Master of Orofacial Physical Therapy

The Master’s program in Orofacial Physical Therapy trains physical therapists to become clinical specialists in the head and neck region. Specialists in orofacial physical therapy focus on the examination and treatment of patients with temporomandibular and neurophysiological complaints. Here, interdisciplinary cooperation with other medical specialties plays an important role.

Field of work of an orofacial physiotherapist

The Master of Orofacial Physical Therapy program trains students to become competent orofacial physiotherapists who, from their role in first-, one-and-a-half-, second- or third-line care, perform sustainably responsible diagnostics and interventions. Essential for acting in practice is the conditional knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, pathology and pathophysiology. Cooperation with other (medical) specialties within and outside physical therapy also plays an important role.

As a specialist in orofacial physical therapy, you distinguish yourself by:

Extensive and specific knowledge of (musculoskeletal) problems of the head-neck region, considering temporomandibular dysfunction, headaches, dizziness, head-neck cancer, facial paralysis and the like.
Be able to apply complex skills to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal, neurological and physiological functional disorders of the head and neck region.
A high level of advanced clinical reasoning for analyzing complex health problems in the head and neck region.
Be able to identify and analyze clinical and scientific issues through Evidence Based Practice (EBP) and Practice Based Evidence (PBE) so that decisions can be made for and with the individual patient based on current best knowledge.

In daily practice, this level of training in both first-, second- and third-line settings is characterized by the fact that you diagnose and treat patients with complex health problems in the head and neck region. Here you cannot fall back on existing knowledge and experience.

To deal with this complexity, graduate orofacial physiotherapists should have advanced knowledge and skills, specialized manual skills, and skills of clinical reasoning based on existing scientific and practical evidence.

Training in Brief

Name: master’s degree program in Orofacial physical therapy
Target audience: physical therapists
Duration: 3 years
Variant: Part-time
Degree: master of science (MSc)
Location: Amersfoort

Practicalities

The Master program in Orofacial Physical Therapy is a part-time program taught on our campus in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. In addition to the contact days, you follow a number of internship days and cutting room teaching. The contact days can be found on the right side of this page under the heading “Details”. The study load is 13 to 16 hours per week, excluding internship. The program comprises a total of 90 credits (EC).

Regular master's program in 3 years

As a general physical therapist with a bachelor’s degree, you will attend SOMT University of Physiotherapy for a regular three-year program. Contact days for the first year are on Wednesdays, once every two to three weeks. Contact days for the second and third years are always on Thursdays, once every two weeks, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The three-year program starts in September.

Accelerated program through exemptions

Are you already registered as an orofacial physiotherapist, but still looking to deepen your knowledge at a high level? Or do you already have a relevant MSc title in, for example, another physical therapy specialization? Then you can accelerate the Master’s Degree in Orofacial Physical Therapy.

The Examination Board decides for each student who will receive an exemption for what. This is determined based on the content of previous training and courses, experience through the years, any scientific products or implementation of projects through peer consultation or otherwise.
If you have any questions please email studentenadministratie@somt.nl.

Admission

Admission to the Master program in Orofacial Physical Therapy is possible with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy recognized by the Dutch government and BIG registration.

Structure and content of training

The Master Program in Orofacial Physical Therapy is distinguished by its interactive and comprehensive program, high level of quality and high level of clinical reasoning in complex health problems in the head and neck region. Multidisciplinary (medical) cooperation is an important part of the training. Physiotherapists are trained to become competent orofacial physiotherapists who, from their role in first-, one-and-a-half-, second- and third-line care, perform sustainable responsible diagnostics and interventions. Conditional for acting in practice, knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, pathology and pathophysiology is essential. The content of the training is in relation to the professional competence profile as drawn up by the Dutch Association for Orofacial Physical Therapy.

The first year

The first year consists of a basic module in evidence-based clinical reasoning and an introduction to ultrasound. You follow the basic module together with students from the Muskuloskeletal Ultrasound Master’s program for physical therapists. This program consists of gaining generic competencies comparable to a master’s level, such as:

Clinical reasoning
Evidence-Based Practice
Methodology and statistics
Clinimetry
Implement and innovate.

These competencies come together in four tests (Critically Appraised Topics). In addition, you attend class days that highlight the clinical state of the art in the field. This first year prepares you optimally to enter integrally into the second year of the Master program in Orofacial Physical Therapy.

Teachers

The quality of teachers is a determining factor for the level of education. SOMT University of Physiotherapy therefore invests in highly qualified supervision. Classes and lectures are taught by leading experts who have their expertise in a specific topic and extensive teaching experience.

Modules

Years two and three of the Master of Orofacial Physical Therapy program consist of four modules per year, composed of four specific themes. These modules increase in complexity of theme and/or casuistry throughout the course. Coherence between all learning lines is promoted by the content of the “practice-based casuistry,” which are developed around the relevant themes of the module.

Modules of chewing system and dentistry

These modules focus on temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and orofacial pain. Topics covered include various forms of TMD including TMD pain and arthrogenic TMD, as well as dental (dental) pain. Other topics in these modules:

Anatomy, arthrokinematics and biomechanics of the masseter system, also i.r.t. the cervical spine;
Bruxism;
Dentistry;
Psychosomatics;
Multidisciplinary collaboration with dentists and oral surgeons, among others.

Modules of neurology

In these modules, health problems based on neurological problems are discussed. The deepening of neurological background knowledge is hereby conditional for adequate differential diagnosis and indication for therapy. The following topics are central:

Neurophysiology
Headache musculoskeletal factors; secondary and primary headaches
Facial paresis; associated pathologies, forms of facial paralysis, synkinesias, ENT, plastic surgery and associated rehabilitation through mime therapy by the orofacial physiotherapist
Trigeminal neuralgia; differential diagnosis and relationship to the masseter system
Multidisciplinary collaboration with the neurologist, ENT doctor, plastic surgeon and speech therapist, among others

Modules ENT

These modules focus on dizziness and hearing problems, among others. Differential diagnosis is essential here to determine what belongs within the domain of the orofacial physiotherapist, and what does not. The following topics are covered for this purpose:

Somatic tinnitus and non-somatic tinnitus addressing differential diagnosis
Dizziness
Otologies
Multidisciplinary collaboration with the ENT physician

Modules of surgery and oncology

These modules focus on aftercare in oncology, traumatology and surgery. We address the treatment of arising movement disorders in order to optimize the functions and quality of life of these patients.
An important component is the dysfunctions of the chewing system, neck and shoulders, resulting from head and neck oncology and its treatment. Problems here include lymphedema, fibrosing different tissues in radiation area, chewing/swallowing/speech problems, neck and shoulder dysfunctions. Knowledge of the various medical interventions in head and neck oncology is therefore gained, as well as an understanding of the techniques and effects of various reconstructions. Other topics include:

Rehabilitation after head and neck surgery in the face due to developmental disorders such as schisis and facial deformity;
Multidisciplinary collaboration with the oral surgeon, ENT doctor, plastic surgeon, oncologist, maxillofacial prosthetist, speech therapist and dietician, among others.

Clinical practice

In teaching, casuistry is guiding. That is, each assignment begins with a recognizable case from everyday practice. The subject matter is thus immediately linked to practice. Relevant casuistry can be introduced by the teachers, but often you will bring in a case from your own practice.

Cutting room teaching

In the second year of the Master’s program in Orofacial Physical Therapy, dissection education is provided in the cutting room. A unique opportunity to deepen and specify the knowledge of anatomy for the domain of expertise of the orofacial physiotherapist. Thus, knowledge of anatomy arthrokinematics is linked to the problems in practice. For example, insight is gained into the complexity of the anatomy and biomechanics of the head-neck region, and the biomechanical and neurophysiological relationships between the masseter system and the cervical spine.

Details

Study load: 13-16 hours per week
Credits: 90 ECTS
Level: EKK 7
Accreditation: NVAO
KRF NL registration: Yes
Language: Dutch **
Start of study: September

Starts September 2024 | 3-year course
Enrollment closed

Starts September 2025 | 3-year course
Enrollment open

Schedule follows
Price List 2025-2026

** = English-language scientific literature

Internship

Internships are organized in both the second and third years. The purpose of the internship is to apply what has been learned in practice and gain experience in the specific field of the orofacial physiotherapist. There are different forms of internships, ranging from individual internships and mini-clinics, to participation in multidisciplinary consultations.

Review

Since the competencies developed are focused on professional practice, the testing is primarily practice-related. Competencies are developed through preparatory and processing assignments, varied forms of work and practical assignments. Each module contains multiple formative and summative tests to ensure multidimensional, competency-based assessment. In addition, clinical competencies are tested during the practical internship.

Scientific skills are tested through a scientific research project within the field of orofacial physical therapy. Hereby, the results and conclusions should be articulated academically and be discussed critically. By making Critically Appraised Topics (CAT) on the basis of clinical questions from practice, the basis for a substantiated and advanced specialist clinical reasoning developed.

Studying with the DUO Lifelong Learning Credit

Do you want to study with us and are you younger than 56? If you are not entitled (anymore) to regular study financing, you can sometimes still borrow money to pay tuition or fees.

With the DUOL lifetime learning credit, everyone can continue to develop.

The amount of lifelong learning credit depends on the amount of tuition or fees. For more information and applications, go to duo.nl/ levenlanglerenkrediet.

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