This course is part of the EU CMAster project which aims to provide masters level education in clinical gait analysis. A task-based distance learning approach will be used to embed this course within your professional practice allowing to learn through critically reflective use of your own measurement systems and interpreting your own clinical data. This course aims to take students with a technical or clinical background and educate them to be competent across all the major elements of clinical gait analysis.
This year the course only has a part-time route comprising two 14-week semesters a year for three years. (From next year a full-time one-year route will be available). During the first two years there will be one module each semester and in the final year the project will cover both semesters.
Semester 1 - October to February
Semester 2 - February to June
Year 1
The focus is on making measurements and understanding “normal” walking. An important component of the early part of the course is also to introduce you to the tools you will use to participate in a rich new distance-learning environment in which you can develop individually and interact with fellow students from around the world. Wherever possible open access tools that you can continue to use after completion of your studies will be used.
Measuring Walking (30 credits)
You will make a range of different measurements using different systems and reflect on the results both individually and with other students. Through this you will develop a mastery of the measurement techniques. Group work will involve collating normative datasets and comparing your own data against this.
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Healthy Walking (30 credits)
In this module you will continue to make measurements to investigate the biomechanics of healthy walking and how different aspects of this are represented in the gait data. This will be accompanied by an opportunity for critical appraisal of the academic literature representing the state of the art of our knowledge. You will learn generally applicable clinical appraisal skills and how to give and receive feedback to your peers.
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Year 2
In year 2 the focus will shift to walking with different types of pathology. This will continue to develop your own knowledge of conditions with which you are familiar with and those you may not yet have been exposed to.
Walking with Pathology (30 credits)
You will be challenged to explore your current understanding of why patients work the way they do and to develop an advanced and systematic approach that is biomechanically rigorous and clinically applicable. You will also develop a comprehensive understanding of the clinical and biomechanical research techniques which provide the evidence base for our field.
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Clinical Data Interpretation (30 credits)
You will be trained in the advanced and systematic approach to clinical data interpretation that Professor Baker has proposed in his book. Through practise and clinical reflection using your own clinical data and other people’s you will develop a mastery of this. You will also be encouraged to apply what you have learnt to improve your personal and institutional clinical practice.
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Year 3
Major Project (60 credits)
In the third year you will be able to select a major project of your own to implement what you have learnt over the previous two years. Assessment will be on the basis of a report written in the format of a scientific paper and it is expected that these will be submitted for publication in an academic journal to mark your contribution to the evidence base for clinical gait analysis.
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