University of Padova (Italy)

Degree Course in Physiotherapy

STANDARD PROGRAM

Professor/Lecturer:

Teaching: Professional therapeutic practice in growing children rehabilitation

ECTS: 6 lessons hours: 60 homework hours:

Prerequisites / Knowledge about Neurologic Clinic and Child Neuropsychiatry
Knowledge and skills learning targets / Students will achieve knowledge that are preparatory for stage:
-  Clinical characteristics of different pathological pictures
-  Basic principles of therapeutic intervention in growing children rehabilitation (assessment, rehabilitative project’s definition, therapeutic instruments).
This course aims to promote clinical reasoning (observation and generation of therapeutic hypothesis) and research.
Assessment mode / They will be indicated by the teacher at the beginning of the course
Evaluation criteria / They will be indicated by the teacher at the beginning of the course
Contents / GENERAL ISSUES
- Comparison between normal and pathological neuro-motor development
- Clinic of neuro-motor disease: cerebral palsy; psycho-motor retardation; premature and preterm newborn:
·  Principal issues of pathological pictures
·  Other elements of neuro-motor disease with rehabilitative interest:
o  Neuropsychological (attention, memory, time and space organization, body scheme structuration, graph)
o  Perception
o  Praxia
o  Deglutition, phonation and breathing
- Approaching child with neurologic damage (relation between affective, cognitive and motor functions)
- Basic information of main genetic syndromes (Down, Prader Willy, Cornelia De Lange, Rett, Angelman)
ASSESSMENT
- Observation’s method in growing children (child and family, play, setting)
- Specific assessment’s instrument for neuro-motor pathologies:
·  Global observation (interaction, motivation, relationship, comprehension, communication..)
·  Observation of motility and compensation (spontaneous motility, postural passages, balance, perception, strength, muscular length, tone, grab, ..)
·  Functionalities’ observation (movements, autonomy, communication, praxia and manual skills, …)
·  Basic information about validated assessment’s scale for growing children (global motility: GMMF; functionality: WEE-FIM; Manipulation: BESTA; Tone’s assessment: ASHWORTH’S SCALE)
INSTRUMENTS OF INTERVENTION
- Historical information about main neuro-motor methods (Bobath - Vojita - Doman Delacato – Cognitive therapeutic exercise).
- Neuro-developmental treatment with Bobath’s method.
- Principles of Vojta’s method.
- Play and rehabilitative setting.
- Basic principles of neuro-motor treatment in Cerebral Pasly (integration of techniques and instruments).
- Integrated and personalized therapeutic project in growing children.
PRESENCE OF DIFFERENT PROFESSIONISTS
- Treatment’s areas: neuro psychomotility, occupational therapy, speech therapy and neuropsychology, educational area.
- Parents/caregivers role in rehabilitative intervention.
SETTING TREATMENT IN FOLLOWED PATHOLOGIES:
- Tethered cord
- Neuromuscular disease
- Severe acquired brain lesion
- Secondary deformation of spine in a complex pathology
- Lesion of brachial plexus
- Club foot
- Rheumatic diseases
- Torticollis
- Plagiocephaly
- Paediatric oncology
- Rehabilitative implication of pharmacologic and surgical instruments (muscles relaxant drugs, botulinum toxin, rhizotomy, baclofen pump, ...)
- Principles of treatment pre and post orthopaedic and neurologic surgery
- Principles of paediatric respiratory rehabilitation in complex pathology
- Aids and orthesis for growing children: posture, movement, communication, learning, autonomy.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods / They will be indicated by the teacher at the beginning of the course
Further guidance on study materials / They will be indicated by the teacher at the beginning of the course
References / They will be indicated by the teacher at the beginning of the course