Master of Pediatric Musculoskeletal Health and Performance Curriculum

This course aims to understand the typical stages of growth and development in pediatrics. In addition, the analysis and assessment of movement to minimize the risk of injury and improve athletic performance will be discussed.

This course focuses on the common MSK conditions diagnosed in pediatric populations, clinical assessment, and implementation of evidence-based interventions. Students will have an in-depth understanding of techniques and rationale used in assessing, evaluating, and treating pediatric MSK dysfunction.

This course will focus on assessing and managing sports-related neurological injuries that may develop because of participation in athletic activities. In addition, students will assess the neurological benefits of physical activity, including neurophysiology of peak performance in pediatrics.

This course will assess the behavioral, biomechanical, and neural basis of the development and performance of functional movement skills in pediatrics. In addition, students will evaluate developmental motor patterns, cognitive, emotional, and physiological development, and fundamental motor pattern analysis for proper development in pediatrics.

This course provides an overview of nutrition issues affecting pregnant and postpartum women, infants, children, and adolescents. In addition, this course addresses nutrition education, community intervention strategies, and promoting healthy eating and physical activity to reduce obesity and chronic disease risk among maternal and child health.

This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of the health status of children in the United States, factors that determine health trajectories, systems of care for children, and strategies to improve the quality of children’s health care.

This course will provide guidelines for the field of pediatric exercise and sports. Topics include the anatomical, physiological, and psychosocial issues related to exercise and physical activity in children. In addition, students will assess the effects of maturation, growth, and puberty on fitness, typical exercise responses, and training adaptations.

This course will allow students to study physiological and medical aspects of exercise and physical activity in healthy children and children diagnosed with a disease. In addition, this course will focus on the significance of exercise testing and rehabilitation in pediatric diseases. Finally, students will demonstrate their knowledge by researching and presenting student-directed seminars to explain the role of exercise in specific pediatric populations with an illness or disability.

This course requires the student to produce an original research design suitable for submission to a Human Subjects Review Board (IRB) that demonstrates mastery of a subject/field they wish to pursue professionally. The course’s primary focus is the analysis of scientific literature to formulate a research proposal, including a thorough review of literature, hypothesis, and methodology. The research proposal will describe contributions to the field of pediatric MSK care related to exercise and sport science, nutrition, and public health issues. (Pre-requisites: completion of all core courses. (Students must complete this course in the final term of enrollment)