Study Guide

Objective

The student interacts with people experiencing acute or chronic pain in a professional, respectful and empathetic way and using a work approach that promotes health. The student has a client-centred approach and engages in dialogue with the client when investigating the causes of pain. The student is attuned to the state of their body and mind and controls it in order to support palpation and understand its importance.

The student understands pain as a physical, psychological and social phenomenon. The student recognises the most common damage and illnesses that cause pain and understands the possibilities of osteopathy in managing and treating various states of pains. The student knows the basics about the epidemiology of pain, the special characteristics of pain in people of different ages and the classification of pain. The student is able to recognise various states of pain and to develop practical solutions for the independent treatment of pain.

The student evaluates delicate changes in the flexibility and quality of the tissue of the spinal and cranial regions and can communicate observations professionally. The student’s palpation is anatomically precise and sensitive when the student examines and manipulates the client safely using osteopathic techniques.

The student examines the functional importance of different areas of the body, and uses scientific knowledge to analyse the principles of the cranial approach and the assumed impact mechanisms of this approach. The student follows international advances in their field and utilises them in their own work.

The student examines how the cranial and spinal structures function together on different tissue levels. The student analyses how the functioning of the cranial, spinal and hip structures affects different states of pain.

The student recognises and evaluates the indications of the biopsychosocial and cranial approaches and combines these approaches with the client’s treatment plan in an appropriate way.

The student combines the various approaches with the client’s treatment plan in an appropriate way and collaborates with the client to prepare exercises and ways of thinking and doing that ease the client’s acute or chronic pain.

Content

Principles of pain classification
Acute and chronic pain
Examining pain in practice and differential diagnostics
Structure and functioning of the cranial and facial regions
Cranial nerves and central nervous system
Biomechanical, neurophysiological and psychoemotional perspectives in osteopathic practice
Cranial approach
Biopsychosocial approach
Pain management
Guidance that promotes the client’s rehabilitation and autonomy
Individual guidance that promotes the client’s rehabilitation

Prerequisites

Neuroanatomy and -physiology, The significance of the autonomic nervous system in osteopathic practice

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
- Student can search for knowledge resourcefully utilizing sources of the field and uses the knowledge base of the field
- Student is familiar with the knowledge base and core components of the profession

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS
- Student has adequate professional skills to work in the profession
- Student can work in a client-oriented way
- Student solves professional tasks and problems

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
- Student works safely and in accordance with the ethical principles of the field
- Student displays competence benefitting groups or projects
- Student is able to evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses and development needs

Assessment criteria, good (3)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
- Student searches for knowledge and justifies the use of sources
- Student uses the professional knowledge base consistently
- Student justifies actions by means of evidencebased knowledge

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS
- Student applies professional skills to different situations
- Student can act responsibly and in a clientoriented way
- Student can work in various tasks in diverse operating environments

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
- Student justifies professional activities according to the ethical principles of the field and evaluates the safety of these activities
- Student can work in work groups and projects in a goal-oriented way
- Student develops oneself

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
- Student applies the professional knowledge base fluently and in a versatile way
- Student evaluates and uses evidence-based knowledge

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS
- Student applies professional skills in different situations and can evaluate the results of these actions
- Student can act responsibly and in a clientoriented way
- Student applies alternative solutions to professional decision-making

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
- Student evaluates professional activities and safety according to the ethical principles of the field
- Student can work in different groups and projects with persons with diverse cultural backgrounds
- Student develops the work community and oneself

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

PASS: Same as satisfactory (see above)

Failed

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
- Student does not know or know how to use the concepts of the profession adequately
- Student uses the professional knowledge base one-sidedly

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS
- Student does not have the required professional knowledge or skills, and the level of professional competence proves inadequate
- Student does not reach the level of client

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
- Student does not consider safety or ethical principles of the field sufficiently
- Student does not show adequate readiness to develop oneself or to participate