Physiotherapy and Developmental Disorders of Children and Adolescents (5cr)

Objective

The students will:
- apply evidence-based knowledge when studying child and youth physiotherapy
- know the stages of growth and development in children and young people and apply theoretical knowledge to plan physiotherapy for children and adolescents
- know how to approach children and young people in a natural way and learn to observe and analyze their movement and function
- understand the importance of moving/exercise to the total development of children and young people
- learn to supervise children's play and exercise individually and in groups
- know/recognize common childhood and youth diseases and developmental disorders and understand their effects on the child's/adolescent's mobility and function
- apply various sports for special needs in practical guidance situations
- plan, implement and evaluate physiotherapy to promote children's and young people's mobility and function, while taking the family's needs and resources into consideration
- gain further knowledge of rehabilitation by studying the multiprofessional rehabilitation process of disabled children
- be familiar with the special features of adaptive aids for children and young people
-know how to use quantitative research data and analyse it using a statistical programme

Content

- Disorders of the nervous system and physiotherapy
- Disorders of the musculoskeletal system and physiotherapy
- Disorders of the respiratory and circulatory system and physiotherapy
- Mental disorders and physiotherapy
- Aids for disabled children

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students partly apply basic knowledge learnt earlier on normal child development and developmental disorders, but they need (some) support and guidance in assessing mobility and functional capacity of child/youth clients and in planning and implementing physiotherapy sessions. Students use limited theoretical knowledge to justify their choices. Under supervision they can find physiotherapy solutions in common work situations with children and young people. They evaluate their own competence from their own perspective/mechanically and discover some development needs. Students mostly know how to approach children and young people in a natural way and they can muster courage to interact with the families. Students are familiar with the main points in the system of rehabilitation services in Finland and they know how to refer families to use some of these services.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students apply knowledge learnt earlier on normal child development and developmental disorders to assess mobility and functional capacity of child/youth clients and to plan and implement physiotherapy sessions for children and young people. Students use theoretical knowledge to justify their choices. They can find physiotherapy solutions in common work situations with children and young people. They evaluate their own actions and discover development needs. Students know how to approach children and young people in a natural way and they take into consideration the family's needs and potential to support a child's ability to function. Students are familiar with the system of rehabilitation services in Finland and they know how to refer families to use some of these services.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Students apply knowledge learnt earlier on normal child development and developmental disorders to assess mobility and functional capacity of child/youth clients and to plan and implement wide-ranging, high quality physiotherapy sessions for children and young people. Students are able to justify their choices theoretically, based on evidence. They can find solutions for unexpected situations and they show initiative by evaluating their own actions and by proposing practicable improvements. Students know how to approach children and young people in a natural way and they demonstrate initiative and responsibility when considering/assessing the family's needs and potential to support a child's ability to function. Students are familiar with the system of rehabilitation services in Finland and they know how to refer families to use these services.