PHYSIOTH 1001 - Physiotherapy Exercise Prescription and Activity

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

In this course, students will be introduced to the field of physical activity and exercise for health. They will explore the benefits of physical activity, risks of sedentary behaviour and the important role of physiotherapists in promoting physical activity and exercise prescription in the community. Foundational concepts related to physical activity, acute responses of the musculoskeletal system to exercise, client assessment and exercise prescription will be introduced. Students will identify the risks associated with a range of exercises and strategies to minimise risks for clients. A range of assessment procedures and equipment used to conduct safe, exercise-related assessments, and the opportunity to design and modify basic exercises for health and fitness needs and goals for apparently healthy populations will also be introduced.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PHYSIOTH 1001
    Course Physiotherapy Exercise Prescription and Activity
    Coordinating Unit Physiotherapy
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites PHYSIOTH 1000
    Corequisites PHYSIOTH 1002
    Restrictions Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons)
    Course Description In this course, students will be introduced to the field of physical activity and exercise for health. They will explore the benefits of physical activity, risks of sedentary behaviour and the important role of physiotherapists in promoting physical activity and exercise prescription in the community. Foundational concepts related to physical activity, acute responses of the musculoskeletal system to exercise, client assessment and exercise prescription will be introduced. Students will identify the risks associated with a range of exercises and strategies to minimise risks for clients. A range of assessment procedures and equipment used to conduct safe, exercise-related assessments, and the opportunity to design and modify basic exercises for health and fitness needs and goals for apparently healthy populations will also be introduced.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Cameron Dickson

    Course Coordinator: Cameron Dickson
    Phone: +61 8 8313 3676
    Email: cameron.dickson@adelaide.edu.au 
    Location Level 4, Engineering & Maths Sciences Building

    Tutor: Meredith Smith
    Phone: +61 8 8313 7149
    Email: meredith.smith@adelaide.edu.au
    Location Level 4, Engineering & Maths Sciences Building

    Tutor: Leigh Rushworth
    Phone: +61 8 8313 3690
    Email: leigh.rushworth@adelaide.edu.au 
    Location Level 4, Engineering & Maths Sciences Building
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    Timetable information can be found in the MyUni website for this course.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Describe the principles of and rationale for therapeutic exercise and activity prescription.
    2 Relate the theory of therapeutic exercise and activity prescription to the role of physiotherapy in the promotion of health and wellbeing.
    3 Select and perform safe, appropriate and evidence-based, individualised assessments of physical activity and exercise.
    4 Design and implement safe, appropriate and evidence-based, individualised physical activity and exercise interventions.
    5 Explain the positive and negative factors that contribute to a person’s motivation and ability to adhere to an exercise and/or activity prescription and how this will feed into its design.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2, 3, 4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    5

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 5

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    -

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    -

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    -

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    5
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance. 11th edn. Powers, SK, Howley, ET & Quindry, J. McGraw Hill, 2020
    Online Learning
    All notes, resource manuals and papers for lectures, practicals, tutorial sessions and assessment tasks are available on MyUni as well as lists of suitable readings, online quizzes and links to external websites.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Through online materials, readings, workshops and practicals, students will develop a fundamental understanding of exercise physiology, and will develop skills in the assessment and prescription of exercise and activities.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Practicals: 12 x 2 hours = 24 hours
    Workshops: 12 x 2 hours = 24 hours
    Online Scenarios: 12 x 2 hours = 24 hours
    Examination: 1 x 2 hours = 2 hours
    Preparation for Practical and Workshop Sessions: 1 hour per session = 24 hours
    Preparation for Assessment Tasks = 30 hours
    Weekly reading: 2 hours per week = 24 hours
    TOTAL = 152 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    Topics covered will include:

    • The role of exercise and activity prescription in physiotherapy
    • Principles of assessment and prescription
    • Aerobic and anaerobic conditioning
    • Resistance training
    • Flexibility training
    • Balance training
    • Strategies to motivate adherence to exercise and activity prescription
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    The assessment for Physiotherapy Exercise Prescription and Activity consists of:

    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome
    Examination Summative 40% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Assignment Summative 20% 3, 4, 5
    Continuous Assessment Summative 40% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Detailed information, including due dates, can be found in the MyUni wesbite for this course.
    Assessment Detail

    Examination (40%) – The final examination consists of a written and practical component:

    1. Written examination (20%): Students will complete an end-of-semester written examination within the University exam period covering content delivered within the course.
    2. Objective Structured Clinical Examination (20%): Students will complete an end-of-semester OSCE covering practical skills that reflect the learning activities from weeks 7 – 12.

    Assignment (20%) - Students will be presented with a case, and asked to plan and justify an exercise/activity assessment and intervention for the patient with reference to the research literature. Students will be required to consider motivational factors as part of the intervention planning. 

    Continuous Assessment (40%) - Continuous assessment tasks will occur frequently throughout scheduled course time and will not require additional preparation time beyond normal expectations. The continuous assessment consists of two parts:

    1. Two online quizzes (10% each), focussed on assessing course content from the online module. Quiz 1 will assess content from weeks 1-3 inclusive, and Quiz 2 will assess content from weeks 4-9 inclusive.
    2. A mid-semester OSCE assessment (20%) which will assess the student’s ability to practically execute course content – up to and including week 5.
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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