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About Study Course

Credit points / ECTS:4 / 6
Course supervisor:Ruta Balode
Study type:Part time, Full time
Course level:Bachelor
Target audience:Rehabilitation
Language:Latvian
Branch of science:Clinical Medicine; Health Care

Objective

Part I: To obtain a comprehension of ergonomics in the context of physiotherapy, to develop skills to use knowledge of ergonomic postures/movements in order to apply an individual ergonomic consultation, while at the same time developing the skills to incorporate a scientific evidence into a decision-making process. As well as to develop the ability to be aware of one's posture/movement in the performance of various activities, encouraging a development of ergonomic professional habits.
Part II: To learn principles and develop skills in methods of patients' transfer as functional training in physiotherapy.

Prerequisites

Biomechanics of the myoskeletal system, normal physiology and anatomy, basics of physiotherapy: theory of motor control, normal motor development, understanding of movements and maintaining postures.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

Part I:
Describes ergonomics in the context of physiotherapy. Characterizes the basic principles of ergonomic counseling in physiotherapy. Describes ergonomic posture/movement during the performance of daily tasks (activities). Describes the factors that make up the posture/movement stereotype. Describes ergonomic risk factors in posture and movement, the principles of their modifications. Evidence-based physiotherapy methods to reduce ergonomic risks shall be described.
Part II:
Describe the objectives, basic principles and safety considerations of ergonomic and safe patient mobility (transfer) activities.
Describes ergonomic and safe mobility (transfer) activities (steps, variations) and the principles of their teaching.

Skills

Part I:
A student uses observation of a person's activities and analyzes the typical postures/movements; recognizes and explains the stereotype of the person's activities and the elements that determine it; identifies ergonomic risk factors; collects personal data with an interview; describes possible modifications to reduce risks; explains a decision-making process on recommendations, including scientific evidence; selects and makes appropriate recommendations; educates and teaches a person about the body awareness and control, and ergonomic movement habits; selects and teaches a person targeted therapeutic exercises and other methods to support an ergonomic performance of particualar activities and to promote healthy daily habits; educates and explains a person the expected impact and results to be achieved; plans a re-assessment to analyse goals attainment; selects and uses methods to promote a person's adherance and motivation.
Part II:
A student explains and uses appropriate patients transfer methods as functional training; chooses a patient transfer method in accordance with a goal to be achieved, a current situation (context) and personall factors; uses ergonomic own body postures/movment stereotypes when assisting patients transfer; educates a patient's family (relatives) and caregivers about the safe transfer methods; teaches and trains a patient's caregivers to assist during transfers using ergonomic principles and effective own body control; educates and teaches about possible environmental modifications and aids to promote an ergonomic transfer and its assistanc

Competence

Part I: A student conducts the individual ergonomic counseling in physiotherapy in different target groups and environments, to promote healthy daily habits and eliminating health risks. A student integrates elements of the individual ergonomic counseling into a physiotherapy treatment plan to achieve short- and/or long-term goals. A student develops evidence-based and person-centered recommendations on ergonomic solutions in the context of physiotherapy in different target groups and contexts.
Part II: A student selects appropriate transfer methods, as a functional training for achieving the set physiotherapy goals (achievable, significant, appropriate, measurable).

Study course planning

Planning period:Year 2024, Spring semester
Study programmeStudy semesterProgram levelStudy course categoryLecturersSchedule
Physiotherapy, RFFN4Bachelor’sRequiredRuta Balode
Physiotherapy, RFF4Bachelor’sRequiredRuta Balode, Daina Šmite