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Unit Overview

Description

Exercise and physical activity have myriad benefits for human health and well-being. Exercise is a therefore a keystone of chronic disease prevention in humans. Exercise as Medicine is a unit designed to empower students to design, evaluate, adjust and optimise exercise prescription to improve human health and wellbeing. Using a combination of lectures, laboratories, and case studies, it will provide a platform enabling students to apply knowledge of exercise science to assist people to maintain health and prevent disease. Students will develop an understanding of the impact of modern lifestyles on risk factors for chronic diseases, and the role of exercise in chronic disease prevention to facilitate healthy active ageing and prolong healthspan.

Content is oriented towards exercise testing and prescription for enhancing health and well-being in apparently healthy populations (in line with the competencies outlined by Exercise and Sports Science Australia ESSA at Accredited Exercise Scientist AES proficiency level). The unit also provides a platform for those progressing to higher levels of study to obtain Accredited Exercise Physiology (AEP) status.

Students will gain competency in assessing the risks and benefits of exercise, and individualising exercise testing and exercise prescription in apparently healthy individuals across the spectrum of age, including risk factor management. Students will also gain competencies in methods of health and fitness assessment, and exercise programming, targeting at risk factor modification to prevent chronic disease.

To pass this unit, a student must demonstrate competency in key practical skills and abilities (pass/fail component) and achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit.

Credit
6 points
Offering
(see Timetable)
AvailabilityLocationMode
Semester 1UWA (Perth)Face to face
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) assess components of human health and fitness; (2) collect, assess and collate patient data to ascertain the risks and benefits of exercise participation in individuals with elevate burden of chronic disease (eg Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Cancer pathophysiology); (3) evaluate the role of modifiable lifestyle factors on the risk for developing chronic diseases, and the role of exercise in risk mitigation; (4) design, evaluate, adjust and optimise exercise-based programmes that target prevention of common chronic diseases, to enhance health and fitness; and (5) counsel individuals on major lifestyle related health issues..

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) practical assessment of students competency to perform exercise testing and client screening; (2) client data collection and lifestyle management assignments; and (3) final exam. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the practical assessment of students competency to perform exercise testing and client screening component.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Winthrop Professor Daniel Green and Dr Andy Haynes
Unit rules
Prerequisites
Successful completion of SSEH2260 Exercise Physiology
or
Enrolment in
MJD-IMSCP Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
and Successful completion of
48 points
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
SSEH3301 Exercise Prescription and Nutrition for Health and Fitness
Contact hours
2 hours lecture per week and 2 hours labs per week
  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.