MSc Advanced Musculoskeletal Assessment and Practice (Hand Therapy)

Program Overview

This part-time Master's program in Advanced Musculoskeletal Assessment and Practice (Hand Therapy) equips clinicians with advanced skills and knowledge in hand therapy. It emphasizes research, policy-making, and transferable employment-related skills. The program is accredited by the British Association of Hand Therapists and prepares graduates for roles such as Advanced Clinical Practitioner and First Contact Practitioner.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MSc Advanced Musculoskeletal Assessment and Practice (Hand Therapy) is a part-time program designed for clinicians who have specialized in Hand Therapy and wish to advance their practice. The program aims to provide students with:

• Critical understanding of key concepts underlying advanced musculoskeletal practice: This includes topics like clinical decision making, clinical service quality improvement strategies, research methods, and advanced clinical skills.
• Opportunity to acquire advanced musculoskeletal clinical skills: Students will learn skills beyond their normal professional scope of practice, such as injection therapy.
• Encouragement to contribute to policy-making, planning, and evaluation: The program emphasizes the importance of contributing to the development and improvement of healthcare systems.
• Acquisition of transferable employment-related skills: Students will develop skills that are valuable in a variety of professional settings.
• Skills to access and critically appraise research findings: This will enable students to develop their own evidence-based practice.
• Enhanced understanding of essential principles of research design: The program will support students in conducting independent research, including planning, formulating, designing, choosing research methods, collecting data, analyzing, interpreting, and writing up their findings.
The program is housed within the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, providing students with opportunities to connect with a community focused on sports and exercise science, sports therapy, and physiotherapy.

Outline:

The program is structured as follows:

Year 1

• Component 01: CORE WITH OPTIONS
• SE731-7-AU or SE731-7-SP or SE731-7-SU (30 CREDITS)
• Component 02: CORE
• Postgraduate Research Methods (Distance Learning) (30 CREDITS)
• This module is delivered by distance learning, no university attendance is required.
Students will explore theoretical and practical issues in relation to the research process, with specific emphasis on research in the musculoskeletal specialism. They will develop the ability to understand and use relevant research literature, and acquire the skills they need to plan and carry out their own research. A defining feature of the module is that the research principles that are encountered will constantly be applied to real musculoskeletal clinical settings.
• Component 03: CORE
• Advanced Musculoskeletal Assessment (15 CREDITS)
• This module is recommended for experienced musculoskeletal clinicians, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, or general practitioners, who are keen to expand their understanding of assessment tools.
Components of the musculoskeletal assessment are evaluated in this module, including the role of questions used, clinical examination techniques, imaging modalities, and other investigations. This module is designed to enable students to undertake an advanced clinical assessment that may incorporate the use of diagnostic tools such as radiographic imaging and laboratory investigations.
• Component 04: CORE
• Current Concepts in Upper Limb Rehabilitation (15 CREDITS)
This module is appropriate for clinicians working in both primary, secondary, and tertiary care.
• The module aligns with the Multi-professional Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) framework, which emphasizes the development of a critical workforce role to deliver innovative models of care.
• The module also supports professionals to evidence achievement of capability within the 4 key pillars of practice outlined in the ACP framework.
• The module is relevant to Hand Therapists working towards Advanced Practice status and provides additional options to achieve points towards the Accredited Hand Therapist qualification.
• The module is delivered remotely using e-learning technology (Moodle) and remote tutorials via Zoom.
• Component 05: CORE
• Medication Use in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (15 CREDITS)
• This course is aimed at experienced musculoskeletal practitioners, working at or towards Advanced Clinical Practitioners status.
These clinicians who work in the field of musculoskeletal medicine will gain a greater understanding on the impact of medication on musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
• The module aligns with HEE’s Multiprofessional Advanced Clinical Practice Framework, A Roadmap to Practice and the Musculoskeletal Core Capability Framework (Domain C: Capability 8 Pharmacotherapy).
• The module is delivered remotely using e-learning technology (Moodle) and remote tutorials via Zoom.
• Component 06: CORE WITH OPTIONS
• SE714-7-AP or SE714-7-SU (15 CREDITS)
• Component 07: CORE
• Dissertation (60 CREDITS)
• Dissertations offer the opportunity for in-depth study and analysis of a topic relevant to the Masters degree program.
They may take one of three general forms:
• The collection and analysis of new data through primary research using quantitative and/or qualitative methods, or as part of a service evaluation or audit.
• New analysis of existing quantitative or qualitative data, i.e.
secondary data analysis.
• An extended literature review, synthesis, and in-depth analysis of a relevant policy or practice issue, i.e.
a library-based study.

Teaching:

The program involves a combination of teaching methods, including:

• Distance learning: Some modules are delivered entirely online, requiring no university attendance.
• Remote tutorials: Online tutorials are conducted via Zoom.
• In-person lectures and seminars: The program may also include traditional in-person teaching methods.
The program is taught by a team of experts, including:
• Sarah Golding: Accredited Hand Therapist
• Other injecting practitioners: Clinicians with expertise in injection therapy.
• Therapists with a special interest in the upper limb: Clinicians with specialized knowledge and experience in upper limb rehabilitation.

Careers:

The program prepares students for a variety of career paths in the field of Hand Therapy, including:

• Advanced Clinical Practitioner: This role involves providing specialized care to patients with musculoskeletal conditions, including those affecting the hand.
These values define the behaviors and expectations of all staff and students, underpinning the work they do in the university, clinical arena, and other workplaces. The program also highlights the importance of involving service users, experts by experience, carers, and NHS
on-NHS professionals in the creation and delivery of all programs. The program is accredited by the British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT).