Physical Medicine The physical medicine curriculum guides students to an understanding of the relationships between structural distortion and physiological dysfunction. Students are exposed to an assortment of techniques and assessment procedures that are diverse in their directness, intensity, origin and conceptual framework.
to the diagnosis of common orthopedic conditions. Palpation skills are integrated with history-taking and physical examination procedures. The course emphasizes critical clinical thinking and diagnosis. Students learn by practicing on each other while being guided in hands-on labs. Prerequisites: PHM 416/426/436, BAS 410/420/432 Corequisite: PHM513
PHM 412 – Hydrotherapy
PHM 523 – Physiotherapy Lecture
(1 lecture credit with 1 lab credit) This is a combined lecture/lab course covering the history, principles and procedures of using water for healing. Students learn procedures by administering and receiving treatments in the lab setting. Prerequisite: NPH 410
PHM 416/426 – Palpation Lab I, II
(1 lab credit each) In this lab course, students are taught surface anatomy and palpation techniques. The course is structured to allow for supervised hands-on practice in class. Students practice palpation on each other. This course solidifies the knowledge learned in Musculoskeletal Anatomy and prepares the student for courses in physical diagnosis, orthopedics, and naturopathic manipulative therapies. Prerequisites: PHM 401E, concurrent enrollment in BAS 410/420
PHM 436 – Introduction to Biomechanics and Orthopedics
(2 lecture credits) This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of spinal, pelvic and extremity biomechanics, and also acquaints the student with orthopedic clinical principles and assessment. Fundamental concepts and skills are addressed and provide the student with a foundational knowledge that is developed with future instruction in Orthopedics and the Naturopathic Manipulative Therapeutics course series. Prerequisites: PHM416/426, BAS 410/411/420/421, BAS 412/422/432
PHM 513 – Orthopedics
(2 lecture credits) This course addresses the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, physical examination and diagnosis of a wide variety of orthopedic conditions commonly treated in a physician’s office. The course runs concurrently with PHM513L Orthopedics Lab. Prerequisites: PHM 416/426/436, BAS 410/420/432
PHM 513L – Orthopedics Lab
(1 lab credit) In this lab course students learn examination skills leading
(2 lecture credits) This course covers the physics, physiology, indications, contraindications, and practical application of the major physiotherapy modalities. Students learn how to utilize energy in the form of heat, cold, water, electrical currents, sound, electromagnetic radiation, light, and mechanical traction to aid in restoration of the patient’s physiological balance. Prerequisites: PHM 436, PHM 416/426, PHM 513/513L
PHM 523L – Physiotherapy Lab
(1 lab credit) In this lab course students learn the application of each of the physiotherapy modalities. Critical clinical thinking is emphasized through case presentations and discussion about treatment rationale for each modality. Students learn to apply each modality by way of guided hands-on practice with each other. Prerequisites: PHM 436, PHM 416/426, PHM 513/513L Corequisite: PHM523
PHM 533/613/623/633/713 – Naturopathic Manipulative Therapeutics/Orthopedic Synthesis Lab I-V
This series of lab courses refines, integrates, and expands upon the concepts and procedures of previous courses in biomechanics, palpation, physiotherapy and orthopedics. Students learn to assess and treat soft tissue and joint dysfunctions using gentle, effective and efficient manual techniques. These techniques are drawn from naturopathic, osteopathic, chiropractic and physical therapy sources, and are based on the most advanced models and understanding of soft-tissue and joint dysfunctions. Students learn by assessing and treating each other during guided hands-on practice with an emphasis on safety. Critical clinical thinking is emphasized through case presentations, history-taking, physical examination procedures, and by formulating a working diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Treatment is addressed from the perspective of integrating naturopathic therapeutic modalities including manual structural approaches, botanicals, homeopathy, nutrition and therapeutic exercise. This series of labs addresses naturopathic manipulative therapeutics and orthopedics on a regional basis. 2012–2013 Catalog | Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
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