University of Technology Sydney

92562 Exercise Rehabilitation

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 92521 Functional Anatomy
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject builds on principles from 92521 Functional Anatomy and 92543 Exercise Prescription, and relates closely to concepts covered in 92564 Sport and Exercise Medicine. It examines the role of exercise prescription in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal, cardiac and neurological conditions caused by disease, sport or workplace injury. It focuses on developing a strong understanding of the physiological, biomechanical and psychological limitations of these conditions as well as developing proficiency in the skills required for individualised prescription of exercise programs for these populations. The subject has a strong focus on preparing graduates with relevant practical skills that can be utilised in the fields of exercise rehabilitation, exercise physiology and strength conditioning.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
A. Evaluate the physiological, biomechanical and psychological limitations particular to specified chronic medical conditions
B. Communicate the role of exercise as a therapeutic adjunct in the amelioration of injury resulting from sport, exercise, disease and the workplace
C. Identify chronic medical conditions relevant to occupation-related injuries and adapt physical activity programs to optimise return-to-work capabilities
D. Design, monitor and revise an exercise rehabilitation program in collaboration with various community, sport and workplace populations.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:

  • Competently apply knowledge and skills within the sport, exercise and health professions (3.0)
  • Engage in research and critical thinking to integrate diverse knowledge and develop creative, effective and evidence-based solutions (4.0)
  • Adapt to diverse industry contexts to enable optimal and sustainable sport, exercise and health outcomes (5.0)
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with diverse populations to enable positive change (6.0)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject incorporates a range of leaning activities to engage students with the content.

Lectures will provide students with a detailed understanding of the many factors relevant to post-injury exercise prescription and return to full capacity. Lectures will cover the fundamental principles and tools of exercise rehabilitation, before exploring various common injuries and the associated exercise rehabilitation techniques for each condition. Online lectures will give students the opportunity to view lectures at a time and location that suits their busy schedules. These lectures will provide an equivalent learning outcome to the traditional face-to-face lectures, whilst giving students added flexibility with their learning.

The knowledge development in the lectures will be further explored in the practice-oriented tutorial classes. Each tutorial session provides students the opportunity to develop industry-specific skills when rehabilitating clients from a musculoskeletal, neurological or cardiac injury. Tutorial sessions will involve brainstorming sessions, small-group work problem solving tasks and case studies. Due to the practical nature of the subject, students are required to wear appropriate loose-fitting gym clothing and footwear in all classes to ensure optimal participation in every activity. Pre-class activities are designed to introduce students to the weekly topics, and provide background expectations for the content.

A major component of the assessment for the subject is a group assessment task. Each group will be allocated a specific sports injury case study, and students will be required to research this topic throughout the session. The assessment of this item will consist of a detailed written report focussing on rehabilitation program design. This task contains a high level of authenticity as it elicits a detailed understanding of the multifaceted nature of injuries and chronic health conditions.

Students will also perform a practical viva exam which will assess the student’s oral and practical skills when assessing a patient for an exercise rehabilitation program. This exam will require an in-depth understanding of initial assessment procedures, implementation of objective testing procedures and formulation of an appropriate rehabilitation strategies, as experienced in the tutorial classes.

Feedback will be provided to students throughout the session via several mediums. Each week students will complete pre-class activities and peer feedback will be central to the review of this content in the tutorial time. The tutorial coordinator will also provide feedback and discussion about these formative tasks where appropriate, in particular during the early stages of the Session, and will also lead debriefing discussions at the conclusion of each class. The assessment items will be marked using a rubric which will be provided to students, along with written feedback about their work.

Content (topics)

  • Biomechanical principles as they relate to gait, movement, injury, disability and disease.
  • Common contraindications for participation in exercise that are associated with chronic and complex conditions, along with the associated pathophysiology.
  • Delivery of safe and effective exercise programs that are sensitive to the specific needs and abilities of clients.
  • Apply knowledge of the physiological responses to acute exercise and the adaptations to chronic exercise to improve and maintain specific aspects of health and fitness.
  • Principles of current best practice in exercise testing and program design to improve health and fitness for a variety of sub-populations considering appropriate modifications for relevant populations.
  • Apply population level recommendations and guidelines for minimising cardiovascular risk factors by reducing sedentary behaviour.
  • Training methods to improve health and functionality, including plyometrics, aquatic, flexibility, strength and power.
  • Assessment and prescription of occupational and functional rehabilitation.
  • Extrinsic and intrinsic factors contributing to injuries.
  • Physiological responses to injuries and the remodelling and repair process.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Practical exam

Intent:

This exam is designed to test the student’s oral and practical skills when assessing a patient and designing an exercise rehabilitation program.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B, C and D

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0

Type: Laboratory/practical
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Length:

20 minute timeslot (total 40 minutes)

Assessment task 2: Exercise rehabilitation program design

Intent:

To assess their understanding of the multifaceted nature of injury diagnosis and treatment, students will be required to design an exercise rehabilitation program for a specific sporting injury and effectively convey this information in a report.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B and D

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0

Type: Report
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 30%
Length:

2000 words maximum (deductions will apply for going over). Please utilise Tables and Appendix sections (where word count does not apply) where appropriate.

Assessment task 3: Final Examination

Intent:

This exam is designed to assess students understanding of the content delivered across the entire session. This includes content relating to the development of complex cases of rehabilitation along with each of the specific body sections that are the focus of the subject. Students will be required to respond to a range of physiological, biomechanical and psychological aspects of rehabilitation.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B and C

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

3.0, 4.0 and 5.0

Type: Examination
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%

Required texts

A combination of material from Brukner & Khan (2017) and various journal articles will be used as texts for this subject.

The book is: Brukner, P. & Kahn, K. 2017, Clinical Sports Medicine, 5th edn, McGraw-Hill, Sydney, Australia.

This is the same book prescribed as text for 92564 Sport & Exercise Medicine.

Students are advised to acquire their own copies of this text.

Copies of this text is available at the UTS library.

All additional readings, other than text books, will be available via links from within Canvas. The required weekly readings for this subject will be advised on Canvas prior to the lectures and tutorials. Please bring the readings to the tutorial class in the week required.

NB: It is essential that students complete all required readings. The required readings will be considered assumed knowledge for tutorial classes and the examination.

References

Heyward, V.H. 2014, Advanced Fitness Assessment & Exercise Prescription, 7th edn, Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill., USA.

Houglum, P. 2016, Therapeutic Exercise for Musculoskeletal Injuries, 4th edn, Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill., USA.

Prentice, W.E. 2015, Rehabilitation Techniques For Sports Medicine and Athletic Training, 6th edn, McGraw-Hill, Sydney, Australia.

Other resources

UTS Student Centre
Building 10

Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)

Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts

For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.

UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.

Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.

HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.

Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.

The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
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