Requirements

The mission of the Arcadia University Orthopaedic Residency is to develop and produce expert physical therapists who provide best practice using evidence in the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and outcome of musculoskeletal conditions. Graduates of the residency will demonstrate orthopaedic competency in compliance with the Description of Specialty Practice and Description of Residency Practice in Orthopaedics as described by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). This planned program of post-professional clinical and didactic education is structured to advance the knowledge and skills of the physical therapist in musculoskeletal content. The program will work to guide and promote growth of physical therapy residents and faculty in orthopaedics through on-going continuous improvement and strategic initiatives. The residency will provide sufficient content, knowledge and skills to prepare students to sit for the orthopaedic clinical specialization examination offered by the American Physical Therapy Association’s Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

The didactic component of the program consists of six 2-credit courses. Two courses deal with general concepts relevant to the management of all musculoskeletal conditions. The remaining four courses are specific to certain regions of the body, and each includes relevant anatomy, biomechanics, imaging, medical screening as well as current best evidence related to examination and intervention with emphasis on the most prevalent conditions for each region. The regional course content includes a laboratory component for development of manual skills.

Laboratory Sessions: The courses in the program utilize a hybrid model of online learning with integrated manual skills laboratory sessions. The manual skills laboratory sessions will occur over 4 weekends per year. The program is highly interactive and capitalizes on the wealth of knowledge clinicians bring with them.

In addition, a mentoring component is required, which will be completed at the resident’s place of employment or alternative site under the guidance of a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist or equivalent advanced certification. The residency will culminate in the completion of a final capstone project.

Benefits to the resident include enhancing professional development, advancing knowledge and skill acquisition, and learning via direct mentoring. Opportunities exist to teach in the entry-level D.P.T. curriculum and to serve as mentors and lecturers for the residency curriculum upon completion of the residency.

The didactic curriculum for the Arcadia University Orthopaedic Residency program consists of at six 2-credit courses. There is no required course sequence. An additional 6 credits of independent study are required to reflect the mentoring process. (18 credits)

The primary goal of this certificate program is to prepare clinicians to practice musculoskeletal physical therapy using current evidence. Consistent with this goal, the program is designed to provide sufficient content, knowledge and skills to prepare students to sit for the orthopaedic clinical specialization examination offered by the American Physical Therapy Association’s Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

The curriculum consists of six 2-credit courses. Two courses deal with general concepts relevant to the management of all musculoskeletal conditions. The remaining four courses are regional and each includes relevant anatomy, biomechanics, imaging, medical screening as well as current best evidence related to examination and intervention with emphasis on the most prevalent conditions for each region. The regional courses include a laboratory component for development of manual skills.

Laboratory Sessions: The courses in the program utilize a hybrid model of online learning with integrated manual skills laboratory sessions. The manual skills laboratory sessions will occur over 4 weekends per year on campus. The program is highly interactive and capitalizes on the wealth of knowledge clinicians bring with them.

The curriculum for the Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Certificate program consists of at six 2-credit courses. There is no required course sequence. A minimum of 12 credits is required. (12 credits)