SISFFIT032 - Complete pre-exercise screening and service orientation

Unit code: SISFFIT032 | Study level: TAFE

Credit points

N/A

Location

Footscray Park

Werribee

Prerequisites

N/A

Overview

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to screen clients for participation in exercise programs and to provide general advice about programs and services suitable to clients.
It requires the ability to utilise industry standard pre-exercise screening systems, questionnaires and guidelines to collect and evaluate health information, and to determine suitable levels of exercise intensity for clients. This includes determining risk factors and providing referrals to medical or allied health professionals for guidance.
Screening may occur prior to clients beginning an exercise program, before changes to programs and when their health status changes. Outcomes are used by fitness instructors to plan client programs. Skills for planning are covered in complementary units.
This unit applies to group fitness instructors, gym instructors and personal trainers. It can also apply to other fitness facility staff members who screen clients and provide service information prior to clients participating in exercise activities. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes, and outdoor locations, depending on their job role.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment tasks will be designed to reinforce & extend knowledge and skill competence within set & controlled parameters in accordance with each unit’s learning outcomes & performance criteria requirements, including the setting of work based practical application tasks designed to provide evidence of competence outcomes, within periodic and scheduled timelines.

Students will be expected to demonstrate the following required skills:
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role and:

complete a pre-exercise screening and service orientation for three different clients including:

a female adult
a male adult
a client aged 55 years or over

for each of the above three clients:
identify exercise needs and preferences
determine health risk factors for exercise participation using industry standard screening questionnaire and guidelines
measure and record resting blood pressure
take and record accurate basic body measurements:

weight in kilograms
height in metres
waist circumference in centimetres
body mass index

explain features and benefits of available programs, services and facilities that meet the client’s needs and preferences
provide advice on suitability of exercise intensity and types of programs, according to the outcomes of their screening
accurately document details of client contact including screening outcomes and advice provided
according to actual client interactions or case studies:

identify two clients with risk factors that require referral to medical or allied health professionals
document informed consent to share health information for each of the two clients
prepare accurate referral documentation for each of the two clients to obtain guidance from medical or allied health professionals for exercise participation and prescription.

Students will also be expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:

key legal obligations and procedures for maintaining confidentiality of client information including requirements for the collection, use, maintenance and secure storage of private information, particularly sensitive health information
boundaries and responsibilities of fitness instructors in completing pre-exercise screenings, determining health risks and providing exercise prescription
how pre-exercise screening and referral of at-risk clients relate to duty of care
aims of pre-exercise screening processes and importance of implementing at different times:

prior to clients beginning an exercise program from sedentary and low exercise levels
prior to significant exercise program changes
when client’s personal health status changes significantly
when assuming exercise programming responsibility for a client previously screened by others

industry standard pre-exercise screening questionnaires and guidelines:

format and inclusions
purpose of different stages of screening questionnaires
how to use to identify and evaluate client health risk factors
circumstances indicating need for referral to medical and allied health professionals

health risk factors to be considered in screening clients for participation in exercise programs, why these factors are important, and how single and multiple factors contribute to assessment outcomes:
chronic disease in client and family history of disease:

cardiovascular disease including coronary heart disease and stroke
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
asthma
metabolic disease including diabetes mellitus
musculoskeletal disorders

adverse responses to physical activity including chest pain and dizziness
hypertension and hypotension
high cholesterol
high blood sugar
muscle, bone, tendon, ligament and joint injuries, pain and problems, including diagnosed and of significant concern
use of and reasons for prescribed medications
reasons for hospital admissions during previous year
body composition including underweight, overweight and obesity
antenatal and post-natal general issues and conditions
smoking
role of medical and allied health professionals and their area of expertise in providing guidance for client exercise participation and prescription:

general practitioners (GPs)
rehabilitation physicians
sports physicians
physiotherapists
accredited exercise physiologists
accredited practising dietitians

essential information included in referrals:

fitness instructor and facility details
client details
client consent for release of health information
reasons for referral
guidance being sought
copy of completed pre-exercise screening tool

how to locate, use and adapt template referral letters
legal and ethical obligations of obtaining and documenting informed consent from clients to:

share screening information with medical and allied health professions
authorise medical and allied health professionals to release health information to fitness instructors

how to tailor consent documentation according to a client’s instructions when they choose to limit information to be released to and from medical and allied health professionals
how to take basic body measurement techniques recorded for screening and how to calculate body mass index (BMI):

weight in kilograms
height in metres
waist circumference in centimetres

blood pressure and how to operate a blood pressure monitor
features and benefits of different types of services offered by fitness facilities:

group classes
programs, advice and support provided by gym instructors
personalised exercise programming and instruction by personal trainers
supplementary services offered to promote health and wellbeing

overview of the health benefits of exercise activities, and examples of exercise classes that feature:

cardiovascular exercises
resistance exercises
flexibility exercises
high impact exercise
low impact exercise.

Required reading

The qualified trainer and assessor will provide teaching and learning materials as required in the form of workbooks produced by the VUPolytechnic and/or via the VU Polytechnic e-learning system.