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Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Skills

  • 52.5 hours
  • 6 days, plus independent study to prepare for exam (if applicable)

Overview

This six-day course explores the role of the advanced cardiorespiratory physiotherapist.

It covers skills and techniques, theoretical concepts, clinical reasoning and the evolving body of knowledge from current evidence.

You'll also learn about:

  • evidence-based practice, in light of changing healthcare policies
  • causes of cardiopulmonary dysfunction 
  • implications of different pathological states to modifications in practice

This course is run by UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (GOS ICH), with lectures delivered by internationally recognised experts in physiotherapy practice.

Course content

Topics covered vary from year to year, but generally include:

  • patient examination and assessment techniques, including thoracic imaging
  • advanced physiotherapy skills, techniques and adjuncts
  • clinical reasoning, integration of evidence
  • use of manual, mechanical and exercise techniques, including positioning
  • outcome measures
  • the cardiopulmonary system in the context of neurological pathology, for example head or spinal cord injury
  • medical and surgical problems including chronic lung disease, acute lung injury, sepsis and multi-organ failure, physiological effects of anaesthesia
  • physiological basis for excess bronchial secretions, mucociliary clearance and the properties of sputum, airway clearance techniques
  • breathing strategies, breathlessness and dysfunctional breathing, including management
  • cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, including exercise in the critically ill
  • thoracic and cardiac surgery, including transplantation
  • ventilatory support, sleep and positive pressure ventilation, including lung protection strategies non-invasive ventilation
  • extended scope practice
  • clinical cases and problems
  • the cardiopulmonary system in the context of musculoskeletal problems, for example musculoskeletal thoracic pain, or problems resulting from chronic cardiorespiratory conditions

Who this course is for

You'll need to be a qualified physiotherapist, with a degree in physiotherapy at least equivalent to a lower second class Bachelor's degree.

Teaching, structure and assessment

This course runs over six days (Tuesday to Tuesday, with no teaching on Saturday or Sunday).

There'll be a combination of face-to-face lectures, workshops and seminars. There’ll also be online learning activities which you’ll need to complete.

You can take it as:

  • a standalone short course for CPD purposes (with certificate of attendance)
  • a 'taster module' earning UCL credits towards an MSc or diploma

The taster module will be assessed by an unseen three-hour written exam.

Find out more about the difference between advanced physiotherapy short courses and taster modules on the GOS ICH website. 

Cost

The fees are:

  • £900 - short course
  • £950 - taster module

How to apply

You can download the application form from the GOS ICH website.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

  • demonstrate and discuss patient assessment and examination techniques, including a systematic approach to physiotherapy assessment in both the acute and community setting
  • explain the physiological basis for excess bronchial secretions, the properties of sputum and mucociliary clearance
  • demonstrate and describe the role of the physiotherapist in adult cardiorespiratory care, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, including exercise in the critically ill and physiotherapy concepts related to thoracic and cardiac surgery, including transplantation
  • select, justify and apply appropriate physiotherapy techniques including manual, mechanical and exercise prescription
  • understand the application and use of non-invasive ventilation in patients with neuromuscular disorders
  • demonstrate an understanding of breathing strategies, including the management of breathlessness and dysfunctional breathing.
  • demonstrate an understanding of ventilatory support, sleep and positive pressure ventilation, including lung protection strategies and non-invasive ventilation.

Course team

Professor Eleanor Main

Professor Eleanor Main

Eleanor is Professor of Physiotherapy at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and Course Director for the Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and MSc in Physiotherapy. She’s also Honorary Clinical Scientist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and on the European Respiratory Society's physiotherapy task force 'Harmonised Education in Respiratory Medicine for European Specialists (HERMES)'.

Her research interests include paediatric physiotherapy interventions and clinical outcome measures, cardiorespiratory physiotherapy (including ICU and on-call services), and cystic fibrosis (including airway clearance and exercise, bronchiectasis, gait analysis and haemophilia).

Course information last modified: 30 Nov 2022, 16:00