Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Program

This course addresses new advances in the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics. Latest concepts in socket design and components for all levels of Lower Extremity prosthetics are presented. Biomechanical principles underlying the application of latest prosthetics designs are addressed, taking into account a variety of patient scenarios. Recent trends in rehabilitation are also be explored. In addition, recent advances in Orthotics are explored, including demonstration and discussions with an Orthotist.

An elective course aimed at refining the student’s ability to critically examine and evaluate patients/clients with hand injury and/or dysfunction. The student will compare and contrast new examination and intervention techniques related to the hand, wrist, and forearm. The student will also have several opportunities to design intervention programs and prescribe upper extremity orthotics.

This course allows students to carry out independent study of a topic including literature review and or small projects under the guidance of close supervision of a faculty member.

Through clinical practice and participation in professional activities, students will be able to integrate clinical skills presented during course work into clinical practice, as well as enhance their awareness of Physical Therapy as a profession. The student will utilize reflection regarding their clinical work as a means of enhancing the educational experience, making on-going clinical practice an integral part of the curriculum. This is an elective course, which is part of the clinical reflection series, is designed as an independent study course, and is reviewed by the course coordinator. . The goal of this course is to provide continuity between Spring and Fall semesters and assist the student as they continue to integrate didactic information with clinical practice. It is intended for students who would like further feedback about the effect of their course work on their clinical practice. This is an optional course and like the other courses in the series is designed such that students will complete assignments throughout the curriculum at the end of the Summer semester. Every student in the Post Professional Touro College DPT Program is required to be a member in good standing of the American Physical Therapy Association (or other approved professional PT association). This requirement will be monitored during this course series.

This course is a hands-on course designed to provide the student with guidance and direction in comprehending therapeutic modalities and choosing appropriate modalities and parameters for a variety of patients and pathological conditions. Student will review the basic scientific and physiological principles underlining the application of physical agents Students will be able to effectively utilize therapeutic modalities to enhance therapeutic outcomes, recognize indications and contraindications and learn about current research supporting the use of therapeutic modalities in rehabilitation. The course will emphasize evidence based rationale for selecting a modality and for the interventions. Various types of symptom clusters will be presented and participants will be able to develop a highly effective treatment plan for specific conditions.

Through clinical practice and participation in professional activities, students will be able to integrate clinical skills presented during course work into clinical practice, as well as enhance their awareness of Physical Therapy as a profession. The student will utilize reflection regarding their clinical work as a means of enhancing the educational experience, making on-going clinical practice an integral part of the curriculum. This is an elective course, which is part of the clinical reflection series, is designed as an independent study course, and is reviewed by the course coordinator. . The goal of this course is to provide continuity in learning and assist the student as they continue to integrate didactic information with clinical practice. It is intended for students who would like further feedback about the effect of their course work on their clinical practice. This is an optional course, and like the other courses in the series, is designed such that students will complete assignments throughout the curriculum at the end of the semester. Every student in the Post Professional Touro College DPT Program is required to be a member in good standing of the American Physical Therapy Association (or other approved professional PT association). This requirement will be monitored during this course series.

This course is designed for graduate students in physical therapy who may require elective credits toward their degree. The role of nutrition and the decisions we make about the food we eat has a critical impact on our quality of life and risk of chronic disease. Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases and promote your overall health. Students will develop a basic understanding of nutrition with emphasis on human biological needs through the stages of life and the role nutrition plays in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This course will:

• Introduce students to the basic understanding of nutrition
• Help students to identify dietary sources, intake levels, physiological role and requirements of major nutrients
• The role of nutrition in growth and health through the life cycle
• The role of diet in the development of chronic disease, cancers, diabetes, etc.

This course is designed to help students develop an altruistic and socially responsible attitude as set forth by the APTA Core Values. It is designed to help students learn how to reach outside their clinic and make changes in their community. In this course, each student learns a variety of ways to develop wellness programs in their community. They are also challenged to be creative so that they can stand out in a competitive environment of practitioners. This course also introduces students to the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). In addition, Students in this course are required to search, read, and appraise peer reviewed articles pertaining to preventative medicine. The course analyzes different means of educating the public about wellness. Students will be aware of different platforms for education such as, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, podcasts, blogs, and videos.

This introductory spine course is designed to build basic didactic knowledge clinical skills relating to the evaluation and management of lumbar spine and pelvic girdle pain. An overview of the anatomy, arthrokinematics and pathomechanics of the articular, neural, and myofascial structures is included. With emphasis on current evidence and APTA Clinical Practice Guidelines, the student will be introduced to common clinical subjective and objective presentations related to specific dysfunctions of the spine and pelvic girdle as per these guidelines. Building on this understanding, the course provides ample lab time to equip the student with the basic psychomotor skills necessary to successfully evaluate, classify and treat/manage pain and dysfunction of the lumbar spine and pelvic girdle. At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to classify a patient in a general treatment category and manage patients seen in the clinic who present with impairment and functional limitations in the lumbar spine and pelvic girdle. 

Provides students with an in-depth review of the anatomy, physiology, arthrokinematics and pathomechanics of the foot and ankle, as related to the lower extremity kinetic chain. Emphasis is placed on the study of normal and abnormal mechanics of the foot and ankle in both the open and closed kinetic chains. Evaluation and treatment of various foot and ankle dysfunctions are included and students are introduced to current methodologies regarding the evaluation for and the fabrication of neutral subtalar orthotic devices.

This introductory cervical, thoracic spine and costal cage course is designed to build basic didactic knowledge and clinical skills relating to the evaluation and management of cervical, thoracic, and costal cage pain.  An overview of the anatomy, arthrokinematics and pathomechanics of the articular, neural, and myofascial structures is included.  With emphasis on current evidence and APTA Clinical Practice Guidelines, the student will be introduced to common clinical subjective and objective presentations related to specific dysfunctions of the cervical/thoracic spine and costal cage as per these guidelines. Building on this understanding, the course provides ample lab time to equip the student with the basic psychomotor skills necessary to successfully evaluate, classify and treat/manage pain and dysfunction of the cervical and thoracic spine and costal cage. After this course, students will be able to classify a patient in a general treatment category and manage patients seen in the clinic who present with impairment and functional limitations in this area.

This elective independent study course accommodates and encourages student interest in independent research and practice. In addition, it provides students with an opportunity for collaborative work with faculty or clinical mentors on research problems of common interest that can make contributions to the improvement of clinical practice in physical therapy.

Designed for graduate students in physical therapy who are preparing to work with older adults, this course provides the practitioner with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to assume an active role as a member of the health care team that makes decisions regarding the nutritional health of older individuals. The overall theme of the course is healthy aging, and the role of the health professional in helping older adults reach this goal through recommendation of appropriate dietary and exercise programs. This course presents the current thinking and emerging knowledge regarding the nutritional needs, problems and delivery of care in the aging. Where possible, both descriptive and experimental evidence are presented to encourage the therapist to evaluate critically the status of nutrient needs in older adults and to develop appropriate strategies to improve the nutritional health of older individuals. National statistics comparing the dietary, anthropometrics and biochemical status of aging populations in the United States are provided. New data from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals, conducted by the US Department of Agriculture, as well as the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey being conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services, are examined.

This course will address the evolution of sports physical therapy, and examine a physical therapist role on the sports medicine team. This course will emphasize examination, evaluation and intervention for dysfunction that occur in sports physical therapy. Emphasis will be placed on an understanding of the pathophysiological basis for musculoskeletal dysfunction and the integration of the therapeutic process for the restoration of function of the patient with dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. Recent trends in sport rehabilitation will be explored. This class presents the physical therapy student with the fundamental principles and concepts as they relate to sports musculoskeletal clinical practice and will progress to exposure to, and integration of, accepted intervention and advanced therapeutic techniques. Through lecture and problem solving sessions we will investigate all sports musculoskeletal practice.

Examines age-related changes in posture, balance, coordination and gait, and provides ways of documenting function in the clinic and home. Students explore a wide range of therapeutic exercises designed to improve mobility. Consideration of intrinsic and extrinsic causes of falls among the elderly suggests methods of changing both the environment and the ways that older persons perform, to reduce the likelihood of falls. Lifelong wellness programming and community resources are investigated. Evidence-based practice is emphasized.

This course is designed to update students on the emerging research in the field of pain science and pain education. It will also teach students how to apply research into their clinical practice. This course will help students understand the complexities of patients with chronic pain and help students learn how to treat this population more effectively. This course will challenge students to take into account the science behind the pain experience, the patient’s history, and the patient’s clinical presentation in order to improve their clinical reasoning when treating patients with chronic pain. The course will also include a lab component where students will implement regional interdependence principles, create treatment plans, and educational plans for their peers. The course in addition will include a cadaver portion where students can learn the impact of the nervous system anatomy and how it affects the pain experience. At the end of the course students will give a short presentation about how they will use the information from this course to treat a current patient of theirs. Students have the option to discuss a previous patient and how they would have treated that patient differently after taking this course.

This course addresses the evolution of the management and treatment of a patient following being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The goal of the course is to help a physical therapist in creating a unique approach as the patient goes through the different Hoehn and Yahr stages. Recent trends in rehabilitation will be explored. The most clinically significant current research will be discussed, and when appropriate demonstration with practice will be provided. Teaching will take place via lecture, group activity, literature search and laboratory practice, the student will learn the theories and applications of these processes.

This course is a clinical course designed to provide the PDPT student with the knowledge, skills, and analytical abilities to examine, evaluate, diagnose, formulate a plan of care with prognosis, and manage patients with integument disorders such as impaired integument integrity, burns, edema, and sensory deficits. A thorough exploration of connective tissue layers, connective tissue repair, and wound healing will precede discussion of the principles and techniques of wound care intervention, and ulcer prevention including self-care.

Lecture, demonstration, and group problem solving activities will help the student use critical thinking to synthesize available case information into a well-designed plan of care.

This course addresses the evolution of the management and treatment of a patient following the development of hemiplegia. The goal of the course is to help the physical therapist in creating a realistic and unique approach to treating an individual with hemiplegia. Recent trends in rehabilitation will be explored. The most clinically significant current research will be discussed, and when appropriate demonstration with practice will be provided. Teaching will take place via lecture, group activity, literature search and laboratory practice, the student will learn the theories and applications of these processes.

This course is designed to provide the student with guidance and direction in comprehending the scope of practice for the doctoral level physical therapist. Student will review the basic scientific principles related to histology, genetics, and the immune response. Special topics will include the physical therapist role in the treatment of pain and the appropriate evaluation of the body systems treated. Students will learn the importance of interprofessional development, consultation services, supervision and delegation of activities, and discharge planning. The course will emphasize evidence-based rationale for selecting appropriate objective tests and for potential interventions. Various types of symptom clusters will be presented, and participants will be able to develop a highly effective treatment plan for specific conditions.

As baby-boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, turn 65, the percentage of the U.S. population considered “older” continues to increase significantly. Older adults were 4% of the U.S. population in 1900, were greater than 14% in 2019, and are projected to be greater than 20% in 2026. The physical therapist can directly impact major public health concerns that often occur with ageing leading to improved health outcomes, and reducing overall healthcare costs. This course will present age-related changes and diseases conditions affecting both the neuromuscular and metabolic systems. The student will participate in interactive learning activities that will guide the development of proficiency in geriatric physical therapy assessment and intervention. Through lecture, laboratory, role playing, and group problem solving the student will learn to use critical thinking to analyze the problem presented, synthesize the solution, and communicate this sequence with other health professionals and patients or clients. Problems introduced are representative of those that clinicians encounter in all practice settings.