Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Applied Sciences in Sport and Spinal Physiotherapy

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

REHA2271

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2025

Course Coordinator: Dr Charlotte Ganderton

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: charlotte.ganderton@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: -

Course Coordinator Availability: -


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Recommended Prior Study 

You should have satisfactorily completed or received credit for the following course/s before you commence this course:  

Alternatively, if you have the equivalent skills and knowledge covered in the above course/s you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.  

Please contact your course coordinator for further details.   

Recommended Concurrent Study 

It is recommended to undertake the following course/s at the same time as this course as it contains areas of knowledge and skills which are implemented together in practice. 

Alternatively, if you have the equivalent skills and knowledge covered in the above course/s you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.  

Please contact your course coordinator for further details.     


Course Description

This course will extend your knowledge of musculoskeletal physiotherapy by integrating anatomical, pathophysiological, biomechanical, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of Physiotherapy practice to effectively assess and manage Physiotherapy clinical cases. You will learn to apply clinical reasoning to hypothesise, rationalise and prescribe evidence-based interventions for Sport and Spinal presentations in community settings.  

In this course, you will also have an opportunity to extend your hands-on Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy assessment skills, practice manual therapy techniques and prescribe rehabilitative exercises within a simulated Sport and Spinal environment. 

You will be challenged to implement best practice client care, ensuring measurable effectiveness of implemented management strategies, adoption of a biopsychosocial approaches and best available research evidence to target client-centred goals. The implementation of strategies learnt will focus on return to sports and community activities, using validated outcome measures and digital health means. 

This course includes a work integrated learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/ or community is integral to your experience. 

Work Integrated Learning: 

EmpowEER Work Integrated Learning (Industry Partnered WIL) activities will be integrated into this course to align with RMIT Career Development Learning (CDL) that prepares graduates for work readiness through a pedagogy to Explore, Experience, and Engage: 

Students enrolled in this course will be required to be WIL passport ready to undertake placement as part of the assessment of the course.  A number of requirements must be met by students to ensure eligibility for placement.  Further details on each of these are available in Part B of the Course Guide and on MyRMIT.  

  • Police check  
  • Working with Children Check  
  • Annual TB screen, Influenza vaccination and STEM student immunisation form COVID vaccination certificates    
  • RMIT student deed (annual requirement)  
  • SHBS authorisation form   
  • NDIS worker screening check   

There is no flexibility with these requirements.  It is your responsibility to ensure these requirements are completed.  Any student who has not provided this information in full by the specified date will not be able to attend placement and will receive a fail grade for the placement course. A fail grade for the course will result in a delay in your program progression.  


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes 

This course contributes to the program learning outcomes for MC287 Master of Physiotherapy: 

PLO1: Apply the foundational knowledge of physiology, anatomy, and biomechanics to inform and guide the application of physiotherapy practice. 

PLO2: Apply physiotherapy skills to assess, treat and manage individuals safely and competently in accordance with legislative frameworks and ethical code of conduct across diverse health settings.  

PLO3: Evaluate and apply innovations in digital health and technology to support, advocate and advance physiotherapy practice. 

PLO5: Apply advanced research skills to critically appraise literature; interpret, analyse and synthesis findings for innovation and translation in physiotherapy practice. (K2, A3)  

PLO6: Apply communication skills based on evidence for collaborative decision-making, education and behaviour change to improve health outcomes.   

PLO7: Integrate cultural identity and values of respect and inclusion to effectively manage First Nations peoples and individuals from diverse backgrounds in health. 


Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:  

  1. Safely apply evidence-based Physiotherapy assessment techniques to Sport and Spinal presentations
  2. Design evidence-based Physiotherapy intervention plans for Sport and Spinal Physiotherapy settings, incorporating analysis of special investigation results and pathophysiology, while exemplifying responsible and collaborative practice. 
  3. Implement safe and effective Physiotherapy intervention to manage Sport and Spinal conditions using a variety of modalities including digital health and technology
  4. Evaluate the effectiveness of Physiotherapy interventions for Sport and Spinal presentations using validated outcome measures
  5. Proficiently communicate the theory, rationale, and intervention outcomes to stakeholders in a clear and effective manner within the context of sports and spinal physiotherapy 


Overview of Learning Activities

RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional practice. As a student enrolled in this program you will:  

  • Undertake and be assessed on structured activities that allow you to learn, apply and demonstrate your professional practice. 

  • Interact with industry and community when undertaking these activities 

  • Complete these activities in real work contexts or situations 

Students will be actively engaged in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, simulated clinical laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities.  

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially through the numerous sources available in the RMIT library, and via links and material specific to this course that is available through RMIT My Course. 

EmpowEER Work Integrated Learning (Industry Partnered WIL) activities will be integrated into this course to align with RMIT Career Development Learning (CDL) that prepares graduates for work readiness through a pedagogy to Explore, Engage and Experience: 

EmpowEER (Industry Partnered WIL) will be incorporated into this course via placement and learning activities that utilise a variety of settings such as simulation, supervised EmpowEER WIL immersive experiences or blended teaching and learning methods.  

RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional practice. As a student enrolled in this program you will:  

  • Undertake and be assessed on structured activities that allow you to learn, apply and demonstrate your professional practice. 
  • Interact with industry and community when undertaking these activities 
  • Complete these activities in real work contexts or situations 

You will undertake a Work Integrated Learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real workplace context. The EmpowEER Work Integrated Learning experience will be supervised by AHPRA-registered physiotherapists who will be responsible for feedback provision and examining your clinical competencies. 

The maximum duration of WIL based learning will be approximately 10 days across the semester (e.g., eight hours per week over 10 weeks as per the clinical supervisor's discretion). This WIL experience will be simulated and/or face-to-face placement at Physiotherapy settings such as private practice settings with clinical cases across lifespan in order to meet the requirements set by the Physiotherapy Board of Australia and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).  

All EmpowEER WIL-specific activities will be in compliance with university standards for responsible practice (inclusivity, health, safety, and well-being, cultural safety, accessibility, equity, and adjustments).   

All necessary RMIT EmpowEER WIL documentation must be completed as a credential prior to the commencement of WIL activities.  


Overview of Learning Resources

Each learning module contains core resources such as journal articles, videos, podcasts and other readings that students will require to complete the course successfully. Learning resources within this course will be clearly marked as ‘essential’ or ‘supplementary’. If the teaching team finds additional resources during course delivery that could be of interest for the cohort, this will be made available during the teaching period. 

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through RMIT My Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the RMIT My Course. 


Overview of Assessment

All Hurdle assessments are required to be completed for a pass mark in this course. This clinical course awards a pass or fail mark.   

All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching). 

Hurdle requirements are required in order to provide evidence of safe practice and compliance with professional standards of the accrediting organisation the Australian Physiotherapy Council. 

Assessment Task 1: Individual Quiz 

Weighting: 20% 

This assessment item supports CLO2 and CLO4 

Assessment Task 2: Practical examination 1 (EmpowEEr WIL-specific performance-based assessment comprising of clinical and professional skills) 

Weighting: 30%  

This assessment item supports CLO1-5 

Assessment Task 3: Practical examination 2 (Hurdle Requirement) 

Weighting: 50% 

This assessment item supports CLO1-5 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.