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Unit of study_
EXSS3050: Exercise Across the Lifespan
2024 unit information
This unit covers the rationale and recommendations for the use of exercise and the promotion of physical activity from childhood through to old age, including those with chronic disease and disability. The student will explore evidence for the contribution of exercise to psychological health and well-being, improvement in body composition associated with poor health outcomes, and for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and disability, including cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, cognitive impairment, depression, diabetes, obesity, vascular disease, renal failure, and mobility impairment . Appropriate exercise modalities for older adults and implementing the exercise prescription in those with chronic disease and frailty as well as promoting behavioural change will also be taught.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Movement Sciences
| Code | EXSS3050 |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Movement Sciences |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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EXSS2032 and EXSS2034 |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. The principal objective is for you to gain an ability to critically evaluate the evidence and apply this evidence about the relationship of exercise and physical activity to growth, development and ageing, and to the prevention and treatment of chronic disease and disability via appropriate physical activity strategies. Special attention will be given to age-related changes in physiology that are important in exercise capacity and participation in physical activity, as well as the types of exercise prescriptions which are useful for health maintenance, disease prevention, and disease treatment in older adults of all fitness levels.
- LO2. Articles in peer-reviewed journals based on research investigations and systematic reviews of the literature are the basic mode of communication among scientists and health care professionals. It is important to be able to critically review journal articles as well as to write clearly and concisely in a scientific and evidence-based format. The skills of searching computerised databases for published articles on a particular topic, organizing them into a personal reference library, and understanding how the findings of studies are summarised in a brief review of the literature will be taught in this course. The ability to synthesise and convey the information covered in this course in an oral presentation about a clinical case, in an Endnote reference library, and in the written presentation of a comprehensive exercise program will be assessed.
- LO3. Develop scientific and clinical writing and presentation skills that communicate the findings of a group of investigations of a topic in a clear and concise way.
- LO4. Learn and apply the basics of the prescription of the appropriate modality, frequency, intensity, and volume of exercise for the promotion of health and targeting of common health related concerns of childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, as well as healthy ageing, and chronic diseases of the ageing population.
- LO5. Demonstrate competence in the assessment maximal dynamic strength (1RM testing) using weight lifting machines and free weights and objective and subjective perceived exertion scales, as well as how to safely conduct power testing and training, including an understanding of modifications needed for underlying diseases and disabilities in older adults or clinical cohorts.
- LO6. Demonstrate competence in the performance of body composition assessments with precision including height, weight, waist circumference and calf and mid-arm circumference as well as administer questionnaires about metabolic risk and malnutrition.
- LO7. Demonstrate competence in the measurement of performance-based tests of function, including habitual, maximal, and dual task gait velocity, chair stand time, static and dynamic balance, and 6-minute walk testing, and interpretation of test results with respect to age- and cohort-related normative data.
- LO8. Demonstrate competence in the conduct and interpretation of screening questionnaires/tools for assessment of frailty, sarcopenia, insomnia, cognitive impairment, fear of falling, and undernutrition in clinical cohorts.
- LO9. Demonstrate Computer Literacy Skills, including how to: • Utilise the library and librarian resources • Initiate interlibrary loans • Access computerised databases of scientific and medical literature • Download references into a personal ENDNOTE library, save the search strategy, and create an electronic reference library with sub-folders using ENDNOTE • Review the scientific peer-reviewed literature for a particular topic • Preparing a written comprehensive design with appropriate referencing for a clinical exercise facility to treat a particular chronic disease or condition relevant to exercise programming and assessment in a clinical cohort.
- LO10. • Using an epidemiological and experimental evidence base, discuss the relationship of exercise and physical activity to growth, development and ageing • Using an epidemiological and experimental evidence base, discuss the relationship of exercise and physical activity to the prevention and treatment of chronic disease and disability • Explain the age-related and disease-related changes in physiology and body composition that are important for exercise capacity and participation in physical activity and disease burden • Using an epidemiological and experimental evidence base, describe the types of exercise prescriptions which are useful for health maintenance, disease prevention, and disease treatment in older adults of all fitness levels
- LO11. • Explain the principles and procedures of pre-exercise prescription and risk assessments • Outline the prescription for the appropriate modality, frequency, intensity, and volume of exercise for the promotion of health and targeting of common health related concerns of childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, as well as healthy ageing, and chronic diseases and syndromes of the ageing population • Describe the risks of exercise and the ways to screen for potential problems and minimise them • Discuss practical implementation of physical activity programs in health care settings and health policy relevant to physical activity promotion in the community.
- LO12. • Construct a case study of a complex patient, and defend the plan for exercise assessment and treatment in this patient presenting with complex chronic disease and co- morbidities relevant to physical activity in both oral presentation with slides and written description with references
- LO13. Design a comprehensive exercise facility modified for individuals with a specific chronic which is evidence-based, safe, and effective, and includes a strong rationale based on a referenced review of the literature, plans for the physical building, protocols for staff training and competencies, types of programming and equipment, means for behavioural change implementation, quality assurance and safety monitoring protocols, integration within the health care system and communication of results to other health care providers.
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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