California University of Pennsylvania
Guidelines for New Course Proposals
University Course Syllabus
Approved: 3/9/14
Department of Health Science
A.

Protocol
Course Name: Therapeutic Exercise
Course Number: ATE 330
Credits: 4
Prerequisites: Formal acceptance into the Professional Phase of the Undergraduate Athletic
Training Education Program
Maximum Class Size: 25
Maximum Class Size (online): 10

B.

Objectives of the Course:

1.

Objectives of the course include but are not limited to the following:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

C.

Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of therapeutic exercise used
in athletic training and sports medicine.
Be able to demonstrate the use of rehabilitation equipment and how to improvise
exercise techniques.
Be able to demonstrate the practical skills necessary in reconditioning the athlete to a
level of pre-injury fitness through an exercise program.
Be able to use evaluative tools to determine what exercise program should be used for
each individual type of injury.
Be able to design an exercise program for most joints of the human body.

Catalog Description:
The course entails the study of the use and theory of rehabilitation equipment and
rehabilitative exercises in sports. The student will also be able to explain and use evaluation
devices such as goniometry, girth, gait analysis, muscle testing, joint mobilization and
proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.

D.

Outline of the Course:

Lecture

Topic 1

Concepts of Rehabilitation (ch. 1)
The Roles of Rehabilitation Team Members
Interacting With Team Members
Qualities of Professionalism
Components of a Rehabilitation Program
Basic Components of Therapeutic Exercise
Return-to-Competition Criteria
Psychological Considerations

Topic 2

Topic 3

Topic 4

Topic 5

Topic 6

Topic 7

Concepts of Healing (ch.2)
Primary and Secondary Healing
Healing Phases
Growth Factors
Healing of Specific Tissues
Tensile Strength During Healing
Factors That Affect Healing
The Role of Therapeutic Exercise in Healing
Concepts in Physics (ch.3)
Force
Newton's Laws of Motion
Center of Gravity
Stability and Fixation
Body Levers
Levers and Force
Physiological Muscle Advantages
Evaluation and Assessment (ch.4)
Evaluation: Making a Profile
Assessment: Planning for Action
Keeping Rehabilitation Records
Range of Motion and Flexibility (ch.5)
Defining Flexibility and Range of Motion
Connective-Tissue Composition
Effects of Immobilization on Connective Tissue
Effects of Remobilization on Connective Tissue
Mechanical Properties & Tissue Behavior in Range of Motion
Neuromuscular Influences on Range of Motion
Determining Normal Range of Motion
Terminology in Goniometry
Stretching Techniques Exercise Progression
Manual Therapy Techniques (ch.6)
Critical Analysis
Massage
Myofascial Release
Myofascial Trigger Points
Muscle Energy
Joint Mobilization
Neural Mobilization

Topic 8

Muscle Strength and Endurance (ch.7)
Muscle Structure and Function
Neuromuscular Physiology
Fast-and Slow-Twitch Fibers\

Topic 9

Muscle Strength, Power, and Endurance
Force Production
Types of Muscle Activity
Open and Closed Kinetic Chain Activity
Evaluating Muscle Strength
Gradations of Muscle Activity
Strength Equipment

Topic 10

Topic 11

Topic 12

Topic 13

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
Strengthening Principles
Exercise Progression
The ABC's of Proprioception (ch.8)
Neurophysiology of Proprioception
Central Nervous System Proprioceptor Sites
Balance
Coordination
Agility
Therapeutic Exercise for Proprioception
Plyometrics (ch.9)
Neuromuscular Principles
Plyometric Force Production
Plyometric Exercise Phases
Pre-Plyometric Considerations
Plyometric Program Design
Plyometric Program Considerations
Precautions and Contraindications
Equipment
Lower-Extremity Plyometrics
Upper-Extremity and Trunk Plyometrics
Functional Exercise (ch.10)
Definitions, Foundations, and Goals
Contributions to Therapeutic Exercise
Basic Functional Activities
Advanced Functional Activities
Advanced Functional Exercise Progression
Precautions
Functional Evaluation
A Lower-Extremity Functional Progression
An Upper-Extremity Functional Progression
Returning the Patient to Full Participation
Posture and Body Mechanics (ch.11)
Posture
Muscle Imbalances
Body Mechanics
Body Awareness Programs

Topic 14

Ambulation and Ambulation Aids (ch.12)
Normal Gait
Pathological Gait
Normal Running Gait
Mechanics of Ambulation with Assistive Devices

Topic 15

Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise (ch.13)
Physical Properties and Principles of Water

Topic 16

Topic 17

Topic 18
Topic 19
Topic 20
Topic 21

Topic 22

Topic 23

Equipment
Indications, Advantages, Precautions, and Contraindications
Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise Principles and Guidelines
Deep-Water Exercise
Aquatic Therapeutic Exercises
Swiss Balls and Foam Rollers (ch.14)
Swiss Balls
Swiss-Ball Exercises
Foam Rollers
Foam-Rollers Exercises
Therapeutic Exercise for Tendinitis (ch.15)
Terminology
Tendon Structure
Etiology
Tendon Response
General Treatment
Specific Treatment
Examples of Tenditis Cases
Spine and Sacroiliac (ch.16)
General Rehabilitation Considerations
Rehabilitation Techniques
Special Rehabilitation Applications
Shoulder and Arm (ch.17)
Mechanics of Overhead Sport Activities
General Rehabilitation Considerations
Rehabilitation Techniques
Flexibility Exercises
Stabilization Exercises
Plyometric Exercises
Functional Activities
Special Rehabilitation Applications
Elbow and Arm (ch.18)
General Rehabilitation Considerations
Soft-Tissue Mobilization
Joint Mobilization
Flexibility Exercises
Strengthening Exercises
Functional Activities
Special Rehabilitation Applications
Wrist and Hand
General Rehabilitation Considerations
Soft-Tissue Mobilization
Joint Mobilization
Flexibility Exercises
Strengthening Exercises
Plyometric Exercises
Functional Activities
Special Rehabilitation Applications
Foot, Ankle, and Lower Leg (ch.20)
General Rehabilitation Considerations

Topic 24

Topic 25

Topic 26

Common Structural Deformities
Orthotic Treatment for Foot Deformities
Determining Proper Footwear for Patients
Soft-Tissue Mobilization
Deep-Tissue Massage
Joint Mobilization
Flexibility Exercises
Strengthening Exercises
Proprioceptive Exercises
Functional Exercises
Special Rehabilitation Applications
Knee and Thigh (ch.21)
General Rehabilitation Considerations
Soft-Tissue Mobilization
Joint Mobilization
Flexibility Exercises
Strengthening Exercises
Proprioceptive Exercises
Functional Exercises
Special Rehabilitation Applications
Hip (ch.22)
General Rehabilitation Considerations
Soft-Tissue Mobilization
Joint Mobilization
Flexibility Exercises
Strengthening Exercises
Proprioceptive Exercises
Functional Exercises
Special Rehabilitation Applications

Lab Schedule - TBA – labs are scheduled every week and topics follow the content above.
* Content subject to change in accordance with NATA competency requirements
E.

Teaching Methodology:
1) Lectures, labs, demonstrations, classroom hands-on participation, guest lecturers, article
readings, and visual presentations. This course has 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of lab weekly.
2) Online Methodology: Same as face to face

F.

Text
Human Kinetics (2001) Therapeutic Exercise for Athletic Injuries.
Champaign, IL: Houglum
Therapeutic Exercise Lab Handouts

G.

Assessment Activities:
1) Exams, quizzes, skill demonstrations, homework, presentations, attendance, in class
participation, group work, and discussions
2) LAB requirement: Proper attire is required for full participation in all lab sessions. For
example, all lower extremity labs will require students to be dressed in shorts unless otherwise

directed by the lab instructor. Failure to dress or participate will result in grade deduction per
the professor’s discretion.
3) Online Assessment: Same as face to face
H.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

OSD
Revised December 2012
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities:
•

Reserve the right to decide when to self-identify and when to request accommodations.

•

Will register with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) each semester to receive
accommodations.

•

Might be required to communicate with faculty for accommodations, which specifically involve the
faculty.

•

Will present the OSD Accommodation Approval Notice to faculty when requesting
accommodations that involve the faculty.
Office for Students with Disabilities

Requests for approval for reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Office for Students with
Disabilities (OSD). Approved accommodations will be recorded on the OSD Accommodation
Approval notice and provided to the student. Students are expected to adhere to OSD procedures for
self-identifying, providing documentation and requesting accommodations in a timely manner.
Contact Information:
•
•
•
•
•

Location:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Web Site:

Azorsky Building – Room 105
(724) 938-5781
(724) 938-4599
osdmail@calu.edu
www.calu.edu (search “disability”)

*************************************************************
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I.

Supportive Instructional Materials, e.g. library materials, web sites, etc.

Additional Information for Course Proposals
J.

Proposed Instructors: Athletic trainers in the Department of Health Science

K.

Rationale for the Course:

L.

Specialized Equipment or Supplies Needed:

M.

Answer the following questions using complete sentences:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Does the course require additional human resources? (Please explain)
Does the course require additional physical resources? (Please explain)
Does the course change the requirements in any particular major?
(Please explain)
Does the course replace an existing course in your program? (If so, list the course)
How often will the course be taught?
Does the course duplicate an existing course in another Department or College? (If the
possibility exists, indicate course discipline, number, and name)

N.

If the proposed course includes substantial material that is traditionally taught in another
discipline, you must request a statement of support from the department chair that houses that
discipline.

O.

Please identify if you are proposing to have this course considered as a menu course for
General Education. If yes, justify and demonstrate the reasons based on the categories for
General Education. The General Education Committee must consider and approve the course
proposal before consideration by the UCC.

P.

Provide Approval Form (electronically).

Additional Guidelines
The following are additional guidelines that you must follow which will expedite your course
proposal. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the return of the proposal to the department.
1.

Be sure that your proposal is in the correct format (Guidelines for New Course Proposals)
and that all questions have been completely answered.

2.

Be sure that you have completed and attached the Application to Establish a New Course
form and/or the Advisement Sheet Revision form and that the appropriate signatures
have been affixed. Please send through the process electronically (the preferred method)
or by paper. No items will be placed on the agenda until the Chair of the UCC is in
possession of these forms.

3.

Be sure that you include an updated advisement sheet for any course that is being
required by the department or is classified as a restricted elective. In addition, you must
include an electronic copy (MS Word or PDF) of the current advisement sheet(s) with
your proposal. Be certain that all advisement sheets affected by the proposed course
change be included with your proposal.

4.

When submitting materials for consideration by the Curriculum Committee, you must
provide an electronic copy of each item to be reviewed to the Chairperson.

5.

All completed items must be in the hands of the Chairperson of the Curriculum
Committee a minimum of one week prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

6.

Any department requesting a course name change, number change, prefix changes, credit
changes, etc. must submit this request on the Application to Establish a New Course
Form and submit electronically.

7.

New advisement sheets, major proposals, minors, LOCs, Certificates, or changes to
advisement sheets will become effective the fall semester following committee approval.
The advisement sheets must also include the committee approval date and the
effective date on the advisement page. Submit this request on the Advisement and /or
Program Changes form.

8.

New courses will become effective the semester following committee approval.

9.

Any references listed must be in the appropriate bibliographic format for the discipline.

10.

Online courses should follow the Quality Matters™ rubric and is posted on the UCC
website. Be sure that you include the online teaching methodology statement (refer E.2
above) that refers to the Quality Matters™ rubric.

11.

All course objectives must follow Bloom’s Taxonomy learning domains located on the
UCC website.