Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 1 unit (CXA753)

Launceston

Introduction

You will build on the foundational knowledge and skills introduced in units CXA751 Fundamentals of Physiotherapy and CXA752 Physiotherapy Foundations Practice, and continue to focus on key principles of professional practice, structured around the threshold concept. These principles encompass the application of clinical reasoning and decision-making models, the biopsychosocial model, person-centered practice, evidence-based practice, reflective practice, critical thinking, and interprofessional collaboration and communication. You are expected to synthesize and apply new knowledge and skills in response to clients with clinical neuro-musculoskeletal conditions. This knowledge is integrated into relevant physiotherapy practice models and frameworks, aligning with the fundamental principles of physiotherapy assessment and treatment.

You will develop specific physiotherapy clinical knowledge and skills pertaining to the analysis of etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and the common conservative and surgical management of common neuro-musculoskeletal conditions. Practical psycho-motor skills related to standard subjective and objective assessments are developed and practiced in simulated settings.

Summary

Unit name	Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 1
Unit code	CXA753
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Health School of Health Sciences
Discipline	Health Sciences
Coordinator	Doctor Nagarajan Manickaraj
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Launceston	Semester 1

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	22/2/2026	16/3/2026	19/4/2026	13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and conservative and surgical management for common neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.
• Apply anatomy and physiology knowledge, to relevant neuro-musculoskeletal conditions and their radiological presentation.
• Perform safe, effective physiotherapy assessment, outcome measurement, and treatment procedures specific to common neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.
• Interpret neuro-musculoskeletal dysfunction in relation to underlying impairments and use structured clinical reasoning processes to plan and implement evidence-based physiotherapy interventions.
• Apply research methodology and evidence-based practice skills to appraise and synthesise research evidence specific to assessment and/or treatments of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions and relate it to attributes of life-long learning and ongoing professional development.

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
061701	$1,192.00	$1,192.00	not applicable	$2,919.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

CXA751 Fundamentals of Physiotherapy|CXA752 Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Workshop (5hrs x 10 times), Independent Learning (4hrs x 10 times), Workshop (7hrs x 5 times)
Assessment	OSCE - Physiotherapy Skill Performance|Oral Presentation: Appraising the Quality of Research Evidence (20%)|Applied Clinical Reasoning and Designing Impairment-Based Physiotherapy Treatment and Interventions (40%)|Four Quizzes (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

You will be able to access the topic-specific reading links embedded into MyLO – this will include mandatory reading to complete related activities on each topic, as well as optional reading lists.

Recommended

You will have access to the following books that might be useful to expand your knowledge and understanding of the content of this unit. These textbooks are available for a limited loan period from the University Library collections. •    David, M., James, Z., William, Q., Robert, M., 2016. Pathology and Intervention in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 2nd Ed. Elsevier. •    Elly H. and Kevin A., 2013. Maitland’s Vertebral Manipulations. Management of Musculoskeletal disorders – Vol 1. 5th Ed. Elsevier. •    Elly H. and Kevin A., 2013. Maitland’s Peripheral Manipulations. Management of Musculoskeletal disorders – Vol 2. 5th Ed. Elsevier. •    Jull, G., Moore, A., Falla, D., Lewis, J., McCarthy, C. and Sterling, M., 2015. Grieve's Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, 4th edition. Elsevier. •    David, M. and Robert, M., 2018. Orthopedic Physical Assessment. 7th Ed. Elsevier. •    Brukner, P., Clarsen, B., Cook, J., Cools, A., Crossley, K., Hutchinson, M., McCrory, P., Bhar, R. and Khan, K., 2017. Brukner & Khan’s Clinical Sports Medicine: Injuries, Volume 1. 5th Ed. McGraw Hill. •    Biel, A. and Dorn, R., 2014. Trail guide to the body: How to locate muscles, bones, and more, 5th Ed. Andrew Biel. •    Butler, D.S. and Moseley, G.L., 2013. Explain Pain. 2nd Ed. Noigroup publications. •    Kisner, C., Colby, L. and Borstad, JC., 2018. Therapeutic Exercise: Foundation and Techniques. 7th Ed. McGraw Hill. •    Kim D. and Amy K.S., 2018. Therapeutic Exercise Prescription. 1st Ed. Elsevier. •    Kate Woolf-May., 2006. Exercise Prescription – The Physiological Foundation: A guide for health, sports and exercise professionals. 1st Ed. Elsevier. •    John, D., Stanley, M., Erwin, G., 2013. The Physiological Basis of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2nd Ed. Butterworth-Heinemann.  •    Leon, C. and Judith, D., 2011. Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques: Volume 2 The Lower Body, 2nd Ed. Churchill Livingstone. Elsevier.  •    Thuy, B. and Clint, B. Length, Strength, and Kinesio Tape., 2016. Muscle testing and Taping interventions, 1st Ed. Elsevier. •    Tim Watson., 2008. Electrotherapy: Evidence based practice. 12th Ed. Churchill Livingstone. Elsevier

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