Overview
This paper is intended to provide practising physiotherapists with specific knowledge and skills to apply in occupational health practice, and includes the assessment, management, prevention and treatment of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and the role of government regulatory bodies and statutory authorities in occupational health practice.
This paper meets the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) vocational rehabilitation competencies.
About this paper
| Paper title | Occupational Health Physiotherapy |
|---|---|
| Subject | Physiotherapy |
| EFTS | 0.25 |
| Points | 30 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (Distance learning) |
| Delivery mode | The Distance Learning offering of this paper is taught and assessed remotely |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $3,486.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- PHTX 539
- Limited to
- MPhty, PGCertPhty, PGDipPhty
- Eligibility
Paper and qualifications restricted to practicing New Zealand registered physiotherapists with a current Annual Practicing Certificate issued by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand.
Paper runs subject to numbers.
- Contact
- physio.academic@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View further information about the School of Physiotherapy
- Teaching staff
Paper Co-ordinator: Elijah Areli
Teaching staff: Staff and guest lecturers with content specific knowledge contribute to this paper.
- Paper Structure
- Topics covered in this paper include:
- Ergonomics
- Worksite assessment
- Risk factors
- Injury prevention
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Management of persistent pain and disability
- Legislation
- Teaching Arrangements
This Distance Learning paper is taught remotely.
This paper is taught in modules with fortnightly audioconferences via Zoom.
- Textbooks
- No textbooks are required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
On completion of this paper students will be able to:
- Apply ergonomics principles in a worksite assessment
- Analyse a task and evaluate findings choosing appropriate worksite assessment tools
- Demonstrate an advanced ability to communicate information effectively
- Identify and critique risk factors that make a worker susceptible to discomfort, pain and injury (including biomechanical, psychosocial, cultural and environmental factors) and relate evidence on risk factors to occupational health physiotherapy practice
- Synthesise current injury prevention literature and formulate an injury prevention plan for a selected industry
- Analyse and synthesise current evidence on vocational rehabilitation and the role of occupational health team members
- Demonstrate awareness of current evidence on assessment and management strategies which are effective in the vocational rehabilitation of clients with persistent pain and disability
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of the current legislative, cultural and ethical framework under which occupational health practice in New Zealand operates
Overview
This paper is intended to provide practising physiotherapists with specific knowledge and skills to apply in occupational health practice, and includes the assessment, management, prevention and treatment of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and the role of government regulatory bodies and statutory authorities in occupational health practice.
This paper engages with and aligns to the key expectations and practices underpinning vocational rehabilitation within the ACC context.
About this paper
| Paper title | Occupational Health Physiotherapy |
|---|---|
| Subject | Physiotherapy |
| EFTS | 0.25 |
| Points | 30 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2027, expected to be offered in 2028 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- PHTX 539
- Limited to
- MPhty, PGCertPhty, PGDipPhty
- Eligibility
Paper and qualifications restricted to practicing New Zealand registered physiotherapists with a current Annual Practicing Certificate issued by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand.
Paper runs subject to numbers.
Enrolments for this paper require departmental permission. View more information about departmental permission.
- Contact
- physio.academic@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View further information about the School of Physiotherapy.
- Teaching staff
Paper Co-ordinator: Elijah Areli
Teaching staff: Staff and guest lecturers with content specific knowledge contribute to this paper.
- Paper Structure
Topics covered in this paper include:
- Ergonomics
- Worksite assessment
- Risk factors
- Injury prevention
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Management of persistent pain and disability
- Legislation
- Teaching Arrangements
This distance learning paper is taught remotely.
This paper is taught in modules with fortnightly audioconferences via Zoom.
- Textbooks
No textbooks are required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
On completion of this paper students will be able to:
- Apply ergonomics principles in a worksite assessment.
- Analyse a task and evaluate findings choosing appropriate worksite assessment tools.
- Demonstrate an advanced ability to communicate information effectively.
- Identify and critique risk factors that make a worker susceptible to discomfort, pain and injury (including biomechanical, psychosocial, cultural and environmental factors) and relate evidence on risk factors to occupational health physiotherapy practice.
- Synthesise current injury prevention literature and formulate an injury prevention plan for a selected industry.
- Analyse and synthesise current evidence on vocational rehabilitation and the role of occupational health team members.
- Demonstrate awareness of current evidence on assessment and management strategies which are effective in the vocational rehabilitation of clients with persistent pain and disability.
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of the current legislative, cultural and ethical framework under which occupational health practice in New Zealand operates.