There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

Exercise and physical activity: you will study the benefits to health and wellbeing, role in preventing/treating common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity: you will explore the role in health and disease, physiological and psychological basis, rising obesity and diabetes ‘pandemic’.

This module will cover the role of physical activity for health and disease prevention, management, and treatment. In particular, the importance of physical activity in: obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental health, neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, cancer and old/young ages will be covered. You will examine the physiological and psychological mechanisms of action related to physical activity and inactivity in health and disease. You will also learn effective means with which to communicate health and physical activity related information to specific target groups such as health professionals or patients.

In this module you will also learn about exercise testing and prescription as well as referral procedures to other health practitioners or organisations. There will be particular focus on health screening, pre-exercise evaluation, risk stratification and risk management, goal setting, clinical exercise testing and prescription, scope of practice, medication as well as the use of national and international physical activity and health guidelines.

Upon completion of this module you will be able to:
LO1: Apply critical understanding of the epidemiological evidence for physical activity and fitness on health and disease outcomes and the physiological and psychological benefits of physical activity for health and disease prevention.

LO2: Critically analyse and reflect on the role of sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity on health and disease and the proposed mechanisms underlying the health benefits of physical activity.

LO3: Demonstrate understanding and skills in health screening, pre-exercise evaluation, risk stratification, exercise testing and goal setting in special populations.

LO4: Apply critical knowledge of the physiology, pathophysiology, medication, evidence-based guidelines, and exercise testing results to devise tailored clinical exercise programmes with the aim of improving the condition and health of an individual.

LO5: Effectively communicate health and physical activity related information and provide recommendations on physical activity for health benefits.