Academics · Academic Programme
Essential Requirements
The cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills every a.P.Th student must demonstrate to practice as a competent physiotherapist.
1. Cognitive Learning Skills
The student must demonstrate the ability to receive, interpret, remember, reproduce, and use information in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of learning to solve problems, evaluate work, and generate new ways of processing or categorizing similar information listed in course objectives.
2. Psychomotor Skills
2.1 Locomotion Ability
Get to lecture, laboratory, and clinical locations, and move within rooms as needed for changing groups, partners, and work stations. Move quickly in an emergency situation to protect the patient (e.g., from falling).
2.2 Manual Tasks
Maneuver another person's body parts to effectively perform evaluation techniques. Manipulate tools used for screening tests (cranial nerves, sensation, ROM, blood pressure — cotton balls, safety pins, goniometers, Q-tips, sphygmomanometer). Safely guide, facilitate, inhibit, and resist movement using facilitation/inhibition techniques.
Perform transfers, gait training, positioning, exercise, and mobilization techniques. Use equipment (bolsters, pillows, plinths, mats, assistive devices, chairs) effectively.
Competently perform and supervise cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
2.3 Fine Motor / Hand Skills
Record thoughts clearly in assignments and tests; document evaluations, patient care notes, and referrals in standard medical charts.
Safely apply and adjust therapeutic equipment controls.
Properly position hands and apply mobilization and therapeutic techniques.
3. Visual Acuity
- Read English material (lecture notes, textbooks, charts)
- Observe classroom demonstrations
- Interpret training videos, slides, X-rays, and board notes
- Observe patient movement, posture, gait, body mechanics
- Monitor treatment environment (devices, furniture, equipment)
- Recognize patient response (facial expressions, muscle twitching, withdrawal)
4. Auditory Acuity
- Hear lectures and classroom discussions
- Distinguish normal/abnormal breathing, lung and heart sounds using a stethoscope
5. Communication Skills
- Communicate effectively with students, teachers, patients, and staff
- Interpret written communication in academic and clinical settings
- Communicate in emergencies efficiently
- Communicate clearly in English (oral and written)
6. Self Care
Maintain good health and self-care to ensure safety of self and others in academic and clinical settings. Physical and mental wellness is integral to professional practice.
7. Affective Learning Skills
- Show respect to all individuals without bias (age, race, gender, lifestyle, etc.)
- Maintain appropriate emotional and professional behavior at all times
- Respect individual values and foster teamwork among peers and colleagues