health is a subject that is becoming more recognised within the Physiotherapy profession with growing numbers of physiotherapists seeking to have greater impact and influence. This course will explore Global Health and consider the role of the Physiotherapist. What is Global Health, why it is important, what are the biggest Global Health challenges and how do we measure it. We will also consider the role of the Physiotherapist and how we can contribute to meeting future global health needs.
Internal Shoulder Impingement
This course will explore the clinical presentation, causes, differential diagnosis, evaluation, examination and management of Internal Shoulder Impingement. It will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification.
Introduction to Neurology
Neurology is an extensive topic with many different areas of specialism. This course will provide an overview of physical therapy / physiotherapy practice relating to neurology with many of the different areas touched upon. This topic aims to give you a deeper understanding of the anatomy, function, pathologies, assessment and treatment relating to the broad spectrum of neurology practice based on the latest evidence available.
Introduction To The Knee
The knee is an enormous topic that we are unable to cover comprehensively in one course. This course will be a general introduction to develop an initial knowledge base that provides a good grounding to enable you to understand any knee condition that presents. We will be revising knee structure and function, exploring common conditions including paediatric conditions, consolidating assessment skills and also exploring current trends in prevention, management and rehabilitation of knee complaints. It is by no means an exhaustive exploration of the knee and we advise you to use it as a starting point for your understanding of treating knees.
Introduction to the Shoulder
Initially this course will explore the epidemiology of shoulder injuries globally and locally within your community allowing you to assess the impact of injuries to the shoulder in your individual context. This is followed by a review of shoulder structure and function which ensures a good foundation of knowledge for effective clinical reasoning. Age-related differences can have an impact on clinical reasoning, which will be explored in the paediatric and older populations. Finally the currently used classification systems for individuals with shoulder pain will be covered and how you might utilise these in your practice.
Knee Assessment and Hip Mechanics
This course will review the thought process when doing a knee assessment and provide you with useful tips to remember when evaluating a patient. It will also focus on how faulty hip and pelvis mechanics influence knee function under load. The course will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification.
Low Back Pain
Low back pain is a very common health problem worldwide and a major cause of disability – affecting performance at work and general well-being. It affects people of all ages, from children to the elderly, and is a very frequent reason for consultations. The 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study estimated that low back pain is among the top 10 diseases and injuries that account for the highest number of DALYs worldwide. This course will explore low back pain and give you a background understanding to management strategies.
Low Back Pain Assessment and Prognosis
This course will give you an overview of the factors that influence outcomes in a patient with low back. Subjective and objective examination will be discussed as well as some treatment strategies. It will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification.
Managing Children with Cerebral Palsy
The World Disability report mentions that of 93 million children between 1-14 years present with a moderate to severe disability and 13 million with a severe disability. In low and middle-income countries, the literature reports a prevalence ranging from 0.4% to 12.7%. It also highlights that children in low and middle-income countries are exposed to multiple risks including poverty, malnutrition, poor health, and unstimulating environment, which can further impair their condition (WHO, 2011).
The ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Department is working in 30 countries in situations of conflict/post conflict and witnesses that the situation of children with Cerebral Palsy merits increased attention and care. Indeed, not only the prevalence is very high but those children and their families often don’t received basic minimal care, which ensures them an acceptable quality of life. For the families this adds an additional burden to an already challenging life (ICRC, Annual Report 2015).
Many professionals around the world neither benefit from any specialized training in paediatrics nor have access to the current literature. The ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Department have identified education in Cerebral Palsy as a priority. Through this course, the ICRC and Physiopedia aim to provide physiotherapists and other health related professionals free access to quality information on managing children with Cerebral Palsy, the ultimate goal being to increase theoretical knowledge as a basis for sound rehabilitation practice.
This course does not intend to discuss or debate on advanced theories, techniques or build on additional advances in research as there are many specialists around the world who already do a great job. The ultimate goal of this course is first of all to provide physiotherapists and other health professionals involved in the management of children with Cerebral Palsy around the world basic knowledge and references, which will further increase their knowledge and most probably their competencies. They will then be in the position to find, read, critically appraise and choose the references and techniques appropriate to their needs and context.
We also hope that the information shared will prevent physiotherapy interventions too far away from evidence based practice or even malpractice. Indeed, children with Cerebral Palsy should not cry during treatment, be systematically placed under electrophysical agents or benefit merely from passive or active range of movement. Mothers should not walk for hours to get the information and hope that their children will be “cured”.
Last but not least, we hope again to bridge the gap between professionals from low and high income countries and therefore enlarge the community of practice in the field of Cerebral Palsy for the benefit of all, children, families and professionals. For clinicians working in under resourced regions the magnitude of this problem is self evident, a paradigm shift in response to the need is essential to begin to give children with Cerebral Palsy a meaningful life.
“Children are a quality of life ... when our children are happy, then we are better as human beings." Whoopi Goldberg
Managing Children with Clubfoot
The course will provide a framework to develop theoretical principles for the management of children with clubfoot relevant in all contexts. It will introduce the pathoanatomy, etiology and epidemiology underpinning idiopathic clubfoot, including: idiopathic in an infant, idiopathic clubfoot in the older child, relapse and atypical clubfoot. The course will explore assessment and the roles of the multidisciplinary team, as well as provide a theoretical understanding of management techniques and related clinical considerations. It will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification. The global network formed through this course will allow for shared knowledge and experiences to support good health care and a better quality of life for children with clubfoot around the world.
Movement Dysfunction
This course explores Movement and the Movement System. The Movement System is an important concept for physical therapists to understand; particularly those who seek to achieve the full potential of their critically important role in supporting a healthy society. Movement is the action of an entire system and its component parts; these include muscular, skeletal, neurologic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic components. This course will explore some of the basics of understanding movement and go on to explore the current thinking on Movement and the Movement System.
Muscle Performance in Neck Pain
The deep and superficial muscles of the neck will be reviewed as well as how their function changes in the presence of pain. Assessment and rehabilitation strategies for the cervical flexor and extensor muscles will be discussed. This course will not lead to any clinical qualification and clinicians should only apply the mentioned management and assessment strategies if it falls within their scope of practice.
Neck Pain
Initially this course will explore the epidemiology of neck pain globally and locally within your community allowing you to assess the impact of Neck pain in your individual context. This is followed by a review of neck structure and function which ensures a good foundation of knowledge for effective clinical reasoning. Assessment is a key skill for Physiotherapists and Physical Therapists to effectively manage individuals with Neck Pain, we will consider key assessment skills, specific techniques and appropriate outcome measures. Then, based on the latest evidence available, we will explore different management options for acute and chronic presentations. This course will have a strong emphasis on differential diagnosis, to try and develop your clinical reasoning skills within this area.
Patellar Tendinopathy
The course will provide you with an overview of the pathology and different stages of tendinopathy. The clinical presentation, and the medical and physical therapy management of patellar tendinopathy will be discussed. It will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification.
Pharmacology and Physiotherapy
The course will review different antidepressant medications and the physiological effects they have on the body, as well as how these affect physiotherapy exercise prescription. Practical advice will be provided on how to gather information about different medications, and how to relate any medication effects a patient may have to the rest of the interdisciplinary team. Note - this course will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification or prescription rights.
Pharmacology in Pain Management
This course will review different pharmacological pain management drugs including their actions and side-effects. A topic expert will provide advice on the considering a patient’s pharmacological uses or needs during therapy. The course will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification or prescription rights.
Physical Activity (PEPA MOOC)
Physical inactivity has a major health effect worldwide. It has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally (WHO, 2015). Of the deaths attributable to physical inactivity, 2.6 million are in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While physical inactivity is more prevalent in high- and middle-income countries, even in low-income countries it is among the top ten risk factors contributing to death.
The global physical inactivity crisis, and the epidemic of life-style related diseases (non-communicable diseases or NCDs) has created an urgent need for health care professionals to develop effective approaches for including physical activity into patient interactions. Creating a more active population requires joined up thinking and action from many health care professionals and related stakeholders.
This course is designed to help healthcare professionals understand the size of the problem of physical inactivity in populations globally, the role of physical inactivity in the causation of a number of conditions and the benefits of exercise in treatment and prevention, and to encourage those who access the course to perform and evaluate interventions to increase physical activity in their settings. This course will give you the confidence, competencies and capabilities, to offer safe and effective physical activity and exercise advice. It also aims to inspire and support all health care professionals to lead on physical activity advocacy and action within your practice, from local to global action.
Pied Bot (Version Français)
Introduction En 2017, Physiopedia, le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) et l’Initiative mondiale Clubfoot (GCI) collaborent pour dispenser une formation en ligne gratuite intitulée “Pied Bot”. Le pied bot est une malformation complexe et congénitale du pied, également appelée “Pied Bot Varus Equin” (PBVE), causée par le développement anormal des os, des ligaments et … <p class="link-more"><a href="https://members.physio-pedia.com/2017/09/29/pied-bot-version-francais/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "Pied Bot (Version Français)"</span></a></p>
Predicting Outcomes in Whiplash
This course will explore the four indicators identified by research as reliable predictors of ultimate recovery from whiplash injury. Learn how to identify each of these factors during patient assessment and how to interpret these findings. In particular discover how these should influence your approach to clinical management during the acute and chronic phases of whiplash symptoms. Please note that this course will not teach practical skills or lead to a clinical qualification.
Respiratory Muscle Training
Are you aware of the implications of the fact that the muscles involved in respiration are also involved in core stability as well as other upper body movements and exercises. Research has demonstrated that exercising to increase the strength and endurance of the respiratory muscles can benefit back pain, balance and falls, artistic and athletic performance as well as address breathing difficulties caused by chronic conditions such as COPD and ageing.
Shoulder Assessment
This course starts with a review of the principles of shoulder examination. Following this, there is a review of the evidence for orthopaedic special tests of the shoulder and explore when it is appropriate to use them. Next, the course covers shoulder pain and the importance of recognising the differences between acute and chronic pain, and the implications for assessment and management of the patient. Finally outcome measures and diagnostic imaging complete the assessment puzzle.
Sport and Exercise Physiotherapy
Sport and Exercise Physiotherapy is now recognised as a specialist area with growing numbers of physiotherapists seeking to work in this diverse and exciting field. People are increasingly encouraged to undertake sport and exercise as part of a healthier lifestyle. Although this has a number of global health benefits, a related caveat is an increased risk of injury. Currently, sporting injuries commonly present to the health professional; these injuries present a unique challenge in terms of their aetiology, management and potential for recurrence.
The responsibility of the pitch-side medical team has never been higher. Sport related healthcare professionals are under more and more scrutiny in terms of skill maintenance and professional development. The pitch-side physiotherapist has a duty of care to the team, but also a responsibility to update and improve their skills. This course will provide an introduction to the management of pitch side trauma. Physiotherapists working within Sport need to respond appropriately to acute injury or illness in both training and competition contexts, and require specific qualifications relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first responder skills.
Sport is an enormous topic that we are unable to cover comprehensively in one learn topic. This course will focus on developing an initial knowledge base by providing an overview of Sports Physiotherapy Practice based on the latest evidence available. We will be exploring the Role of the Sports Physiotherapist, investigating how we assess sport both on and off the field and also exploring current trends in prevention, management and rehabilitation of sports injuries. It is by no means an exhaustive exploration of Sports Physiotherapy and we advise you to use it as a starting point for your understanding of working within sport.
Stratified Care for Low Back Pain
The course will have a broad overview of Stratified Care for Low Back Pain and then have a deeper look at the Patient Prognosis Subgrouping with focus on the STarT Back Approach. The course will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification.
Stroke
This course will first give you a deeper understanding of neuroanatomy and neuophysiology related to Stroke. Then by exploring epidemiology and risk factors we will come to understand the global burden of Stroke and prevention measures that Physiotherapists can get involved with. Assessment is a key skill for Physiotherapists in performing effective management of individuals following Stroke, we will consider assessment scales, outcome measures and the roles of the multi-disciplinary team. Then, based on the latest evidence available, we will explore different management options for rehabilitation of acute and chronic presentations. This course will have a strong emphasis on differential diagnosis, to try and develop your clinical reasoning skills within this area.
Tendinopathy
Tendon dysfunction is one of the most common soft tissue injuries that we see in our clinics. It's not just related to sports injuries as many un-athletic and even sedentary people can experience tendon dysfunction. It's currently a hot topic of conversation among clinicians and experts online and so we have brought all the most up-to-date information together for you in this online course. This course will explore tendinopathy to give you a deeper understanding of the anatomy, function, pathologies, assessment and treatment based on the latest evidence available.
Therapeutic Interventions for the Shoulder
After exploring evidence-based interventions for individuals with shoulder pain and the evidence for conservative physiotherapy management, the course delves into specific management approaches including the Shoulder Symptom Modification Procedure, therapeutic exercise and prescription considerations. To finish off there is the opportunity to discover clinical approaches to management of specific conditions including instability, adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff related pain and subacromial pain syndrome.
Treatment-Based Classification System for Low Back Pain
This course will explore the algorithms and different treatment approaches that form part of the Treatment-Based Classification System and explore how to triage patients into these treatment/rehabilitation approaches. The course will not teach practical skills or lead to any clinical qualification.
Understanding Pain
Pain is a complex and extensive topic that applies to all physiotherapy and physical therapy practice. As physiotherapists and physical therapists we meet people who are in pain everyday, helping these people is what we do! Pain is an enormous topic that we are unable to cover in one course but as a very important part of our knowledge base this learn topic will provide an overview of current understanding of pain mechanisms and practice based on the latest evidence available. We'll be exploring what pain is, looking at chronic pain and the psychology of pain, investigating how we assess pain and also exploring current trends in pain management and rehabilitation. It is by no means an exhaustive exploration of pain and we advise you to use it as a starting point for your understanding of pain.