Curriculum
The Graduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal Injury Management requires students to complete 16 credits of graduate coursework at the University of Kentucky. This consists of core and elective courses.
Courses that are part of the professional master's of science in Athletic Training (MSAT) degree programs may be taken as electives in the graduate certificate program by permission of the Certificate Director and Professional Program Director. If a student has previously completed the MSAT at UK, they may not use coursework from the MSAT as electives in the graduate certificate program and will still require 16 credit hours of coursework to complete the certificate.
Below is a brief description of the courses that are approved currently.
Core Courses (12 credits)
AT 775: Tissue Pathomechanics in Physical Activity Injuries (3 credits)
This is a course designed for students pursuing a graduate certificate in Musculoskeletal Injury Management. The objective of this class is to understand normal and pathological conditions of the musculoskeletal system, specifically focusing on bone, ligament, cartilage, muscle and tendon structures, and how these passive restraint systems interact with the nervous system to create dynamic restraint. From this knowledge, students will gain advanced understanding of mechanisms of musculoskeletal injury common in sports and physical activity. The student will be required to demonstrate competencies via written examinations.
AT 776: Advanced Evaluation and Re-integration to Activity for the Post-Rehabilitation Musculoskeletal Patient (3 credits)
This is a course designed for students pursuing a graduate certificate in Musculoskeletal Injury Management. The objective of this course is to understand the design, implementation and evaluation of transitional or sport-specific rehabilitation protocols to initiate reintegration of the injured athlete to full participation. The first half of the course will utilize a combination of lectures and laboratory experiences to provide foundational concepts for exercise prescription, dose, and progression specific to the athlete’s sport, injury and functional capacity. Using a problem-based learning approach, the second half of the course will focus on active, small group discussions of clinically relevant problems (case studies) and self-directed learning to provide context and motivate learning. Through carefully designed problems, this course will expose students to commonly encountered patient cases to help clinicians acquire a comprehensive and integrated knowledge base, and to develop an evidence based, clinical reasoning model for late stage rehabilitation and return to play decisions.
AT 777: Advanced Treatment Techniques for Rehabilitation of Musculoskeletal Mobility Deficits (3 credits)
This is an advanced rehabilitation course encompassing therapeutic intervention to address mobility deficits in a joint of the extremities and spine along with musculotendinous restrictions. This course will educate the student to various manual therapy techniques that can be applied to patients suffering from limited mobility or muscular imbalances in order to restore normal function. The primary patient population will be physically active individuals however the techniques can be applied to any patient with an orthopedic or musculoskeletal injury. The course will primarily focus on learning and applying appropriate techniques however clinical decision making and problem solving will be incorporated by presenting case scenarios to determine the appropriate intervention techniques for particular patients. The student will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in manual therapy techniques with both practical and written tests.
AT 778: Neuromechanical Measurement Techniques for Musculoskeletal Patients (3 credits)
This is course will include theories and applications of techniques concerning neuromechanical measurement techniques for musculoskeletal patients. The intent of this course is to provide students with an introduction to neuromechanical measurement concepts, techniques and equipment to collect objective quantifiable data for clinical or research purposes. This course is intended to provide future clinicians/ researchers with the necessary knowledge base to objectively evaluate neuromechanical function along with the underlying the theory, concepts and application. Lecture and laboratory concepts will be utilized to instruct students on the foundations of various measurement techniques. Emphasis will be placed on clinical and laboratory measures of functional movement assessment, postural control, muscle function, diagnostic imaging, somatosensory function, joint stability, and central nervous system function associated with clinical and research aspects of musculoskeletal patient management. At the completion of the course the student is expected to understand the theory and clinical/research application of various instrumentation associated with neuromechanical assessment.
Elective Courses (4 credits)
AT 550: Evidence-based Practice in Athletic Training (3 credits)
This is a course designed to expose students to the importance of supportive, validated research to establish evidence for clinical practice. Lectures will provide foundational information for students to understand the 5 steps of seeking and integrating research into clinical practice. The student will be required to demonstrate competencies in evidence-based concepts in written examinations, as well as complete a written and oral presentation of a literature review that utilizes evidence based concepts to address a clinical question.
AT 590: Musculoskeletal Anatomical Dissection (3 credits)
This is a course that requires the ability to understand, recognize and manage musculoskeletal injuries. This is the first course in a sequence of courses that focus on sports injury assessment and recognition, and is a 3-credit cadaver anatomy course, which will include dissection and examination of the human cadaver. Lecture and laboratory experiences will emphasize the various systems of the body with reference to athletic injury mechanism and evaluation. The student will be required to demonstrate competencies in written and practical examinations.
AT 680: Special Topics in Athletic Training (1 credits)
This is a course designed to provide specific topics in Athletic Training related to the student’s interests is selected for intensive study. The topic and work must be approved and supervised by a graduate faculty member proficient in the area under investigation.
AT 701: Clinical Seminar in Athletic Training I (1 credit)
This is the first course in a series of four in which students in the Musculoskeletal Injury Management graduate certificate program can elect to partake in preceptor supervised clinical experiences as an Athletic Trainer. This course encompasses a wide range of topics related to all domains of the athletic training profession. The primary focus of this course will be on the discussion of clinical cases and clinical issues in a group discussion ranging from athletic injury assessment, intervention, communication issues among athletes and coaches and any other relevant clinical issues facing credentialed athletic trainers. This course will utilize a combination of on-line discussions, oral and written case study presentations, clinical outcomes assessment and competency related clinical goals. Each semester of the Clinical Seminar course that the student takes will include new case studies and clinical goals.
AT 702: Clinical Seminar in Athletic Training II (1 credit)
This is the second course in a series of four in which students in the Musculoskeletal Injury Management graduate certificate program can elect to partake in preceptor supervised clinical experiences as an Athletic Trainer. This course encompasses a wide range of topics related to all domains of the athletic training profession. The primary focus of this course will be on the discussion of clinical cases and clinical issues in a group discussion ranging from athletic injury assessment, intervention, communication issues among athletes and coaches and any other relevant clinical issues facing credentialed athletic trainers. This course will utilize a combination of on-line discussions, oral and written case study presentations, clinical outcomes assessment and competency related clinical goals. Each semester of the Clinical Seminar course that the student takes will include new case studies and clinical goals.
AT 703: Clinical Seminar in Athletic Training III (1 credit)
This is the third course in a series of four in which students in the Musculoskeletal Injury Management graduate certificate program can elect to partake in preceptor supervised clinical experiences as an Athletic Trainer. This course encompasses a wide range of topics related to all domains of the athletic training profession. The primary focus of this course will be on the discussion of clinical cases and clinical issues in a group discussion ranging from athletic injury assessment, intervention, communication issues among athletes and coaches and any other relevant clinical issues facing credentialed athletic trainers. This course will utilize a combination of on-line discussions, oral and written case study presentations, clinical outcomes assessment and competency related clinical goals. Each semester of the Clinical Seminar course that the student takes will include new case studies and clinical goals.
AT 704: Clinical Seminar in Athletic Training IV (1 credit)
This is the fourth course in a series of four in which students in the Musculoskeletal Injury Management graduate certificate program can elect to partake in preceptor supervised clinical experiences as an Athletic Trainer. This course encompasses a wide range of topics related to all domains of the athletic training profession. The primary focus of this course will be on the discussion of clinical cases and clinical issues in a group discussion ranging from athletic injury assessment, intervention, communication issues among athletes and coaches and any other relevant clinical issues facing credentialed athletic trainers. This course will utilize a combination of on-line discussions, oral and written case study presentations, clinical outcomes assessment and competency related clinical goals. Each semester of the Clinical Seminar course that the student takes will include new case studies and clinical goals.
