This module explores key factors relating to animal structure and movement and integrates the functional aspects of correct movement and changes that occur due to injury and disease. It offers an in-depth examination of veterinary physiotherapy, emphasising the underlying principles of functional anatomy, biomechanics and veterinary pathophysiology. You’ll gain an advanced understanding of how these scientific concepts interrelate to influence the treatment and rehabilitation of companion and performance animals. This module is designed for those pursuing a career in veterinary physiotherapy or related disciplines, equipping you with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to provide effective rehabilitation care. Teaching is delivered through a combination of taught sessions and practical sessions on live animals, including dissections, providing a detailed understanding of musculoskeletal structure and functions, and implications on injury and disease. This module enables you to develop gait evaluation skills, qualitatively and quantitatively. A focus will be placed on relating form to function, giving an appreciation of how the musculoskeletal and nervous systems act to generate locomotion. Musculoskeletal and nervous dysfunction will also be discussed to enhance your understanding of the above principles and the implications on their pathology. This module encourages you to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical knowledge and offers the opportunity to gain skills in using biomechanics technology. You’ll also continue to build your academic writing and analytical skills. By examining how intrinsic and extrinsic factors, diseases and injuries affect animal movement, you’ll learn to assess and manage common pathologies, particularly in dogs and horses. The module concludes by emphasising the application of biomechanical principles in veterinary physiotherapy to create effective, evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for clinical practice.
This module is designed to provide you with the essential skills, knowledge and professional standards required for veterinary physiotherapy practice. It emphasises the development of professionalism, reflective practice, and a commitment to continuous personal and professional growth. You’ll engage with key concepts such as sustainable practices, ethical responsibility and the role of veterinary physiotherapists within multidisciplinary teams. Through in-depth exploration of organisational roles, legislative frameworks and ethical principles, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the regulatory environment and its impact on practice. An emphasis is placed on mastering effective communication, including the critical distinction between clinical and lay terminology to enhance client understanding and professional interactions. Additionally, this module focuses on developing your proficiency in information management and communication technology, alongside essential academic skills. Practical animal handling sessions provide hands-on experience, prioritising both animal welfare and handler safety. Throughout this module, there is a strong emphasis on implementing environmentally sustainable practices and reducing the ecological footprint of clinical activities, preparing you to be a responsible and informed practitioner within the veterinary physiotherapy field. You’ll also gain foundational insights into the business aspects of veterinary physiotherapy, including basic principles of starting and managing a practice. This includes understanding elements of business planning, financial considerations and professional responsibilities, preparing you to navigate the practicalities of self- employment or business ownership in the future.
This module focuses on integrating advanced therapeutic techniques and a comprehensive understanding of musculoskeletal conditions to help you develop and critically assess rehabilitation plans within a clinical setting. You’ll enhance your clinical skills, case management abilities and specialised skill sets, ensuring you experience a holistic approach to patient care, including ethical treatment and management practices. A key aspect of this module is patient-centred care, where you’ll learn to create individualised treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique needs. You’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, fostering comprehensive care and effective client communication and education strategies to empower you and your patients throughout their treatment journey. Additionally, this module will support your professional growth and development by encouraging engagement in continuing education and the pursuit of professional certification. You’ll practice reflective methods and self-assessment to promote personal and professional growth, while also developing leadership skills within the field of veterinary physiotherapy to influence practice standards and enhance patient care. Professionalism and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams will be central to improving patient outcomes and achieving optimal clinical results. Furthermore, this module cultivates advanced interpersonal and business management skills, enabling effective communication and successful operations within a physiotherapy practice. By combining your theoretical knowledge with practical application, you’ll be thoroughly prepared to excel as a practitioner in the field. By completing this module, you’ll need to demonstrate a mastery in the critical enquiry, digital, practical and clinical skills, while ensuring professional integrity is upheld.
This module focuses on enhancing the clinical expertise of veterinary physiotherapists by developing advanced assessment and treatment techniques for both equines and canines. You’ll learn to critically evaluate and apply manual therapies and electrophysical therapy modalities, ensuring evidence-based, patient-specific interventions. The module also emphasises practical competency in the application of these therapeutic techniques in a real-world clinical settings. Additionally, you’ll explore the creation, implementation and justification of tailored exercise rehabilitation programmes aimed at optimising recovery and functional outcomes for both canine and equine. A special emphasis will be placed on understanding the relationship between equine and canine anatomy and biomechanics, enabling you to assess and interpret gait patterns and their alterations in response to various conditions and diseases. By the end of the module, you’ll have refined your ability to provide comprehensive, effective and evidence-driven care to animals in need of rehabilitation and be equipped with the necessary clinical skills to apply advanced physiotherapy techniques competently in practice.
During this module, you’ll undertake a significant research project in your field of study and will present the research results in an oral presentation and thesis prepared to the highest scientific standards. During the course of the project, you’ll have the opportunity to raise significant and meaningful questions in a chosen related specialism. You’ll need to demonstrate good knowledge, which may require substantial theoretical and/or research understanding. The module will help you to communicate your research in a variety of ways in a concise fashion to scientists, lay people and potential employers. You’ll develop skills to evaluate and troubleshoot research questions, analyse complex data sets and/or draw meaningful and justifiable conclusions from your research findings. You’ll work within a team to develop the capability to expand or redefine existing knowledge by developing new approaches to changing situations and contributing to your chosen field. In addition, you will learn how to identify potential ethical and/or risk implications of research and gain an ability to work within good research practice guidelines. Your learning will be online via live Teams sessions and supported by online and library resources.