Course Objectives
Each course module has speific objectives to complete. Scroll below to see what each objective will cover.
Regulations
- Discuss the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., position on physical agent modality use and educational preparation
- Identify your state’s regulatory agencies which govern the use of physical agents by occupational therapy practitioners and read the rules and regulations

Superficial Anatomy
- Define the normal anatomy of the skin
- Describe the somatosensory system
- List the function of normal skin
- Detail the affects of aging on the sensory system

Wound Healing
- Classify types of soft tissue injuries
- Address the three phases of repair (inflammation, proliferation, and maturation)
- Discuss the cellular processes occurring in each phase
- Review appropriate intervention methods based on research findings
- Describe complications that interfere with normal healing

Pain Theory and Perception
- Define the type or category of pain
- Describe primary causes of the pain
- List the factors that contribute to pain
- Discuss assessment and intervention strategies available for the pain conditions
- Describe other medical or psychosocial conditions which should influence the choice of treatment of pain conditions

Cryotherapy
- List the biophysical and biophysiological changes which occur with Cryotherapy
- Identify the indications, contraindications and precautions for the application of cold agents
- Demonstrate the clinical reasoning involved in the application of cold agents
- Identify commonly used types of cold agents
- Describe the application procedures for each cold modality presented in this module
- Discuss appropriate patient education procedures for safe application of cryotherapy agents
- Discuss essential elements of documentation for cryotherapy agents

Superficial Heat Agents
- Define the term superficial thermal agent
- Differentiate between the two commonly used methods of heat transfer: conduction and convection
- Discuss the four biophysical effects of heat
- Describe the physiologic response to tissue secondary to temperature elevation
- Differentiate between mild, moderate and vigorous dosages of heat
- List indications, precautions, and contraindications that should be considered when using superficial thermal agents
- Describe the proper clinical applications for hot packs, paraffin bath, fluidotherapy, light, whirlpool, and contrast bath
- Discuss appropriate patient education procedures for safe application of superficial thermal agents
- Discuss essential elements of documentation for superficial thermal agents

Deep Heat Modalities
- Discuss the theory and rationale for the application of therapeutic deep thermal modalities (such as ultrasound, low level laser therapy [LLLT], diathermy, and phonophoresis)
- Outline and differentiate between the parameters for therapeutic ultrasound
- Outline current research trends in the utilization of deep thermal modalities
- Demonstrate clinical decision making in the determination of the appropriate treatment parameters for deep thermal modalities
- Discuss the clinical procedures for the application of deep thermal modalities
- Present guidelines for the safe use of deep thermal modalities stating contraindications and precautions for treatment
- Discuss appropriate patient education procedures for safe application of deep thermal agents. discuss essential elements of documentation for deep thermal agents

Principles of Electrotherapy
- Identify the relationship between technical terminology and sensory responses
- Describe the biophysical and biophysiological changes associated with electrotherapy
- Discuss the available parameters of electrical stimulation devices\describe the principles and concepts of electricity
- Identify the physiological effects of electrical stimulation using alternating current, direct current, and pulsatile current

TENS
- Define the therapeutic goals of electrical therapy
- Identify the physiological events associated with electrical stimulation
- Define the distinguishing characteristic and indications and contraindications of electrical stimulation
- Distinguish the physiological effects of various parameters of electrical stimulation (voltage, type, dosage, duty cycle, etc.)
- Discuss the therapeutic relationship of electrotherapy with other therapeutic procedures
- Discuss appropriate patient education procedures for safe application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
- Discuss essential elements of documentation for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

NMES
- Describe the clinical application of electrical stimulation in rehabilitation
- Outline and discuss the clinical reasoning process used to determine selection of NMES and appropriate parameters
- Describe the intervention parameters of therapeutic electrical currents for re-education, strengthening, spasticity reduction, FES, etc
- Identify the biophysiological responses to electrical currents for alternating and direct current modalities
- Discuss the indications and contraindications for NMES use
- Identify appropriate electrode placement for various intervention protocols
- Discuss appropriate patient education procedures for safe application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation
- Discuss essential elements of documentation for neuromuscular electrical stimulation

Iontophoresis
- Describe the clinical applications for iontophoresis
- Discuss the biophysiology and mechanism related to transdermal delivery of medication
- Identify common medications used in iontophoresis and their pharmacological characteristics
- Outline clinical decision making regarding iontophoresis, indications and precautions
- Discuss appropriate patient education procedures for safe application of iontophoresis
- Discuss essential elements of documentation for iontophoresis

Pharmacology
- Discuss the following processes in pharmacokinetics: absorption, distribution, and metabolism
- Explain the processes of pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics as it pertains to routine drugs used in Phonophoresis and Iontophoresis
- Discuss the effects of physical agents, exercise, and manual techniques on pharmacokinetics
- Discuss the aging process as it relates to pharmacokinetics
