ORTHOPAEDIC DIVISION EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND SYLLABUS COURSES HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

THE CPA recognized and gave special interest group status to the Orthopedic Division in the mid 1970's. This status provided the Division with the opportunity to develop a particular area of interest while remaining active under the broad umbrella of the profession of Physiotherapy.

Although orthopaedic manual physiotherapy had been practised in Canada for years, a specific focus on this area of physiotherapy commenced in the late 1960's centered primarily around British (Cyriax) and Australian (Maitland) teachings. In the early 1970's, the Scandinavian educational system (EV series) was accepted and incorporated. The courses offered at that time concentrated on clinical examination and treatment techniques dealing primarily with joint disorders, utilizing mainly passive mobilization and manipulation procedures. Rapid expansion occurred during the mid to late 1970's with further incorporation into orthopaedic manipulative therapy teaching and practice of electrophysical pain modification techniques, soft tissue techniques, postural and ergonomic education and re-education methods, active mobilization techniques and specific joint passive mobilization and manipulation techniques.

Subsequently, the explosion of information and skills acquisition began to precipitate signs of fragmentation within orthopaedic manipulative therapy teaching and practice due in large part to selective approaches relying heavily on dogma. Lacking in this overall sphere was the application of scientific principles in the teaching and practice of manipulative therapy and agreement on a proper focus for the Division. It is also important to recognize that Canada, through the Division, had simultaneously developed strong ties with the International Federation of Manipulative Therapists (IFOMT) and the curriculum of IFOMT subsequently played a major role in the development of the Division's curriculum.

In 1978, the Division appointed a Select Committee to "identify, analyze and priorize issues which confront the Division" for the formulation of its long and short term goals. The report which was accepted in 1980 and in essence became the goals of the Division and recommended the need for a variety of course offerings, continued certification, instructor development, liaison with other Divisions, the need for university based graduate education and research, curriculum updating and committee structure within the Division to support these activities. These developments were and still are consistent with the Scope of Practice and the Long and Short Term Goals of the CPA.

The Division through its development of an Education Committee then developed the first edition of the orthopaedic curriculum which was approved by the Board of Directors of the CPA in 1985. This document sets down the approved purpose, curriculum, examination policies and procedures, instructor preparation and qualifications and also provides recommended content for the course levels and a detailed outline of the contents for courses and examinations. The curriculum is the identified and approved core of information of the Division which receives regular updates through the Education Committee of the Division. In 1997, a major review of the curriculum was undertaken by the Education Committee. This review and ensuing revisions was continued into 1998-99. The final revisions were completed as of December 15, 2000. The implementation of these revisions was started in 1999 and the curriculum will be implemented in the May of 2000.