Learning objectives

To provide basic knowledge regarding manual therapy strategies in musculoskeletal disorders, evidence-based physiotherapy methodology, descriptive and inferential statistics in clinical research as well as the logic and philosophy of science in physiotherapy. MODULE: ADVANCED STRATEGIES OF MANUAL THERAPY IN MUSCULOSCHELETRICAL DISORDERS To know the general principles and procedures for the application of specific manual therapy techniques, indications/contraindications, differences in different manual therapy approaches in order to choose with an EBP approach, the most effective method. Apply them to some example cases. MODULE: METHODOLOGY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PHYSIOTHERAPY Know the principles of Evidence Based Practice, the different types of studies and research questions (descriptive, aetiology/risk, diagnostic/assessment, prognostic, treatment). To know the concepts of systematic review, meta-analysis and guideline. Deepen the psychometric aspects of assessment strategies. Know how to correctly formulate a research question, how to construct a research string and how to conduct research using the main databases in physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Know how to critically read a scientific study. MODULE: DESCRIPTIVE AND INFERENTIAL STATISTICS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH. To provide skills in the field of bio-statistics with a focus on basic statistical methods for the analysis of biomedical data such as how to collect and synthesise clinical or epidemiological research data, calculating probabilities, generalising information collected on a sample to the source population, graphical representation of syntheses and interpretation of the main statistical results. To know the basic elements of inferential statistics useful for inducing or inferring the properties of a population on the basis of known data about a sample. Acquire knowledge of experimental design, sampling, analysis and distribution of variables. MODULE: CLINICAL LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE IN PHYSIOTHERAPY Enable understanding of the essential issues relating to the philosophy of science and logic, the links between philosophical reflection on the scientific method and the practice of science in physiotherapy.