Human Growth and Lifespan Development

This unit develops students’ understanding of how the human body changes across the lifespan, including the different stages of growth, maturation and development. Students will use this knowledge to consider how these changes, and the common injuries or conditions within each stage, influence an individual’s involvement in exercise and sport, as well as how exercise and sport can be beneficial at different life stages. The unit aims to develop an integrated understanding of physical growth and development, including the genetic and environmental factors that interact to influence these processes. The unit focuses on development across the lifespan to give a balanced perspective on age-related changes in human motor function.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe the stages of growth, maturation, and development across the lifespan;
2. Identify exercises contraindicated for specific stages of growth, maturation, and development, considering chronological and biological age differences, and common injuries or conditions in different developmental stages; and
3. Articulate structural, physiological, and psychosocial components of human development, and explore their interrelationships.