Lessons
There are 9 lessons:
1. Patterns, Causes, and Effects of Back Problems
- Red Flags for Back Pain
- Pain only on One Side
- Back Injuries
- The Connections Between Back Pain and Depression
- Work Related Back Pain
- Posture and Ergonomics
2. Back Anatomy and Physiology
- The Skeleton
- The Skeletal System of The Back
- Spinal Curvatures
- The Relationship Between the Muscles and The Skeleton
- Stretching A Muscle
- The Nervous System’s Supply to The Back
- Experiencing Pain
- Trigger Points
3. Preventing Back Injuries
- Lifestyle Issues and Habits
- Correct Lifting Technique
- Good Posture
- Diet
- Ergonomics
- Preventative Treatments
- Muscles and Flexibility
- Managing Back Related Injuries
- Taping Up an Injury
- Managing Inflammation
4. Types of Back Injury
- Spinal Injuries
- Musculoskeletal Injury
- Neurological Injuries
- Pinched & Trapped Nerves
5. Assessment and Screening
- Collecting Client Information
- Functional/Physical Assessment
- Psychosocial Assessment
- Symptoms of a Spinal Injury (Bone)
- Symptoms of a Muscular Back Injury
- Symptoms of a Neurological Back Injury
- Clinical Assessment Procedures
6. Professional Treatments
- Back Care Professionals
- Complementary Therapies
- Psychological Treatments for Chronic Pain Management
7. Surgical and Pharmaceutical Treatments
- Pharmaceutical interventions
- Understanding Prescription Medication Addiction
- Surgery
8. Back Health Maintenance
- Best Practice
- Changing Habits
- Legal Issues
- Specific Practitioner Issues
- Ethics
- The Mind’s Impact on the Physical Body
- A Holistic Approach
9. Rehabilitation
- Back Pain & Grief
- Progressive Programme Design
- Providing Psychosocial Support
- Establishing and Monitoring Exercise Quotas and Intensity
- Personal Rehabilitation
- Professional Rehabilitation and Care
Please Note:  Each lesson culminates in an assignment, marked by your and returned with relevant suggestions, comments, and extra reading if necessary.
More Information
IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING GOOD BACK HEALTH CARE
Back Injuries
Because the specific cause of the problem is often difficult to diagnose, and the symptoms are either intermittent or vague, or recurring on and off, some people think they are not a serious injury. To ignore a back injury is a mistake, once an injury has been done it can become chronic, and many people end up either living with pain or taking pain medications long term.
Treatment often does not completely rectify the problem. This is because while nursing their back injury, people will tend to rely on other muscles and use/strain them in tasks they were not designed for.
To untrain these unconscious behaviours is very difficult and requires a lot of conscious attention to everyday behaviours that most people perform without thinking. By far, the best course of action with back injuries is to prevent them in the first place, and failing that, seek intensive treatment quickly.
If you are suffering an injury to the back, there are a few basic, common care options you can pursue yourself, if you have a mild injury (strain or sprain) and you know what the injury is. Following initial first aid treatment, rest is always important.
The body requires extra resources to react to the injury (inflammation, increased blood flow, increased white cell production, with bruising and cuts platelet and clotting factor production will also increase) and to rebuild damaged tissue (new cell production, new connective tissue formation and deposition, removal of debris of damaged cells/tissues, bone deposition etc).
In some cases, the affected area can be supported by a brace, to take the burden of postural maintenance off damaged muscles, vertebrae, and discs.
In the past, the care of back injury involved prolonged rest. However, resting muscles to the point where they are not used over a long period will result in atrophy. As an injured muscle atrophies, it will become weaker and other muscles will have to work harder to cover the functions normally performed by the injured muscle.
This can result in muscles normally used for intermittent movements being in a chronic state of tension as they try to compensate for the weakness/pain/disuse of a postural muscle. The result is injury to the compensating muscle.
Without proper balance of rest and rehabilitation, a back injury will get progressively worse, and more difficult to repair. It is now recommended that you rest for a few days initially, before returning to your fitness regime, albeit gradually and with caution and often some modifications.
There are two types of back pain:
- Acute – acute back pain is ‘short-term’ pain and usually lasts no more than 6 weeks. It tends to resolve on its own with rest and self-care and there is no residual loss of function.
- Chronic – chronic back pain is defined as pain that continues for 3 months or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of acute low pack pain has been treated.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.
General
Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.
Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.
Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.
Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.
Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.
Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.
Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.
Enrolment
Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.
Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.
Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.
Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.
Assessment
Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.
Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.
Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –
Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.
Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.
Qualifications
Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.
Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.
Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.
Tutors
Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.
Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.
Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.
