CQUniversity Unit Profile
PSIO12005 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 2
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 2
All details in this unit profile for PSIO12005 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will provide you with an introduction to the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions in the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine for clients across the lifespan. This unit will focus on the development of an evidence based, problem solving approach to the assessment and treatment of common clinical presentations in musculoskeletal practice. The completion of this unit will enable you to apply effective clinical reasoning that underpins your selection and performance of evidence-based and client-centred physiotherapeutic assessment and treatment techniques.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

To enrol in PSIO12005 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 2 you must be enrolled into the CB85 course and have completed the following pre-requisites: PSIO12001 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 1 PSIO12006 Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics OR ALLH12008 Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2025

Bundaberg
Cairns
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 20%
2. In-class Test(s)
Weighting: 40%
3. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
Weighting: 40%
4. On-campus Activity
Weighting: Pass/Fail

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Verbal feedback

Feedback

The students noted the improvements made to the Practical Workbook and how these changes provided a more streamlined and straightforward resource for them to prepare for their practical assessments, but students would like additional content to support preparation for the theoretical assessments.

Recommendation

It is recommended that additional changes be made to the workbook to include preparation activities specific to the In-Class tests, such as reflective questions and short clinical case studies.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Identify and discuss the clinical presentation of musculoskeletal conditions of the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine
  2. Identify and discuss safe, effective, and evidence-based assessment and treatment techniques for musculoskeletal conditions of the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine
  3. Demonstrate safe, effective, and evidence-based assessment techniques for the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine, and interpret and analyse the findings
  4. Demonstrate safe, effective, and evidence-based physiotherapy interventions for the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine, and be able to progress and/or regress appropriately
  5. Demonstrate acceptable professional and ethical behaviours consistent with a physiotherapy practitioner.

The Learning Outcomes and Assessment tasks have been mapped against and aligned with the Australian Physiotherapy Council’s Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - In-class Test(s) - 40%
3 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) - 40%
4 - On-campus Activity - 0%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Brukner & Khan's Clinical sports medicine: Injuries, Volume 1

Edition: 5th (2017)
Authors: Bruker et al
McGraw-Hill Education
Sydney Sydney , NSW , AUS
ISBN: 9781760421663
Prescribed

Musculoskeletal examination and assessment: A handbook for therapists

Edition: 6th (2024)
Authors: Ryder, D. & Barnard, K.
Elsevier
Scotland , UK
ISBN: 9780323874717

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Michael Wilkinson Unit Coordinator
m.wilkinson@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 14 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Unit introduction

Assessment and treatment of the cervical spine (1/2)

Chapter

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). 'Chapter 6: Examination of the upper cervical region' p168

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). 'Chapter 7: Examination of the upper cervicothoracic region' p208

 Brukner, P. & Khan, K. (2017). 'Chapter 23: Neck Pain' p347

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 21 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Assessment and treatment of the cervical spine (2/2)

Assessment and treatment of cervicogenic headaches

Chapter

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). 'Chapter 6: Physical Examination' p35

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 28 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Assessment and treatment of the temporomandibular joint

Chapter

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). Chapter 5 "Examination of the temporomandibular region" p146

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 04 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Assessment and treatment of the thoracic spine

Chapter

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). 'Chapter 8: Examination of the thoracic region' p231

 Brukner, P. & Khan, K. (2017). 'Chapter 28: Thoracic and chest pain' p507

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 11 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Assessment and treatment of the shoulder (1/2)

Chapter

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). 'Chapter 9: Examination of the shoulder region' p249

 Brukner, P. & Khan, K. (2017). 'Chapter 24. Shoulder Pain' p377

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 18 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 25 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

No new lecture content

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Mon Aug 25th

Mid-term exam (20%) 12:00am-1:30pm


Assessment 1 - Mid-term online in class test (20%) Due: Week 6 Monday (25 Aug 2025) 12:00 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 01 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Assessment of the shoulder (2/2)

Chapter

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). 'Chapter 9: Examination of the shoulder region' p249

 Brukner, P. & Khan, K. (2017). 'Chapter 24. Shoulder Pain' p377

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 08 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Assessment and treatment of the elbow

Chapter

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). 'Chapter 10: Examination of the elbow region' p271

 Brukner, P. & Khan, K. (2017). 'Chapter 25. Elbow and arm pain' p439

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 15 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Assessment and treatment of the hand and wrist

Chapter

 Petty, N. & Ryder, D. (2018). 'Chapter 11: Examination of the wrist and hand' p299

 Brukner, P. & Khan, K. (2017). 'Chapter 26: Wrist pain' p463 and 'Chapter 27: Hand and Finger Pain' p489

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 22 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Passive accessory movements of the upper limb

Chapter

Nil readings from unit textbooks for this week.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 29 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Progressing exercise prescription for the upper limb

Chapter

Nil readings from unit textbooks for this week.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 06 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

End term written examination and mock OSCE

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Mon 6th October

1) End of term in class test (40%) 8:30am-11:00am

2) Mock OSCE 12:00pm-2:00pm


Assessment 2 - End of term in class test (40%) Due: Week 12 Monday (6 Oct 2025) 8:30 am AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

End of term OSCE (40%) - Date and time TBD within exam block

Exam Week Begin Date: 20 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

End of term OSCE (40%) - Date and time TBD within exam block


Assessment 4 - Attendance hurdle Due: Exam Week Friday (24 Oct 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Assessment 1 - Mid-term online in class test (20%)

Task Description

The Mid-Term Test is a 1.5 hour (90 minute) Online Quiz delivered via the Moodle platform and supervised by a staff member. The Online Quiz must be completed in person on either the Rockhampton, Bundaberg, or Cairns campuses at the specified time and in the specified room. Access to books, notes, websites (other than the quiz) and use of a mobile phone are prohibited during the quiz. The Online Quiz will examine content from weeks 1 to 5, inclusive of all lectures, practical sessions, and required readings. The Online Quiz will consist of some, or all, of the following question types: multiple choice, true/false, fill in the missing word(s), short answer/essay, and/or case studies. The preference is for a laptop over a tablet and to use the Google Chrome web browser.

Late Arrival: You should aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the official assessment commencement time. In the extraordinary circumstance that you are late, you will be permitted late entry to the Mid-Term Online Quiz of up to 10 minutes after the official commencement time. The period of lateness will be deducted from your overall assessment time. Suppose you are denied access to the assessment due to lateness (i.e. arriving beyond the permitted late entry period). In that case, you should apply for deferred assessment, which may or may not be approved in line with CQU policy. If the application for deferred assessment is denied, you will receive a zero percent (0%) grade for the assessment item.

  • Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 1: You must not use AI at any point in the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
  • The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.  


Number of Quizzes


Frequency of Quizzes


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Monday (25 Aug 2025) 12:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Final marks will be made available on Moodle within two weeks of completion of the assessment.


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

All questions will be marked numerically, and an overall percentage mark will be awarded. 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
The Mid-Term supervised online quiz will held on campus. Please see Moodle Assessment tile for more details.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and discuss the clinical presentation of musculoskeletal conditions of the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine
  • Identify and discuss safe, effective, and evidence-based assessment and treatment techniques for musculoskeletal conditions of the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine

2 In-class Test(s)

Assessment Title
Assessment 2 - End of term in class test (40%)

Task Description

The End-Term Test is a 2.5 hour (150 minutes) closed book and paper-based written assessment that will be held on campus (Bundaberg and Rockhampton and Cairns campuses only). The test will examine all content covered during the term (weeks 1-10), including lectures, practical and required readings. Access to books, notes, and online devices is prohibited during the test. The test will consist of some, or all, of these question types: multiple choice, true/false, short answer/essay, and/or case studies.

Late Arrival: You should aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the official assessment commencement time. In the extraordinary circumstance that you are late, you will be permitted late entry to the End-Term In-Class Test of up to 10 minutes after the official commencement time. The period of lateness will be deducted from your overall assessment time. Suppose you are denied access to the assessment due to lateness (i.e. arriving beyond the permitted late entry period). In that case, you should apply for deferred assessment, which may or may not be approved in line with CQU policy. If the application for deferred assessment is denied, you will receive a zero percent (0%) grade for the assessment item.

  • Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 1: You must not use AI at any point in the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
  • The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.  


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (6 Oct 2025) 8:30 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Final marks will be made available on Moodle within two weeks of completion of the assessment.


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

All questions will be marked numerically, and an overall percentage mark will be awarded. 


Referencing Style

Submission
Offline

Submission Instructions
The In-Class End-Term Test will held on campus. Please see Moodle Assessment tile for more details.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and discuss the clinical presentation of musculoskeletal conditions of the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine
  • Identify and discuss safe, effective, and evidence-based assessment and treatment techniques for musculoskeletal conditions of the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine

3 Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)

Assessment Title
Assessment 3 - End of term objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) (40%)

Task Description

The Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) assesses your theoretical and practical application of physiotherapy assessment, treatment, and clinical reasoning. The OSCE will include five stations where we assess your practical skills and clinical reasoning. You will have 30 minutes to read and complete all questions/tasks. There will be no preparation time for this assessment. At each station, you must plan, perform and discuss relevant aspects of physiotherapy assessment/treatment and demonstrate clinical interpretation of the techniques performed. You will be required to:

  • Identify and act upon any precautions and/or contraindications to assessment and/or treatment
  • Demonstrate clear, effective and appropriate communication
  • Demonstrate safe and effective application of clinical assessment and treatment techniques
  • Explain and interpret the findings of a clinical assessment and/or treatment, including progression and regression
    of selected treatment techniques

All material relevant to musculoskeletal physiotherapy assessment and treatment covered in the following pre-requisite and co-requisite units is also examinable in the OSCE: Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 1 (PSIO12001), Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics (PSIO12006), Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 1 (PSIO11004), Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 2 (PSIO11003), Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics (ALLH12008/PSIO2006), Medical Anatomy and Physiology 1 (BMSC11007), and Medical Anatomy and Physiology 2 (BMSC11008).  You need to be appropriately attired in your full clinical uniform for the examination. If you are required to be a 'simulated patient' for another student's examination, please bring additional clothes suitable for a clinical assessment.

  • Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 1: You must not use AI at any point in the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
  • The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.  


Assessment Due Date

The Practical Assessment (OSCE) will be held in either the Review/Exam Week or Exam Week. Time and date will be confirmed during the term.


Return Date to Students

Final marks will be made available on Moodle within two weeks of completion of the assessment.


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
To PASS the OSCE you must: 1) PASS the PASS/FAIL component of Risk Management/Safety, and 2) achieve 50% or higher.

Assessment Criteria

The assessment rubric for this assessment task is based on the Australian Standards for Physiotherapy, the Accreditation Standard set by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, and The Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice Instrument. These quality frameworks are mapped against the CQUniversity Graduate Attributes and are intended to give a holistic understanding of standards expected for the assessment task. Detailed marking criteria sheet will be available on Moodle, and will be based on the following rubric categories:

  • Risk Management/Safety and Professional Behaviour (PASS/FAIL)
  • Communication (10%) 
  • Correct application of the assessment/treatment technique (60%)
  • Knowledge and interpretation of assessment/treatment and relevant clinical reasoning (30%)

In order to PASS the OSCE you must:
1. Achieve a mark of 50% or higher; AND
2. Achieve a PASS result for the PASS/FAIL component of Safety and Risk Management.


If you do not meet the above criteria, you may be offered a Supplementary Assessment in line with CQUniversity Policy. Assessment Moderation Using Video Recordings: To ensure consistency and fairness in the evaluation of practical assessments, including Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), this unit may employ video recordings as a method for assessment moderation. These recordings allow for a thorough review of student performance, providing an objective basis for feedback and grading. Assessors may review the recordings to verify the accuracy of initial assessments and to identify any discrepancies. This process also facilitates the calibration of grading standards among different assessors. By utilising video recordings, we aim to maintain high standards of assessment integrity and support
continuous improvement in teaching and learning practices. More details about this process will be provided on the unit Moodle site.


Late Arrivals: You should aim to arrive at least 15-minutes prior to the official assessment commencement time (i.e. when your preparation time starts). In the extraordinary circumstance that you are late you will be permitted late entry to your assessment of up to 10 minutes after the official assessment commencement time. The period of lateness will be deducted from your overall assessment time. If you are denied access to the assessment due to lateness (i.e. arriving beyond the permitted late entry period), you should make an online application for deferred assessment (which may or
may not be granted in line with CQU policy). If your application for deferred assessment is denied, you will receive a score of zero percent (0%) for your assessment item and will not be eligible for a re-sit, but may be eligible for a supplementary assessment in line with CQU policy. 


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Submission Instructions
Practical OSCE will be conducted in-person and on campus.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate safe, effective, and evidence-based assessment techniques for the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine, and interpret and analyse the findings
  • Demonstrate safe, effective, and evidence-based physiotherapy interventions for the upper limb, head, cervical and thoracic spine, and be able to progress and/or regress appropriately
  • Demonstrate acceptable professional and ethical behaviours consistent with a physiotherapy practitioner.

4 On-campus Activity

Assessment Title
Assessment 4 - Attendance hurdle

Task Description

A minimum attendance of 85% to tutorial/practical sessions is recommended by the Australian Physiotherapy Council. This has been integrated as a requirement for the CB85 Physiotherapy Course. Therefore, a minimum of 85% attendance to tutorial/practical sessions is required to PASS this Unit. The monitoring of attendance will take into consideration legitimate reasons for absences, as outlined in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (5.21 & 5.22, Pg. 10-11). When there is a genuine reason for being absent, you must inform the Unit Coordinator as soon as possible and provide supporting documentation (e.g., medical certificate). You will be warned by the Unit Coordinator when you reach the 85% threshold. Students who fail to meet the minimum 85% attendance requirement will fail the Unit.

Students who require a prolonged absence (i.e. not meeting the 85% attendance hurdle) due to medical or health-related conditions (e.g., serious or debilitating illness or injury; hospitalisation; giving or recently given birth; mental health illness or condition) will require a face-to-face discussion with the Head of Course and the Unit Coordinator to discuss the most appropriate pathway for completion of the unit.


Assessment Due Date

Exam Week Friday (24 Oct 2025) 4:00 pm AEST

Attendance rate will be determined at the end of term


Return Date to Students

Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
In order to PASS the Attendance Hurdle you must attend at least 85% of all scheduled practical sessions for this unit.

Assessment Criteria

Your attendance at each scheduled practical session will be recorded by the tutor using an attendance spreadsheet. The monitoring of attendance will take into consideration legitimate requests for absence, such as those outlined in the CQUniversity Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) document, and these will not be counted as absence for the purpose of this attendance requirement.


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate acceptable professional and ethical behaviours consistent with a physiotherapy practitioner.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?