Current Concepts in Upper Limb Rehabilitation

Program Overview

The "Current Concepts in Upper Limb Rehabilitation" module provides AHPs in the Musculoskeletal field with advanced knowledge to manage complex upper limb conditions. It covers themes such as exercise therapy, pain management, tendinopathy, complex injury management, and biopsychosocial approaches. Assessment includes an evidence-based proposal and an oral presentation, fostering critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Title: Current Concepts in Upper Limb Rehabilitation
• Module Code: SE783
• Module Credits: 15 credits
• Module Level: Level 7
• Start Date: 02 June 2025
• Location: Colchester Campus
• Target Audience: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) working within the Musculoskeletal (MSK) field (including Hand Therapy) wishing to gain a greater understanding of current concepts in upper limb rehabilitation.
• Target Audience (Specific): Clinicians working in primary, secondary, and tertiary care.
• Objectives:
• Critical evaluation of personal professional practice informed by current evidence.
• Application of advanced clinical reasoning to manage complex presentations and individuals within a biopsychosocial model and considering the wider determinants of health.
• Capability providing and modifying a range of person-centred interventions which may include traditional therapies (exercise prescription, pain management modalities, splinting, manual therapies) but also lifestyle advice and appropriate referral to other specialities or agencies.
• Themes Covered:
• Upper limb versus lower limb – implications for rehabilitation.
• Graded motor imagery and sensorimotor approaches.
• Exercise therapy.
• Pain management and the upper limb.
• Tendinopathy and tendon management.
• Managing complex injury.
• Managing complex patients (challenging thoughts and behaviours, biopsychosocial model, wider determinants of health).
• Current concepts in management of arthropathies.
• Work related upper limb disorders.
• Orthopaedics and trauma.
• Protocol and pathway driven care models.

Assessment:

• Assessment Strategy: 100% coursework consisting of:
• 3000 word written evidence-based proposal for integrating new management modality into practice.
• A case-based oral presentation of no more than 15 minutes.