Rehabilitation Activity and Exercise (REHB90002)

This subject will enable students to integrate and extend prior knowledge and skills to prescribe exercises that effectively and safely meet the needs of individuals, groups and specific populations across the lifespan and along the health and impairment continuum. Students will draw critically on evidence for the requirements for physical activity and exercise and the health risks due to sedentary behaviour and deliver and evaluate appropriate programs to manage these risks. Students will build on their clinical reasoning skills to theorise the mechanism of an individuals’ functional limitations and design and prescribe exercises to meet the goals of optimal health outcomes. Students will be expected to be critical in their analysis and evaluations of new and emerging forms of exercises, assessment tools and technologies that are not as yet supported by an evidence base.

All students will complete four modules within this subject.

All students will complete a Foundational module that will explore the pathophysiological and psychosocial theory of rehabilitation and evidence–based health outcomes of sedentary behaviour and exercise. A biopsychosocial framework will emphasise the biological, mechanical, social, psychological and cultural elements that influence exercise and physical activity. Further, students will build knowledge of the different types of exercise activity (cardio-vascular, fitness, strength, flexibility) and how these might be used to achieve different outcomes.

Students will then choose two from four modules that best meets their learning interests and/or practice needs. These modules are:

1. Habilitation The Fitness & Physical Activity module will cover the body systems and functions that contribute to fitness and the environmental and personal factors that influence individuals’ engagement with fitness and physical activity. The primary focus will be on measurement of fitness and physical function and exercise tolerance along the lifespan and the health and impairment continuum, including the role of new emerging innovations and technology tools that support current exercise and physical activity guidelines and priorities.

2. The Evidence for Exercise module will focus on the evidence base on the efficacy of exercise programs and physical activity in rehabilitation programs. Students will appraise both qualitative and quantitative evidence on outcomes of rehabilitation programs in select populations, including the role of new emerging innovations and technology tools that support current exercise and physical activity guidelines and priorities.

3. The Exercise for the Adult Population module will address the assessment and analyses of health related needs for adults in the selection of appropriate exercise interventions. Students will compare and contrast the personal and environmental circumstances that influence functional capabilities and participation preferences of adults within diverse practice contexts.

4. The Exercise for the Older Adult Population module will address the assessment and analyses of health related needs for older adults in the selection of appropriate exercise interventions. Students will compare and contrast the personal and environmental circumstances that influence functional capabilities and participation preferences of older adults within diverse practice contexts.

The final Integration module will be completed by all students and will focus on the design and evaluation of an exercise intervention to meet the needs of groups with common impairments or functional needs. Students will apply a model of rehabilitation best practice and using an ICF informed framework, in the execution of this task.