Program Overview
CHIR2103 Chiropractic Sciences 3
Unit Description
This unit provides an introduction to biomechanics of the lumbar spine, pelvis, and lower extremities. Clinical application of biomechanical concepts will relate to the skills of patient observation, joint range of motion assessment, tissue palpation, and muscle testing. Clinical reasoning will begin whereby students will learn to reconcile pathomechanics with clinical findings for musculoskeletal injuries. Psychomotor skills will be introduced and developed for chiropractic techniques and joint manipulation skills of the lumbar spine and lower extremity.
General Information
- Credit points: 10
- Prerequisites: Admission to BChiroSc and (CHIR1101 or CHIR113) and (CHIR1102 or CHIR114)
- Corequisites: None
- Co-badged status: None
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe biomechanics of the lumbar spine and pelvis, joints of the lower extremities, and gait.
- Demonstrate respect and empathy for patients while performing physical assessment techniques for the lumbar spine, pelvis, and lower extremities.
- Perform chiropractic techniques and joint manipulation skills on the lumbar spine and lower extremity with precision.
- Demonstrate basic clinical reasoning by applying knowledge of lumbopelvic and lower extremity pathomechanics to interpret information derived from a physical assessment.
Assessment Tasks
- Portfolio (20%): Create a portfolio containing video recordings of chiropractic techniques, reflections on chiropractic skills, and quizzes related to biomechanics and clinical reasoning.
- Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) (40%): Demonstrate competency in performing chiropractic techniques.
- Final examination (40%): A written test assessing all theoretical material for the unit.
Delivery and Resources
As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in online and face-to-face learning activities, including online lecture modules, hands-on tutorials, readings, and video resources. Recommended readings include:
- Oatis, C. A. (2016). Kinesiology: the mechanics and pathomechanics of human movement (Third edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.
- Comparative Kinesiology of the Human Body: Normal and Pathological Conditions, edited by Salih Angin, and Ibrahim Simsek. Elsevier Science & Technology, 2020.
Unit Schedule
Tutorial classes will be held in the Chiropractic Skills Laboratories, Level 3, 11 Wallys Walk. The schedule includes:
- Week 1: Introduction to Clinical Biomechanics
- Week 2-12: Various topics including lumbar, pelvis, hip, knee, ankle/foot structure and function, and clinical assessment.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Changes from Previous Offering
The unit has undergone several changes, including reducing the number of summative assessment tasks from four to three and redeveloping existing assessments to better align with the unit's learning outcomes.
Inclusion and Diversity
Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life, and flourish in their chosen field.
Professionalism
In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all courses. Students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions and show respect for their peers, ensuring a disruption-free learning environment.