Simulations and Interactive Learning

In 2020, PhysioU provided free access to all of it’s learning apps to support students and educators across the globe during the pandemic. We appreciate all the feedback and kind words of support!

One thing we as educators missed the most, was creating experiences that helped students apply their knowledge, develop clinical reasoning, and experience real-life clinical scenarios.

In a 5 part mini-series, “PhysioU- Interactive learning”: we will share glimpses of new simulations and interactive learning experiences that we will be releasing for Fall 2021.

Problem: Building context for the application of orthopaedic rehabilitation knowledge is so critical for the organization and recall of numerous tests and techniques

Answer: Interactive MiniSIMS that cover the most common conditions, allow students to apply their knowledge in context-rich interactive clinical scenarios. Each simulation encourages decision making in the following areas: 

• Interpreting need for referral

• Interpreting results of common outcome measures

• Determining irritability and severity

• Matching interventions to address observed impairments

• Matching home exercise to address observed impairments

• Reassessment of signs and symptoms to progress or regress treatment

Application:

• The fundamental concepts MiniSIMS are designed for the first day of your orthopaedic or musculoskeletal rehabilitation course as a primer for what is to come (Try it here)

• The Ortho MiniSIMS are designed to be used at the end of every week after a body region is completed so students can apply what they have learned (Try it here)

List of Orthopaedic MiniSIMS:

• Guideline based clinical pattern recognition- Fundamental Orthopaedic Management Concepts

• Ankle stiffness and muscle power deficits (Achilles tendinopathy)

• Neck pain and radiating pain (Cervical radiculopathy)

• Hip pain and mobility deficits (Hip osteoarthritis)

• Ankle stability and movement coordination impairments (Ankle sprain)

• Condition-based MiniSIMS

  • Sacroiliac joint pain

  • Lateral ankle sprain

  • Lumbar strain

  • Neck facet syndrome

  • Patellofemoral pain syndrome

  • Piriformis syndrome

  • Shoulder instability

  • Cubital tunnel syndrome

  • Ulnar collateral ligament sprain

  • Wrist sprain

  • Cervicogenic headache

  • More to come...

For more information, click here to schedule a 1-on-1 consultation with the PhysioU Team or check out our webinars.

Welcome Guide to the New User Interface

We hope you have been enjoying our new web apps and updates we have completed in the recent months. At PhysioU, we strive to re-design your learning experience so that it is easier for you to become the expert clinician you dream to be. Check out our new user interface below!

Organized by Category

Each category serves as a quick entry into a specific section you are trying to master!

Search by App & Keyword

Our search bar at the top of the page is now enhanced with the title of the app and the keyword that you have chose to search. We hope this improves the speed at which you use PhysioU!

Be broad or specific with your search. Find what you need to find quickly!

Sneak Peek at Upcoming Web Apps

We continue to strive to be the top-rated reference guide used by experts globally!

Quick Navigation

Jumping from one section to another just got easier with each category populating above each section you want to go directly to. Just click the down arrow icon ⌄ on the top navigation bar and go directly to that section!

Enhance student learning with PhysioU Simulations

PhysioU Simulation is going live this summer. Join Dr. Michael Wong, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT in this interactive discussion to explore the new simulations to enhance student learning in clinical reasoning development.

LISTEN IN:

OR, Watch the webinar!

0:00 Introduction

0:45 What led to Simulations

2:53 Objectives

3:46 Founder Introduction

4:42 Strategic Partnership with JOSPT

4:27 What is PhysioU

5:56 App Development Pipeline

6:32 What are simulations?

17:50 Increasing need for simulation based learning

20:37 Benefits of Simulations

20:50 Who has been doing it for over a decade?

3:46 Simulations way of the future

24:05 Where do simulations fit on Bloom's Taxamomy

24:41 Common reported challenges

25:00 Sims Reflections

29:19 Releasing this Summer

34:37 Watch the following video

40:14 Video goals

43:03 Mini games

1:02:12 Inter-Professional Education

1:07:57 How to help students engage more with PhysioU

1:15:37 Comments, questions, and ideas?

Helpful Links: Faculty access | Free faculty resources

Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test

Most of us have used the Y-Balance Test for lower quarter injury risk assessment, but have you used it for the upper quarter? In today’s mentoring minutes with Dr. Jordan Cossin we look at how to use the Y-Balance Test as a functional measure for your upper extremity patients! Take a look at the video and notes below!

Notes:

• Significant difference in performance between patients with shoulder impingement syndrome & healthy controls.

  • Shoulder impingement syndrome performed worse in medial & inferolateral directions.

• Youth athletes perform significantly better than untrained youth control.

• Fair to moderate correlation with core stability & upper extremity functional tests.

  • No significant difference between dominant & non dominant limbs.

• Excellent test-retest reliability.

• Moderate agreement between commercial Y-Balance Test apparatus and DIY version.

How to Perform:

• Upper limb length measurement

  • Shoulder abducted to 90 deg

  • Tape measure from spinous process of C7 to longest digit

• General cardio warm-up (5 min)

• Push up position (Feet 12 in. apart)

• Ulnar/thumb side of stable arm placed on center block/line

• Test specific warm-up (3 sub maximal reaches in each direction)

  • Medial, superolateral, inferolateral

• 3 practice trials (1 minute rest between each)

• 3 data collection trials (1 minute rest between each)

Data Collection:

• Average of 3 trials scored

• Sum of all 3 directions taken for total excursion score

  • Composite score = total excursion score / 3x upper limb length (#1 on how to perform)

• Compare bilaterally

DIY Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test:

• 3 cloth tape measures

• Athletic tape

• Goniometer

  • 90 deg

  • 135 deg (x2)

• x3 2x4x8 wood blocks

References:

Cramer, J., Quintero, M., Rhinehart, A., Rutherford, C., Nasypany, A., May, J., & Baker, R. T. (2017). Exploration of score agreement on a modified upper quarter y-balance test kit as compared to the upper quarter y-balance test. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 12(1), 117.

Hazar, Z., Ulug, N., & Yuksel, I. (2014). Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test Score of Patients with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2(11_suppl3), 2325967114S00275.

Schwiertz, G., Beurskens, R., & Muehlbauer, T. (2020). Discriminative validity of the lower and upper quarter Y balance test performance: a comparison between healthy trained and untrained youth. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 12(1), 1-8.

Westrick, R. B., Miller, J. M., Carow, S. D., & Gerber, J. P. (2012). Exploration of the y-balance test for assessment of upper quarter closed kinetic chain performance. International journal of sports physical therapy, 7(2), 139.

Training Load Progression (Return to Sport/Activity)

Difficulty knowing how much, how fast, or how soon to progress your patient’s? Whether you’re working with a high-level athlete or the average jane/joe understanding how to minimize injury risk while enhancing performance is key! Watch Dr. Jordan Cossin’s video below to learn more on today’s mentoring minutes!

Notes: 

• 5 Ways to ensure patients are well prepared for demands

  1. Maintain adequate training load during offseason &/or while injured

     • Raises “floor”

     • Avoid “basement”

     • Improves athletes’ ability to tolerate load during pre-season & return to sport

  2. Identify ceiling & ensure training load is proportionate to competition

     • Need to know what the athlete is going back to

       • Wearable & video technologies

       • Sport-specific literature

  3. Assess individual difference in training tolerance

     • Age

     • Injury hx

     • Poor training hx

     • Musculoskeletal deficiencies

     • Strength deficits

     • Poor aerobic fitness

     • Psychosocial factors

  4. Identify & prepare for most demanding parts of the sport

     • Do not just train for average demands of competition, but prepare for the highest demand

       • If not may result in: inability to perform at higher intensities when needed, may be at greater risk of injury during these times

  5. Understanding of the physical demands of the sport, physical capacities required to perform activities, & factors that limit performance (individual)

     • Time to progress from “floor” to “ceiling”

     • Progressive, gradual, & systematic increases in training load 

“Floor”: patient/athlete’s current capacity

“Ceiling”: capacity needed to perform specific task/sport

“Time”: time allotted to get from floor to ceiling

“Basement”: deconditioning/injury resulting in capacity below the “floor”

“Penthouse”: capacity above the need for specific task/sport

References:

Gabbett, T. J. (2020). How much? How fast? How soon? Three simple concepts for progressing training loads to minimize injury risk and enhance performance. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 50(10), 570-573.