| CODE | POD5049 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Biomechanics in Orthotic and Prosthetic Practice | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Podiatry | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | In this study unit the students start by familiarizing themselves with the laboratory equipment for gait analysis, and going on to applying the knowledge gained in clinical settings. Topics covered include, amongst others: - Human body modeling for gait analysis, including foot models; - Instrumentation; - Quantitative vs Qualitative biomechanics; - Kinetics and Kinematics; - Application of theoretical concepts in gait lab; - Biomechanics of the lower limb; - Biomechanics of the spine; - Biomechanics of the upper limbs; - Biomechanics of tissue damage. Study-Unit Aims: - To give students an advanced knowledge of the role of biomechanics in understanding and evaluating human movement in health and disease, and research applications; - To stimulate the students to explore the principles of assessment of fundamental movement patterns and actions so as to gain theoretical, practical and specialist experience in methods of measurement and analysis employed in state of the art orthotic and prosthetic practice. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - critically correlate mechanical engineering concepts to the various aspects of clinical practice in orthotics and prosthetics; - interpret a critical awareness of the role of biomechanics, and of how assessment and measurement methodologies can be applied in both health and research applications; - critically analyse the fundamental kinematic and kinetic principles, and apply these to the analysis of movement; - differentiate between normal and abnormal movement, and apply it to clinical situations; - comprehensively illustrate in detail the structure of the integumentary system and the biomechanics that may cause skin damage; - explore and critically analyse the literature regarding biomechanics in orthotic and prosthetic practice. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - clearly identify key anatomical landmarks essential for placement of sensors appropriate to biomechanical tests to be carried out in a gait laboratory; - apply knowledge of biomechanics to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system; - apply assessment tools to assess gait in a clinical environment: - apply knowledge of biomechanics to the design of an orthotic/prosthetic device in a clinical situation; - critically evaluate the importance of innovative diagnostic modalities with regards to human movement in health and disease; - critically evaluate innovative research and analyse how this can be applied in a clinical situation. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - David A. Winter, (2009) Biomechanics and motor control of human movement (4th ed.) Wiley (Available at Health Sciences Library) - Whittle, M. W. Gait Analysis: An Introduction. Butterworth-Heinemann (Available at Health Sciences Library) - Valmassy, R. 2008. Clinical Biomechanics of the lower extremity. Mosby: Missouri (Available at Health Sciences Library) |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: First Degree with minimum 2nd class homours in a Medical or Healthcare subj | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Independent Study, Lecture, Practical & Tutorials | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Jesmond Attard (Co-ord.) Alfred Gatt |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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