| Effective Term: | 2027/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Complex Spine and Pain Presentations |
| Unit ID: | NHPPS3115 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (NHPPS4001 or NHPPS4101) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 061701 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
The unit will focus on the theoretical and biological principles that guide and justify the assessment of factors influencing pain. Further, the unit will focus on interventions which include working with people to manage the challenges associated with their pain. The unit emphasises integration of pain sciences into clinical reasoning models used to manage common clinical pain states, including spinal pain. Student will have the opportunity to further develop and refine their manual skills commonly used to manage spinal pain. This unit builds on the knowledge and skills acquired from previous learning and will draw together biopsychosocial knowledges and selected psychomotor skills to clinically reason through the complexity of the pain experience, from acute through to persistent pain scenarios. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| Skills: |
| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| Other outcomes: |
| O1. | Critically evaluate the multifaceted contributors to chronic pain, including biopsychosocial, pathophysiological and contextual factors, and integrate these into culturally safe, trauma-informed physiotherapy practice. |
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| O2. | Select and apply valid, reliable measures to assess pain and related impairments across diverse presentations, and interpret findings to inform clinical reasoning. |
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| O3. | Justify the selection, timing and application of various physiotherapy approaches, including manual therapy, pain neuroscience education and therapeutic exercise, based on contemporary evidence and individual patient context. |
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| O4. | Demonstrate safe and effective manual therapy techniques and advanced therapeutic communication, including shared decision-making and pain neuroscience education, tailored to diverse chronic pain presentations. |
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| O5. | Develop, implement and evaluate collaborative, evidence-based management plans aimed at modifying pain, promoting recovery and improving function, in partnership with patients and relevant health professionals. |
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| Unit Content: |
Understanding Pain: Definitions and Models
Types and Mechanisms of Pain
Neuroanatomy and Neuroimmune Interactions
Psychosocial Influences on Pain
Assessment and Management of Persistent Pain
Safety and Risk Considerations in Manual Therapy
Manual Therapy in Pain Management |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations. | | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 5
sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | Professional Standards |
| 1. |
1, 3, 5 |
Patient education resource |
Digital presentation |
30-40% |
1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2 |
| 2. |
3, 4 |
Skill Demonstration |
Practical Assessment |
20-30% |
1.2, 2.1, 4.5, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 |
| 3. |
1, 2, 3, 5 |
Case Presentation |
Oral Viva |
35-45% |
1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1 |
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