ACVSMR study plan
ACVSMR · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Physiology
Map the major muscle groups, tendons, and ligaments of the canine and equine forelimb and hindlimb from memory
Explain force transmission through the tendinoligamentous apparatus and how it differs between weight-bearing species
Describe joint kinematics (range of motion, arthrokinematics) for the shoulder, stifle, and tarsus
Identify the biomechanical consequences of common conformational deviations in performance animals
Your checkpoint
One-page labeled anatomy/biomechanics cheat sheet per limb, self-quizzed to 90% recall
Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Physiology
Compare muscle fiber types and relate them to fatigue resistance and conditioning response
Explain the physiology of tendon and bone adaptation to load, including the mechanostat concept
Summarize the inflammatory and repair phases of musculoskeletal injury and their clinical implications
Relate core stability and lumbosacral biomechanics to performance
Your checkpoint
Written summary table linking tissue physiology to rehabilitation timing decisions
Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Diagnosis and Diagnostic Imaging
Select and justify the appropriate imaging modality for common soft tissue and orthopedic injuries
Interpret standardized gait analysis and lameness exam findings at a basic level
Differentiate normal from abnormal findings on radiographs and ultrasound using case descriptions
Outline the components of a complete sports medicine diagnostic workup
Your checkpoint
Annotated case log of 10 diagnostic scenarios with modality choice and rationale
Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Diagnosis and Diagnostic Imaging & Therapeutic Exercise, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation Techniques
Design a staged therapeutic exercise progression for a post-injury patient
Apply principles of motor control, proprioception, and neuromuscular re-education to exercise selection
Prescribe conditioning programs that respect tissue healing timelines
Match exercise equipment and surfaces to specific rehabilitation goals
Your checkpoint
Two complete 6-week rehabilitation protocols (one canine, one equine) with progression criteria
Therapeutic Exercise, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation Techniques & Modalities, Manual Therapy, and Adjunctive Rehabilitation Interventions
Compare therapeutic modalities (laser, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cryotherapy) by indication and contraindication
Describe manual therapy techniques and their proposed mechanisms
Integrate adjunctive interventions into a multimodal plan without duplicating effects
Evaluate evidence quality for commonly used modalities
Your checkpoint
Modality decision matrix scored by evidence strength, indication, and contraindication
Modalities, Manual Therapy, and Adjunctive Rehabilitation Interventions & Injury Prevention, Performance Assessment, and Return-to-Function
Build a return-to-function checklist with objective criteria for each sport discipline
Identify injury risk factors and screening tests for performance animals
Interpret performance assessment data to guide training load adjustments
Develop injury prevention recommendations for a specific discipline
Your checkpoint
Return-to-sport criteria document with measurable benchmarks for two disciplines
Species-Specific and Discipline-Specific Sports Medicine (Canine, Equine, Feline)
Contrast species-specific considerations for canine, equine, and feline athletes
Adapt rehabilitation techniques to feline patients and explain key differences
Describe discipline-specific demands (agility, dressage, racing, conformation) and their injury patterns
Adjust exercise and modality selection by species and discipline
Your checkpoint
Species/discipline comparison grid covering at least four disciplines and all three species
Professional Practice, Ethics, and Case Management & Injury Prevention, Performance Assessment, and Return-to-Function
Apply ethical and professional standards to case management and client communication scenarios
Outline documentation and record-keeping requirements for rehabilitation cases
Integrate performance and return-to-function principles into a complete case presentation
Synthesize all domains in timed practice case scenarios
Your checkpoint
Two full mock case presentations (history, diagnosis, plan, return-to-function, ethics) scored against a self-built rubric
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 85% on a self-generated anatomy and physiology recall quiz covering Domains 1
Week 4: Complete both rehabilitation protocols and defend progression criteria in a written self-review
Week 6: Finalize return-to-function criteria document and pass a timed 20-question mixed-domain self-test at 80% or higher
Week 8: Deliver two mock case presentations scoring 80% or higher on the rubric, with all weak domains logged for final review