In the event that the health authorities announce a new period of confinement due to the evolution of
the health crisis caused by COVID-19, the teaching staff will promptly communicate how this may effect
the teaching methodologies and activities as well as the assessment.
Currently, physiotherapy has become a key piece for the treatment of various diseases for which the patient could be taking some type of medication. At the same time this patient might be following some pharmacological treatment for other diseases. Therefore, the patient’s health problems should not be understood in isolation, but in an integral way.
The combination of physiotherapy with pharmacology will sometimes go in the same direction, presenting synergistic effects in the patient. However, they can also go in opposite directions. In both cases, it is very important that the physiotherapist has knowledge about the indications, interactions and adverse effects of the drugs. With all this knowledge, the patient will feel more secure and the physiotherapist will become an indispensable intercom between family members and other health professionals, thus providing a comprehensive, high quality and effective treatment.
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisites are necessary, but it is advisable to have studied subjects in anatomy, physiology and pathology.
Objectives
To publicize the main groups of drugs, as well as their main characteristics in order to help in the integral treatment of patients.
Offer the necessary tools to obtain truthful information and apply it correctly in therapy.
That the student acquires reading comprehension of scientific texts
That the student becomes familiar with the structure of the Summary of Product Characteristics and/or the Patient Leaflet
To familiarize the student with the pharmacological field so that he/she can communicate rigorously with other health professionals
To get the student to acquire their own autonomy to self-form.
Competencies
01 - The ability to analysis and synthesis.
02 - The ability to organise and synthesize
10 - Develop autonomous learning skills.
11 - The ability to adapt to new situations.
14 - Demonstrate initiative and an entrepreneurial spirit.
18 - Demonstrate a patient-centered approach by showing respect for the central role of the individual and his/her needs in decision-making.
20 - Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, emphasising the dynamic interrelationship between structure and function, in particular of the musculoskeletal, the nervous and the cardiorespiratory systems.
62 - Capacity to read and understand physiotherapy literature written in the English language.
54 - Ability to interact effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
50.4 - Ability to design and apply different electrotherapy modalities, thermotherapy and cryotherapy, phototherapy, ultrasound therapy, vibrotherapy, magnet therapy, ergotherapy and pressotherapy.
Learning outcomes
Once passed the subject, the student will have acquired knowledge in pharmacology that will allow him/her to understand the effects that the medicinal products can cause in the patients, and they will be able to participate actively in the integral and effective treatment of them, both alone and as part of a multidisciplinary team in the healthcare sector.
The student will be able to communicate correctly on topics related to pharmacology, both with patients and their families and with other health professionals.
The student will know the pharmacological bases of drug administration techniques such as iontophoresis or phonophoresis.
In short, the future physiotherapist will be a person trained to know and understand the main groups of drugs and will know how to integrate all of this information through the observation and analysis of his/her patient. The professional will also have enough tools and criteria to continue self-training by reading articles and attending conferences or complementary courses.
Syllabus
CHAPTER 1: BASIC CONCEPTS IN PHARMACOLOGY
1.1. Introduction
Terminology
Physiotherapist’s relationship with pharmacology
Pharmaceutical forms and routes of administration
1.2. Pharmacokinetics
LADME system
Physiotherapy and pharmacokinetic profiles
1.3. Pharmacodynamics
Mechanism of action of drugs
Drug-receptor interaction
1.4. Interactions
1.5. Adverse reactions
1.6 Clinical assays
CHAPTER 2: NERVOUS SYSTEM PHARMACOLOGY
2.1 Autonomic nervous system pharmacology
Adrenergic agonists and antagonists
Cholinergic agonists and antagonists
Alzheimer disease
2.2 Central nervous system pharmacology
Gabaergic system
Anticonvulsants drugs
Dopaminergic system
Parkinson disease
Psychopharmacology: Benzodiazepines, antidepressants and antipsychotics
2.3 Neurophatic pain treatment
CHAPTER 3: SKELETAL MUSCLE SYSTEM PHARMACOLOGY
3.1 Introduction to the UMNS (upper motor neuron syndrome)
3.2 Muscle relaxants
3.3 Neuromuscular blockers
CHAPTER 4: PHARMACOLOGY OF PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
4.1 Analgesics
No opioid analgesics: Paracetamol and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Opioid analgesics
4.2 Local anaesthetics
4.3 Corticosteroids
CHAPTER 5 : OSTEOARTICULAR PHARMACOLOGY
5.1 Drugs for the treatment of:
Osteoporosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Arthrosis
5.2 Adjuvants to pharmacological treatment
CHAPTER 6: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM PHARMACOLOGY
6.1Antihypertensives
6.2 Antianginous
6.3 Cardiotonics
6.4 Antiarrhythmics
6.5 Hypolipemiant
CHAPTER 7: BLOOD PHARMACOLOGY
7.1 Antiplatelets
7.2 Anticoagulants
CHAPTER 8: PHARMACOLOGY OF THE RESPIRARORY SYSTEM
8.1 β2 Agonists
8.2 Anticholinergics
8.3 Inhaled corticosteroids
8.4 Chromones
CHAPTER 9: ANTI-INFECTIVE DRUGS
CHAPTER 10: THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
10.1 Diabetes Mellitus
Insulin
Oral antidiabetics
CHAPTER 11: SPORTS AND DOPING PHARMACOLOGY
Teaching and learning activities
Evaluation systems and criteria
Bibliography and resources
Duran M; Mestres C; Nogues RM. Fundamentos de Farmacología para Fisioterapeutas. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana, 2017.
Lorenzo P; Moreno A; Leza JC; et al. Manual de Farmacología Básica y Clínica. Veláquez. 18ª edición. Madrid: Médica Paramericana, D.L. 2012.
Flórez J. Farmacología humana. 5ª edición. Barcelona: Elsevier España, S.L,2008.
Goodman and Gilman's"The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics". 12th edition. McGraw-Hill Professional,2011.
Evaluation period
E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session: