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Physiotherapy Exercise and Physical Activity for Knee Osteoarthritis (PEAK)

Explore exercises and strategies for minimising pain and improving mobility of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

4,491 enrolled on this course

A physiotherapist sitting in front of a computer, viewing an image of a patient holding his knee in pain.

Physiotherapy Exercise and Physical Activity for Knee Osteoarthritis (PEAK)

4,491 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Advanced level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Implement best-practice care to people with knee osteoarthritis

The PEAK program was devised by leading physiotherapists at the University of Melbourne on the basis of research evidence. On this course we guide physiotherapists in how to implement best-practice care to people with knee osteoarthritis, delivered through one-to-one consultations, via videoconferencing (using the Zoom platform) or during face-to-face, in-person consultations.

The PEAK program focuses on patient empowerment through education, prescription of a strengthening exercise program and a physical activity plan, individualised to patient needs, and using minimal exercise equipment (e.g. elastic resistance bands and/or body weight) to enable patients to perform exercise independently at home.

Many of the principles and concepts are applicable to other common musculoskeletal conditions, and to other telehealth videoconferencing platforms. Importantly, a suite of useful patient resources (including a Zoom consultation preparation booklet, an exercise booklet, an osteoarthritis information booklet, a knee plan and log book) are provided, so that physiotherapists may print/download them or use with their patients in a clinical setting.

This course is also available to take in Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Introduction

    • Image of Prof Rana Hinman & Prof Kim Bennell

      Welcome to the course

      Introducing this course and our educators, Prof Rana Hinman and Prof Kim Bennell.

    • A physiotherapist sitting in front of a computer, viewing an image of a patient holding his knee in pain.

      What is this course?

      What is the PEAK program? Learn why it was developed and what you will learn.

    • Words titled: Who are you

      Tell us about you...

      Help us understand who you are and how you currently manage your patients with osteoarthritis.

  • Week 2

    Evidence-Based Knee Osteoarthritis

    • Couple sitting on couch with one in knee pain

      What is osteoarthritis?

      Learn more about what is osteoarthritis and its impact on individuals and society.

    • Health professional at a desk

      Making the diagnosis...

      Learn about the diagnosis, clinical presentation, and prognosis of osteoarthritis.

    • Person grabbing knee

      Pain, comorbidities, and misconceptions with osteoarthritis

      Learn about the relationship between osteoarthritis and pain, comorbidities, and common misconceptions.

    • Health professional talking to patient

      Evidence-based management of osteoarthritis

      Learn what the research evidence tells us is best practice for managing osteoarthritis.

    • Person stretching

      More about exercise

      Learn more about the importance of physical activity and exercise adherence.

    • Quiz spelled on tiles

      Review

      Reflect on the recommendations for osteoarthritis management and complete a short quiz.

  • Week 3

    Telehealth delivery of physiotherapy care

    • Patient on computer screen grabbing knee

      Introduction to telehealth

      Learn what is telehealth, its benefits and limitations, and its effectiveness for physiotherapy care of people with knee osteoarthritis.

    • Picture of city with random connection lines

      Technical connections for telehealth

      Briefly explore the technical elements of telehealth to optimise your connectivity.

    • Couple on telehealth

      Getting started with telehealth

      Learn about setup, etiquette, conduct, and preparation needed for videoconferencing consultations.

    • Patient on telehealth

      Learning how to use Zoom

      Get familiar with Zoom software to deliver the PEAK program via telehealth.

    • Quiz spelled on tiles

      Review

      Take a short quiz to test your knowledge

  • Week 4

    The PEAK Program

    • Health professional talking to patient

      Getting started

      Get an understanding and overview of the format of the PEAK consultations for managing knee osteoarthritis.

    • Handshaking

      The first consultation

      Learn the elements that make up the PEAK initial consultation for managing knee osteoarthritis.

    • Person exercising with tablet

      Follow up consultations

      Learn and review the different elements that make up the PEAK follow up consultations for managing knee osteoarthritis.

    • Quiz spelled on tiles

      Review

      Take a short quiz to test your knowledge.

    • Woman on computer celebrating

      PEAK Conclusion

      Let's wrap up and tell us what you thought.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the best-practice management of knee osteoarthritis, based on the latest research evidence
  • Summarise osteoarthritis, its prognosis and common treatment approaches, including the benefits of exercise and strategies for staying physically active to your patients.
  • Apply a structured program of education, strengthening exercises and an individualised physical activity plan with your clients who have persistent knee pain.
  • Perform delivery of the PEAK program in your clinical setting, during both face-to-face consultations and via telehealth.

Who is the course for?

Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy students, educators, researchers and other health professionals

What software or tools do you need?

To complete some exercises with patients you may require basic equipment such as resistance bands.

Who will you learn with?

Rana Hinman

Rana is a physiotherapist, researcher and Professor at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Her research focuses on chronic musculoskeletal pain, along with telehealth & digitally-supported care.

Kim Bennell

Professor of Physiotherapy and Director of the Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine at the University of Melbourne with expertise in the management of chronic musculoskeletal conditions

Who developed the course?

Melbourne Logo

The University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. We are Australia’s number one university and world leader in education, teaching and research excellence.

  • Established

    1853
  • Location

    Melbourne, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 40Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 12 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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