PTA 210 - Therapeutic Exercise

1. Discuss the rationale, indications and contraindications for therapeutic exercise and its parameters  including:  PROM, AROM, stretching, mobilization, strengthening, aerobic exercise, aquatic exercise, balance and proprioception, PNF.
2. Describe the exercise progression sequence (of mobility, stability, controlled mobility, skill) and apply it to patient care.
3. Identify and describe the, indications and precautions/contraindications for therapeutic exercise  including:  PROM, AROM, stretching, mobilization, strengthening, aerobic exercise, aquatic exercise, balance and proprioception, PNF.
4. Appropriately modify an exercise session based on patient response.
5. Educate a patient or family member on a home exercise program.
6. Document the implementation of exercises interventions including exercise instruction consistent with defensible professional documentation guidelines from the APTA.
7. Compare and contrast types of ROM exercises (active, active assistive, passive, self, mobilization), including indications, goals, parameters, contraindications & precautions, limitations & benefits.
8. Compare and contrast exercise programs designed to address strength, endurance and power.
9. Calculate and determine the target heart rate for a given patient scenario.
10.  Recognize and identify the normal and abnormal responses to aerobic exercise.

1. Implement plans of care developed by physical therapists.
2. Provide care in a safe, legal and ethical manner.
3. Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients, families, physical therapists and other care providers both verbally and non‐verbally including accurate written communication and documentation.
4. Instruct patients, families and other health care providers using techniques consistent with the level of the audience.
5. Transition to successful employment as PTA.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving.