SISFFIT044 - Develop and instruct personalised exercise programs for older clients

Unit code: SISFFIT044 | 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 develop and instruct exercise programs and sessions specifically tailored for individual older clients. Older clients are those aged at least 55 years; however, they can be significantly older. It covers skills for evaluating and modifying programs in response to client monitoring and feedback. Programs and sessions take account of the particular issues and risks for older clients.
It requires the ability to promote healthy ageing and integrate information from pre-exercise screenings, fitness assessments, and any medical guidance that may have been received for particular clients, to design suitable programs.
Program design involves effective application of exercise science principles. This unit has a direct relationship with, and is supported by, SISFFIT049 Use exercise science principles in fitness instruction.This unit applies to personal trainers, who work independently with clients using discretion and judgement to develop and instruct individually tailored client programs. They practise in settings such as fitness facilities, gyms, leisure and community centres, client workplaces and homes and outdoor locations, depending on their 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:

develop and document one personalised exercise program for three different clients aged 55 years or over including:

a female client
a male client
a client for whom medical advice has been received

for each of the above three clients:

develop and document two personalised session plans, each with a minimum duration of 30 minutes
incorporate exercises and injury prevention strategies suited to older clients
incorporate strength and balance exercises that can help prevent falls

instruct two of the above sessions for two of the clients (four sessions in total), according to session plans, each with a minimum duration of 30 minutes
consistently use client-centred communication and instructional techniques that are suited to older clients
according to actual client interactions or case studies:
follow protocols for written reports to medical or allied health professionals for one client for whom guidance has been received, and communicate about:

client’s current fitness capabilities and goals
client response to exercise sessions
questions, concerns and further guidance sought

evaluate the effectiveness of one client program, modify program and session content and document details of the evaluation and changes made.

Students will also be expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

boundaries and responsibilities of fitness instructors in providing personalised exercise prescription for older clients and relationship to duty of care
format and inclusions of client progress reports to medical and allied health professionals
specific information provided by pre-exercise screening and fitness assessment processes relevant to developing exercise programs for older clients
current philosophies of service delivery for older people:

concept of healthy ageing
empowerment
re-ablement
rights-based approaches
client-centred practice

contents of the key overarching recommendations contained in established national physical activity guidelines for older people
barriers to exercise for older people:

sensory decline, specifically hearing and vision loss
discomfort and pain
fear of injury and falls
fixed income
cognitive decline
isolation and depression

common health changes related to ageing:
reduced:

bone density and risk of osteoporosis
coordination and balance
muscle mass, strength and physical endurance
joint flexibility and mobility

increased risk of:

falls and injury
high cholesterol
high blood pressure
cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease and stroke
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
cancer
osteoarthritis
diabetes mellitus
mental health issues including depression and anxiety

exercises suited to older clients that target improvements in the above age related health changes, the particular importance of strength and balance exercises, and types of equipment that can be used
aspects of exercise science principles relevant to the design of programs and sessions for older clients
injury risks and issues for older clients during exercise and how to prevent and address these in exercise instruction:

falls
strains
sore joints
overexertion

appropriateness of different demonstration and instruction techniques for effective instruction of older clients
how older clients with sensory, cognitive and physical decline can be supported during instruction
communication considerations for older clients:

allowing time for interactions
avoiding fitness terminology
recognising and adapting to visual and hearing impairments
being positive and focussing on strengths
respecting the older person’s rights
checking own understanding and the understanding of the older person

how to recognise and respond to indicators of over exertion and discomfort that can present in older clients, and when exercise should be modified or stopped:

chest pain at rest and during activity
severe breathlessness, feeling faint, dizziness and loss of balance
unusual fatigue and shortness of breath
significant muscle, bone and joint pain beyond what is normally expected during exercise

methods used to evaluate effectiveness of personalised exercise programs:

ongoing informal discussions with client and targeted questions to elicit opinion about achievement of goals
reports from older clients about improvements to health and functional movement
ongoing observation and measurement of client performance and improvements
staged formal assessments and comparison measurement.

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.