module specification

Module code: ST6014
Module Title: Applied Clinical and Exercise Physiology
Description: The first half of this module examines the response of the various physiological systems to exercise with an emphasis on training and other applied aspects. There is also a focus on sports nutrition, including ergogenic aids. Selected advanced topics of current interest are introduced. The second half develops an advanced understanding of the physiological effects of, and adaptations to, differing climatic and environmental conditions.
Period: Year long (30 weeks), day
Required Prior Learning: ST5006
Assessment: Seen written exam (50%) + Clinical Assessment (25%) + Written feedback report (25%)

ST5006

Clinical Exercise Physiology
Critical analysis of concepts of health and fitness; principles of epidemiological investigation. LO1,LO3
Disease patterns of developed countries including concepts of risk factors and environmental factors. LO1,LO3,LO5
Exercise and the disease state, including a variety of degenerative and psychological disorders. LO1,LO2,LO3,LO4
Introduction to exercise testing and prescription for those with diseases specifically the use of Cardiopulmonary testing (CPET) as a diagnostic and monitoring method. LO2, LO7

Physiological responses to exercise
Cardiovascular and respiratory adaptations (heart rate, stroke volume, blood pressure, minute ventilation, breathing frequency), skeletal muscle responses (including the effects of fatigue), exercise metabolism (energy systems), advanced acid-base regulation (buffer systems, training methods and nutritional supplements available), hormonal adaptations, training adaptations, detraining and practical solutions. LO2,LO4,LO5,LO6,LO7

Interactions of exercise with environmental conditions
Impact of different environmental conditions including:
Decreased barometric pressure: physiological responses to high altitude therefore both hypoxia and hyperoxia, short and long-term exposure. 
Extreme heat and cold: Thermoregulatory control systems, short and long-term adaptations to hot and cold environments. Pathological conditions.  LO4,LO5

Avoidance and treatment of hyperthermia in sports persons. Interactions with humidity. LO4,LO5,LO7

Zero- and micro- gravity: physiological and pathological changes, their mechanisms, and alleviation/treatment. LO4,LO5,LO7

Theory-driven lectures will be supported by interactive seminars and practical sessions. Lectures will provide the essential theoretical base, whereas seminars/practicals offer students an opportunity to apply this knowledge to sport and exercise practice. Students will have access to the environmental chamber as well as simulation devices for altitude during practical classes.

Key strategies:
Lectures
Laboratory practical sessions
Workshops/Seminars (discussion/interaction/experiential learning)
WebLearn (blended learning/information point/discussion board)
Self-directed learning
Summative and Formative assessments will be dispersed evenly across the semester enabling students to gain early feedback and reflect on progress in an ongoing basis.
Students’ study responsibilities are articulated in the SHS Staff/Student Agreement which is available via the Faculty Web site.

The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Educations Qualifications.

This modules aims at providing a comprehensive understanding of exercise physiology in a range of populations and environments. It analyses the interactions between exercise and a variety of disease. It covers both general topics such as epidemiology and pathology, as well as specific conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and psychological disorders. The module aims to give students some theoretical and practical experience of describing and understanding clinical conditions.

It conveys an appreciation of the complex nature of environmental physiology and examines the practical implications of exercise and athletic testing and performance.
There is a focus on core competencies identified by prospective employers.

It also familiarise students with data collection, interpretation and presentation.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the aetiology and characteristics of a range of degenerative conditions, including the role of exercise in causation and treatment
2. Effectively collect and critically interpret some physiological measurements relevant to degenerative diseases
3. Understand the principles of epidemiological investigations and how they can be applied to investigate the interactions between exercise and diseases.
4. Display a comprehensive knowledge of relevant physiological responses to exercise and their practical implications.
5. Understand the physiological consequences and practical implications of exercise in a range of extreme environments.
6. Demonstrate an ability to disseminate scientific information in verbal and written style and in a professional manner.
7. Use appropriate methods of exercise performance testing, effectively collect and critically interpret physiological measurements taken during exercise.

There are 4 assessments within the module which test different components of knowledge relevant to subject specific knowledge and employability. The Practical exam is a core competencies assessment based on ability to conduct testing, interpret data and to give appropriate verbal communication of scientific information.

• Written seen exam (90 minutes) mixing short answer and short essay style questions.
• Core competencies practical assessment (90 minutes) – industry standard competencies in Exercise Physiology
• Athlete feedback report – Objective communication of scientific data to a non-scientific reader

Textbooks:

Core texts:

• Cooper, C. Press (2001). Exercise Testing and Interpretation: A Practical Approach Paperback. Cambridge University Press. ISBN-10: 0521648424; ISBN-13: 978-0521648424.
• Ehrman, J. et al. (2013). Clinical Exercise Physiology. 3rd ed. Human Kinetics.
• Wasserman, K. et al., (2011). Principles of Exercise Testing and Interpretation: Including Pathophysiology and Clinical Applications. 5th Revised edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
ISBN-10: 1609138996; ISBN-13: 978-1609138998.

Other texts:

• ACSM (2013). Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 9th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• ACSM (2001). Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey (1992). The Sports Council, London.
• Astrand, P. et al., (2003). Textbook of Work Physiology. 4th Revised edition. Human Kinetics Publishers; ISBN-10: 0736001409; ISBN-13: 978-0736001403.
• Hardman AE & Stensel DJ (2003). Physical activity and health: The evidence explained. Routledge.
• McArdle, W.D., Katch, F.I. and Katch, V.L. (2010) Exercise physiology: nutrition, energy, and human performance, 7th edition Philadelphia : Lippincott Williams &
• Reilly, T. and Waterhouse, J. (2005). Sport, Exercise and Environmental Physiology. Elsevier, Churchill Livingstone.
• Tipton, C.M (Ed) (2006) ACSM's advanced exercise physiology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Journals
Billaut, F., Bishop, D (2009). Muscle Fatigue in Males and Females during Multiple-
Sprint Exercise. Sports Medicine 39(4), pp. 257.
Braith, R and Edwards, DG. (2000) Exercise following heart transplantation. Sports
Medicine, 30:171-192.
Godfrey, R. et al., (2013). The effect of high-intensity aerobic interval training
on postinfarction left ventricular remodelling. British Medical Journal pp. 1-4.
doi:10.1136/bcr-2012-007668.      
Hagberg, JM et al. (2000) The role of exercise training in the treatment of hypertension
Sports Medicine  30:3:193-206
Kraemer, W. and Ratamess, N. (2005). Hormonal Responses and Adaptations to Resistance Exercise and Training. Sports Medicine, 35(4). pp. 339-361.
Parker, B.A., Kalasky, M.J., Proctor, D.N.
(2010). Evidence for sex differences in cardiovascular aging and adaptive responses to
physical activity. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 110 (2), pp. 235.
Place, N., Yamada, T. Bruton, J. and Westerblad, H. (2010). Muscle fatigue: from
observations in humans to underlying mechanisms studied in intact single muscle
fibres. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 110(1), pp. 1.