COURSE DESCRIPTION
Physical therapy ranks in Costa Rica and the USA as one of the most desirable careers. 
Physical Therapists play essential roles in today’s health care environment. They 
contribute along with all health care providers to maintain, restore, and improve 
movement, activity, and health, enabling individuals of all ages to have optimal 
functioning and quality of life. 
During this course the student will learn history of Physical Therapy, PT core values and 
principles, mechanical principles applied to human body, an introduction to exercise 
therapy, massage therapy and physical therapists’ approach after a stroke. 
Understand the role of the physical therapist within the health care system and have a
general idea of biomechanics of human body, exercise therapy techniques and massage
therapy.

COURSE CONTENT
Unit 1. Introduction of physical therapy
o What is physical therapy?
o Massage vs movement
o History of physical therapy
o WCPT and physical therapy areas
o Engaging the process of rehabilitation 
o Inclusive vs Abilities 
Unit 2. Anatomy based on movement
o Movements patterns
o Functional anatomy
o Myofascia and muscles
o Physiology of muscles
o Posture vs activation
Unit 3. Biomechanics and Kinesiology
o Joint, bones and muscles
o Biomechanicle rules
o Human biomechanical machine
o Gait analysis and basic movement
o Functional movements
Unit 4. Evaluation Techniques
o Clinical observation
o Palpation techniques
o Yellow and red flags and transferences of a patient
Normal and abnormal patterns
o Return to work analysis.
Unit 5. Manual Therapy
o Basic massage techniques
o Orthopedic manual therapy introduction
o Pathologies massage techniques
o Myofascial techniques
o Massage and physical therapy
Unit 6. Electrophysical Agents
o Electro therapy 
o Advances in electrophysical agents
o Rehabilitation and recovery agents
o Shock waves, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical muscles stimulation, 
electroacupuncture and intratissue percutaneous electrolysis
Unit 7. Strength and resistance exercise prescription
o Exercise principles
o Strength vs other components
o Exercise physiology
o Sports training
o Sports physical therapy assessment
Unit 8. Therapeutic exercises
o Therapeutic exercises
o Weights, therapeutic bands, exercise machines, and functional exercise.
o Dosifications and prescriptions
o Macro, meso and Micro cycles
o Exercise in Oncology, Diabetes, Hypertension, Alzheimer and other pathologies.
Unit 9. Advanced robotic training equipment
o Advanced equipment in neurological treatments
o Advanced equipment in cognitive impairments
o Isokinetic machines 
o Robotic training in dogs
o Future of physical therapy
Unit 10. Common sport and injuries treatment
o Common sport injuries
o Sports physical therapy treatment
o Sport cause – effect injuries
o Physical therapy analysis based on a specific sport
o Sport massage
Unit 11. Common neurological pathologies and treatment approach
o Common neurological pathologies
o Bobath, Perfetti and rood concepts
o Cerebral palsy analysis
o Neuroanatomy physiology
o Physical therapy first response to a Stroke
Unit 12. Common trauma affections and therapeutic approach
o Common trauma affections
o Champions Strories
o Physical therapy in Critical care and trauma
o Rehabilitation process after a surgery
o Rehabilitation in Africa
Unit 13. Building a physical therapy protocol
o How to build a physical therapy protocol?
o Steps of rehabilitation
o Motivation and adherence of the patient
o Control and follow up
o Materials and environmental factor (ICD)
Unit 14. Athletes and primary sports response
o Sports and Rehabilitation emergency injuries
o Physical therapy in athletes
o Athletes sport phycology
o Emergency vs strategy
o Return to sport physical therapy protocol
Unit 15. Neurophysiology of pain
o Neurophysiology of pain
o What is pain?
o Pathologies and pain
o Melzack and wall pain theory
o Stages of pain in physical therapy

LEARNING ASSESSMENT
Individual presentations (3)  40%
Article summaries 15%
Protocols case study 30%
Final presentation 15%
Total 100%

*Course content subject to change