EXERCISE REFERRAL AND PRESCRIPTION - 2020/1

Module Overview

Students will enter the module with an already good understanding of the pathophysiology of the most prevalent chronic diseases (gained from BMS2039 and BMS2052). Students will examine the evidence of using physical activity and exercise training in the prevention and treatment of (chronic) diseases in different populations and will learn to analyse, apply and implement safe and effective exercise training programs in these populations. The students will apply this knowledge by designing a research proposal that aims to test new exercise referral interventions. There is an option to undertake an industry recognised Exercise Referral award (recognized by the Register of Exercise Professionals) alongside this module.

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

MANDERS Ralph (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

BMS1044 Principles of exercise, fitness and health and BMS2052 Pathology:  a metabolic perspective  

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Current evidence relating to aerobic and muscular fitness training for health improvement.

• Intensity, duration, frequency, and type of exercise for health-related benefits in (sub) clinical populations.

• Different components of, and exercises to be included in an exercise programme.

• Risk stratification

• Clinical Pulmonary exercise testing

• Specific interest groups:

- Diabetes (Type 1&2);

- Obesity;

- COPD;

- Cardiovascular disease;

- Hypertension;

- Cancer;

- Elderly.

• Relationships between exercise work rate and rating of perceived exertion.

• Different stages of an exercise programme.

• Signs of excessive strain, which should lead to termination of the programme or test.

• Current policies and legal issues in exercise referral

• Behavioural and motivational aspects of exercise and adherence to intervention programmes

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

In the case of the individual presentation an alternative assessment can be done by handing in the presentation hand-outs accompanied by a written explanation to the slides. For the written final report alternative assessment is not possible.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that the students have a strong understanding of clinical conditions and know how these can be treated and/or prevented with different modes of exercise. The students can apply contemporary research and current guidelines in order to design a scientifically viable

research protocol that aims to develop effective and safe exercise referral programmes. The assessments will include feedback on practicals that allows them to get early feedback on their progress.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

 

A scientific research protocol that focuses on gathering new knowledge and expand the understanding of exercise related health adaptations. The protocol should be based on a critical assessment of the current knowledge of the underlying mechanisms relating to exercise referral and health benefits. This proposal will have to presented in the form of:

• A written report.

• An individual presentation of the prgramme for peers, academic staff and referral specialists.

• Their ability to critically engage with research literature and formulate new hypothesis.

 

Formative assessment and feedback of:

 

• Understand and elaborate on medical conditions for which exercise referral is commonly prescribed.

• Demonstrate the ability to plan, prepare and safely execute a referral programma. Students can obtain formative feedback from a variety of sources:

• Verbal feedback following lectures or during tutorials

• Verbal feedback from academics or demonstrators during practicals

• Feedback to specific queries via email, with responses being made available to all via SurreyLearn or during tutorials as appropriate generic class feedback to practical reports

Module aims

• Learn to apply exercise as a treatment strategy for different chronic clinical conditions
• Expand their knowledge on the underlying metabolic and pathological causes of common health issues/conditions
• Evaluate the specific exercise induced changes to human physiology that serve as the underlying bases for exercise referral
• Develop clinical exercise testing skills
• Gain insight into factors effecting adherence to exercise programmes

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Students will have lectures and tutorials to provide them with further understanding of the concepts underlying the health benefits of exercise in a variety of (sub)clinical conditions. This knowledge will be integrated into practical classes that are designed to further their understanding of the topic and to provide them with the practical and professional skills necessary. Throughout the module SurreyLearn will extensively be used to inform students and disseminate specific contents such as lecture hand-outs, useful links and additional literature. SurreyLearn will also be used to communicate between academics and students to effectively answer questions that are of relevance to all students.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures - 15 hours

• (pre practical) Tutorial - 3 hours

• Practical - 12 hours

• individual assignment.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS3085

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.