Introduction to Clinical Exercise Physiology

This unit is an introductory unit for the Master of Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation. It establishes student understanding of the scope of practice and professional requirements of an accredited exercise physiologist. Students will reflect on their undergraduate studies and the attainment of exercise scientist competencies, to foster their understanding of their academic strengths and areas for improvement within this discipline area. Students will develop an understanding of how they and others learn and think, and explore the concept of evidence-based practice, person-centred care, value-based care, and biopsychosocial health care. These are overarching themes embedded in Exercise and Sports Science Australia’s (ESSA) professional standards for accreditation. Grounded in these themes, students will begin to develop their capacity for clinical decision making, which will be enhanced and further developed in subsequent units within the course.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Deconstruct the accredited exercise physiologist scope of practice and critically reflect on previously attained competencies for ongoing learning relevant to clinical exercise practice;
2. Interpret the concept of evidence-based practice, and evaluate research findings to inform exercise assessment and prescription recommendations;
3. Assess clinical presentations and assessment outcomes to inform clinical decision making aligned with person-centred care and value-based care principles; and
4. Qualify clinical decision-making outcomes and contextualize actions to align with theories of behaviour change and individualised determinants of health to inform interventions; and
5. Participate in an academic community through reflective and critical engagement in academic texts and understanding of principles of academic integrity.