Skip to main content
Unit of study_

EXSS5101: Design and Implementation of Exercise

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit focuses on the development of understanding and skills relating to the design and implementation of physical activity based interventions in the scope of Accredited Exercise Physiology practice. The unit ultimately aims to develop the capacity for design and delivery of safe and effective exercise plans that consider client treatment goals, medical history, clinical status and other influencing factors using an evidence-based practice approach as foundation. These individualised interventions will positively affect functional capacity, health and/or behaviours of the individual. Students will develop skills in the use of behaviour change for lifestyle intervention, and in the monitoring and revision of exercise and exercise programs, for application in the context of target conditions in the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular domains and a broad range of target pathologies and complex cases.

Unit details and rules

Unit code EXSS5101
Academic unit Movement Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Daniel Hackett, daniel.hackett@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Nathan Johnson, nathan.johnson@sydney.edu.au
Maria Fiatarone Singh, maria.fiataronesingh@sydney.edu.au
Jennifer Fleeton, jennifer.fleeton@sydney.edu.au
Elizabeth Machan, elizabeth.cayanan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam End-Semester Exam
Multiple-choice short answer questions covering material of entire unit.
30% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Skills-based evaluation hurdle task group assignment Interprofessional Learning (IPL) Introductory Workshop
Attendance at the workshop and written report.
0% Week 04
Due date: 18 Feb 2022 at 16:00

Closing date: 25 Feb 2022
Workshop (2 hours)
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Skills-based evaluation hurdle task Accelerated Communicate Excellence (ACE)
On-line module designed to develop professional communication skills.
0% Week 05
Due date: 25 Mar 2022 at 17:00
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
Assignment Evidence-based practice: Module Report
A written assignment in the form of report evaluating scientific evidence.
30% Week 10 No more than 750 words.
Outcomes assessed: LO2
Skills-based evaluation Exercise Program and Oral Defence
Exercise management plan and defence of the program will be assessed.
40% Week 13 40 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Group assignment with individually assessed component = group assignment with individually assessed component ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Accelerated Communicate Excellence (ACE): An on-line module designed to accelerate the development of your professional communication skills in listening, reading, writing, speaking and reasoning.

Exercise-based Practice Module Report: A written assignment in the form of a report evaluating the evidence in a journal article.

Exercise Program and Oral Defence: Combined with oral presentation, Exercise Management Plan and defence of a devised exercise program to assess the ability to rationalise decisions and the use of scientific evidence to support these.

End-Semester Exam: Exam comprising a number of multiple-choice and short answer questions covering the lecture/tutorial/practical material of the entire unit.

Assessment criteria


Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Exceptional knowledge of exercise physiology design and implementation.

Distinction

75 - 84

High level of knowledge of exercise physiology design and implementation.

Credit

65 - 74

Good level of knowledge of exercise physiology design and implementation.

Pass

50 - 64

Basic level of knowledge of exercise physiology design and implementation.

Fail

0 - 49

Learning outcomes of the unit are not met to a satisfactory standard. There is a risk of harm to patients with the lack of knowledge and skill demonstrated

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The Assessment Procedures 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded. However, a unit of study may prohibit late submission or exclude late penalties only if expressly stated below.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Orientation to the Masters; Principles of Professional Practice & Scope of Practice: Overview of the Australian Health Care system; role of the Exercise Physiologist within the Australian Health Care System including planning prescription with considerations of client, referral, assessments, basic reporting, resources, expertise and referring on. Lecture (2 hr)  
Introduction to the Australian Health Care System: Students navigate the Australian health care system and three international health care systems simulating a patient to develop 1) an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the Australian Health care system; 2) understand the concept of the patient journey and 3) the impact of the social determinants of health. Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 02 Implementing Aerobic Exercise: considerations for prescribing testing or training session; sequencing; instruction and demonstration; equipment calibration, set-up, safety; prescription principles including FITT; monitoring and feedback, warm-up, cool-down. Lecture (2 hr)  
Implementing an Aerobic Exercise Session: demonstrate an aerobic exercise session from a provided exercise program for an apparently healthy client, including warm-up, cool-down, instruction, monitoring and feedback, using a range of equipment. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 03 Implementing Resistance Exercise: considerations for prescribing testing or training session; sequencing; instruction and demonstration; equipment calibration, set-up, safety; prescription principles including FITT; monitoring and feedback, warm-up, cool-down. Lecture (2 hr)  
Implementing a Resistance Exercise Session: demonstrate a resistance exercise session from a provided exercise program for an apparently healthy client, including warm-up, cool-down, instruction, monitoring and feedback, using a range of equipment including machine, free-weight, resistance bands, and body weight. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 04 Principles of Aerobic Training Prescription: formulate client-centered prescription including; multiple goals including client-centered goals; monitoring adaptation and performance; progression and reassessment; responding to changes and revising of programs; implementing intensity. Lecture (2 hr)  
Implementing Aerobic Exercise Intensity: demonstrate multiple modality exercise sessions using a range of approaches to target and maintain exercise intensity. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 05 Principles of Resistance Training Prescription: formulate client-centered prescription including; multiple goals including client-centered goals; monitoring adaptation and performance; progression and reassessment; responding to changes and revising of programs; implementing intensity. Lecture (2 hr)  
Implementing Resistance Exercise Intensity: demonstrate resistance exercise sessions using a range of approaches to target and maintain exercise intensity. Practical (2 hr)  
Week 06 Exercise Management Plans (including exercise prescription): goal setting, exercise prescription; progressive overload; re-assessment and program modification; design and plan presentation – including applying to patients with metabolic and kidney disease. Lecture (2 hr)  
Exercise Management Plans: case studies involving formulation of goal-based, individualised interventions, utilising assessment data interpretation; appraisal and modification of management plans – including applying to patients with metabolic and kidney disease. Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 07 Professional Practice (including ethical conduct): personal versus professional ethics, ethical theory, principles of professional ethical practice for an AEP, skills for ethical decision making. Lecture (2 hr)  
Exercise Management Plans: real-life de-identified case studies (including in metabolic and kidney disease) to ethical decision-making for the exercise physiologist. Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 08 Evidence-Based Practice: introduction to evidence-based practice, how to formulate a meaningful clinical exercise question, understand the principles of systematic searching of the literature and summarising of evidence, understand levels of evidence and how to assess the quality of evidence, and assess study validity and overall risk of bias of published evidence. Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 09 Evidence-Based Practice: understand the differences between statistical significance, effect size, and clinically meaningful differences of interventions; learn how to calculate estimates of treatment effect and uncertainty, and make a clinical decision about the adoption of specific exercise prescriptions based on these considerations. Lecture (2 hr)  
Learn how to perform an electronic database search across relevant databases, how to save and download search strategy and results into a reference library, how to calculate mean differences and confidence intervals in randomised trials, how to calculate effect sizes, how to find clinically meaningful differences of important outcomes in the literature. Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 10 Behaviour Change: the problem of physical activity (PA) adherence; Global PA rates; PA guidelines; Australians meeting PA guidelines (PA + Strength); Correlates of PA; Behaviour Change Framework; Individual, Social and Socio-ecological models of PA, special considerations for people with metabolic disease, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 11 Behaviour Change: ecological Interventions to increase PA and their evidence base; individual and social interventions to increase PA and their evidence base; Programming for individual behaviour change (conditions including metabolic disease, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease). Lecture (2 hr)  
Behaviour Change: the intention-behaviour gap; identifying correlates of exercise/PA: an examination of video case examples; identifying motivational self-determination types. Using self-determination principles to understand exercise/PA behaviour, and how behaviour can be changed. How to scaffold and support exercise/PA behaviour change. Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 12 Considering Complex Cases: approach prioritisation in patients with multiple morbidities (assessment, risk management, and therapeutic goals). Considering cases with metabolic disease, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. Lecture (2 hr)  
Evaluation of a Management Plans (in a patient with kidney disease): real case study involving introduction to multiple morbidities including comorbid diabetes and hypertension; with consideration for prescription, evidence-based outcomes, plan for progression and related implementation issues. Tutorial (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at practical and tutorial classes is recommended.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate professional conduct and practice in delivering physical activity interventions, which is consistent with the ESSA Code of Professional Conduct, and Ethical Practice.
  • LO2. Employ evidence-based practice and clinical practice principles in combination with assessment outcomes, in the design and delivery of safe and effective physical activity interventions within the scope of AEP practice.
  • LO3. Evaluate the evidence base for physical activity interventions for the management of the AEP cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory/pulmonary and kidney domains.
  • LO4. Demonstrate the ability to appropriately monitor, evaluate and modify physical activity interventions, notably for people across the AEP cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory/pulmonary and kidney domains.
  • LO5. Deliver and manage safe and effective exercise interventions incorporating behaviour change principles and techniques to improve physical activity compliance. This includes consideration of client goals, clinical status, history and other influencing factors for wellness and health. Notably, for people across the AEP cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory/pulmonary and kidney domains.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.