Musculoskeletal system diseases and rehabilitation

Module Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

In this module, the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation course aims to provide students with the key to an integrated methodological approach to the rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

The cornerstones of this type of intervention are:

1) prevention of musculoskeletal disorders

2) qualitative and quantitative assessment (instrumental or with scales) of potential and deficits in posture, voluntary movement, and locomotion.

3) development of a personalized rehabilitation program

Weekly frontal lessons with slides and videos. 

Sound basis  of Anatomy, physiology,  kinesiology and biomechanics

Lectures with slides and videos, according to the class schedule. Attendance is recommended.

1) Clinical assessment of the patient (head, trunk, upper and lower limbs), joint and muscle assessment.

2) Assessment of impairments according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

3) Rehabilitation of people with amputations.

Principles of amputation epidemiology and frequency of amputations. Prevention of amputations. Amputation levels. The stump (surgical preparation and bandaging). Postoperative pain, pain after healing, pain caused by the prosthesis, phantom limb pain. Principles of rehabilitation intervention (how to avoid muscle and tendon retractions, muscle strengthening and stretching, postures). Independence and transfers.

Gait rehabilitation. Principles of prosthetic structure (socket, liner, suspensory strap and pylon, mechanical components).

4) Fall Prevention

Falls: Anticipatory and feedback postural reactions, parachute reactions, fear-of-fall syndrome, fall prevention, walking aids, ADL aids, fall training.

5) Physical therapy:

Types of physical energy, ultrasound, sonophoresis, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, exogenous and endogenous thermotherapy,

cryotherapy, electrostimulation therapy (rectangular, faradic, exponential, triangular, exponential triangular),

Kotz currents, pain-relieving currents (TENS, single-phase diadynamic, diphase, interferential), TECAR therapy

(Capacitive-Resistive Energy Transfer)

6) Rehabilitation of patients with low back pain and hypomobility syndrome

Pain in rehabilitation-relevant conditions. Effect of pain on mobility. The vicious cycle of a

sedentary lifestyle. Principles of ergonomics. Treatment: rest, physical therapy, exercise, pharmacological therapy,

epidural infiltrations and injections, spinal orthoses (soft collars, rigid collars, fixed collars). Canvas corsets and metal

splints. Adapted Physical Activity (AFA).

7) Rehabilitation of knee. Knee anatomy. Anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Collateral ligament injuries. Causes of injuries. Clinical examination. Diagnostic process. Immediate treatment. Types of rehabilitation intervention. Arthrogenic muscle inhibition. Recovery times. Rehabilitation project objectives. Braces

8)Spinal Orthosis: Lumbar bands, collars, T35 hyperextension corset, canvas corsets, corset materials, MILWAUKEE orthopedic corset (characteristics and indications), La Padula – Sibilla corset (characteristics and indications), Lyon corset (characteristics and indications), Cheneau type corset (characteristics and indications), balanced static corset.

9) Limb Orthosis :  definition; orthosis terminology; orthosis elasticity; prefabricated leg-foot orthoses. Custom leg-foot orthoses (solid or hinged); hinge types (Tamarak or metal); spring orthoses; orthoses for foot drop due to lateral popliteal sciatic nerve injury; spiral orthoses; supramalleolar orthoses; positional orthoses; hand-wrist orthoses; elbow orthoses; shoulder orthoses; thumb orthoses; finger orthoses.

10) Observational analysis of gait and spatiotemporal parameters.

Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System 3e  Aut: Donald A.Neumann. PICCIN ed.

The rehabilitation of people with amputations. Alberto Esquenazi. 2004

ORTHOPEDIC REHABILITATION.S. Brent Brotzman, 2014

PHYSICAL AGENTS IN. REHABILITATION. Michelle H. Cameron. Saunders. 2017

Prosthetics and Orthotics for Physical Therapists .Edited By M. Jason Highsmith. 2025

Oral exam, also with the use of videos to be commented on by the student

How is observational gait analysis performed?

How can falls be prevented?

Education on the use of a lower limb prosthesis

How can amputations be prevented in diabetic patients?