Instructor: Edmund M. Kosmahl, PT, EdD.

• Office: Leahy 1010 - Phone: 941-4314
• office hours posted on door (or see "Schedule" posted on web site)
• e-mail: kosmahle1@scranton.edu
• web home page: http://academic.uofs.edu/faculty/kosmahle1/default.htm

See Downloadable Syllabus

Leahy 1006 and 014

This course provides the student with the knowledge and skills required to practice industrial (occupational health) physical therapy. Emphasis is placed on evaluation, treatment and restoration of functional capability. Prevention of injury in the workplace is considered. The therapist's role as educator for the prevention of industrial injuries is discussed.

Course Objectives: (indexed to Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation of Education Programs for the Preparation of Physical Therapists, CAPTE, Effective 1/1/98)

By the end of this course the student will be able to:

1. Understand the role of the occupational health physical therapist.
2. Understand the key titles and definitions of the Americans with Disabilities Act as they relate to occupational health physical therapy.
3. Perform a job/site/task analysis and identify essential functions and critical job demands. (3.8.3.16.g – Examination . . . work barriers).
4. Perform a lift task analysis. (3.8.3.16.h – Examination . . . ergonomics and body mechanics).
5. Develop a job description based on essential functions and critical job demands. (3.8.3.43 – Administration . . . Participate in management planning as required by the practice setting).
6. Perform a functional capacity evaluation. (3.8.3.16.h – Examination . . . ergonomics and body mechanics).
7. Develop and implement a work hardening program based upon the results of functional capacity evaluation, job/site/task analysis, and job description. (3.8.3.28.d – Plan of Care . . . Intervention . . . functional training in community and work reintegration).
8. Identify behavioral issues, including symptom magnification syndrome that may be associated with industrial physical therapy clients.
9. Understand how to develop and implement educational programs designed to prevent injury in the workplace. (3.8.3.13 – Educate others . . .)

There are no required textbooks. The following resources and reading materials are available at the locations indicated.

APTA Board of Directors Policies (open the Acrobat Reader Document - PDF - named "Section I - Professional and Societal" and find, i.e. search for, the following topics) –

• The Role of the Physical Therapist in Occupational Health BOD 03-97-27-71
• Occupational Health Physical Therapy Guidelines: Evaluating Functional Capacity BOD 03-00-25-60
• Occupational Health Physical Therapy Guidelines: Physical Therapist Management of the Acutely Injured Worker BOD 03-00-25-61
• Occupational Health Physical Therapy Guidelines: Work Conditioning And Work Hardening Programs BOD 03-00-25-62
• Occupational Health Physical Therapy Guidelines: Legal and Risk Management Issues BOD 11-99-25-73
• Occupational Health Physical Therapy Guidelines: Prevention of Work-Related Injury/Illness BOD 11-99-25-71

The US Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Home Page

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Occupational Information Network (O'Net) - Home Page

O'Net Online (a database that replaces the Dictionary of Occupational Titles)

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - Home page

Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (Acrobat Reader format - PDF)

NIOSH Lifting Equation Calculator

IndustrialHygiene.com

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Home Page

King PM. Tuckwell N, Barrett TE. A critical review of functional capacity evaluations. Physical Therapy. 1998;78:852-866.

Langan T. Consistency testing within the functional capacity evaluation. Physical Therapy Forum.

Matheson LN. Evaluating lifting and lowering capacity. Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Bulletin. Fall 1986:107-111.

Matheson LN. How do you know that he tried his best? The reliability crisis in industrial rehabilitation. Industrial Rehabilitation Quarterly. Spring 1998;1(1).

Matheson LN. Symptom magnification syndrome. Presented at Industrial Medicine: An Introductory Course for Therapists, Boston MA, October 1988.

Peacock CF. Functional capacity testing and The Americans with Disabilities Act: Protocols, procedures and litigation. Physical Therapy Products. January 1992;31-38.

Peterson M. Nonphysical factors that affect work hardening success: A retrospective study. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 1995;22(6):238-246.

Stokes HM. The seriously uninjured hand – Weakness of grip. Journal of Occupational Medicine. September 1983;25(9):683-684.

Teaching Methods: lecture, laboratory, case study and presentation

Physical therapy majors are expected to exhibit professional behavior at all times (see relevant sections of the PT Department Student Handbook and section 3.8.3.3 "Professional Behavior" of the Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation of Education Programs for the Preparation of Physical Therapists, CAPTE, Effective 1/1/98). Briefly, students are expected to:

• conform to the University of Scranton Academic Code of Honesty.
• attend all class meetings and activities.
• be punctual, prepared (including lab clothes and equipment when appropriate) and participative.
• accept responsibility for their actions (eg. accept that grades reflect each student’s effort and output).

• Attendance:

• Assignments: Your grade for this course is based on the following assignments.

• Grade Scale

Written Work: (also see "Guidelines for Written Work" in PT Department Student Handbook)

Written work should conform to AMA Manual of Style. See the following web sites:

The PT Department complies with University policy. For information about class cancellation or rescheduling , consult the Severe Weather Hotline at 41-5999, or http://www.uofs.edu/academic/snowday.html

Also see the compressed schedule at http://www.uofs.edu/academic/snowday.html

The Department web site is located at: http://academic.uofs.edu/department/pt/default.html