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  2. Physical Activity and Health [SPS3111]

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Physical Activity and Health

  • Unit Code

    SPS3111

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit focuses on a wellness approach to maximising health through lifestyle education and skills to address such factors as physical activity, nutrition, chronic disease risk, and weight control. Considerable emphasis will be placed upon the role of specific modes of physical activity in the prevention of disease.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 unit from SPS1104, SPS1111

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SPS2108, SPS2120, SPS3103

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply the risk factors for development of chronic disease and strategies for reducing their risk.
  2. Appraise screening tools and risk stratification prior to fitness testing or prescription of exercise programs to a wide range of special populations.
  3. Critique evidence based-research that supports the theory 'Exercise is Medicine'.
  4. Evaluate the importance of physical activity in maintaining health and be able to implement illness prevention practices in their lifestyle.
  5. Explain the epidemiological and molecular-biological basis of physical activity in the prevention of chronic disease.
  6. Explain the health consequences of physical inactivity.
  7. Identify the importance and benefits of physical activity for weight control.

Unit Content

  1. Theoretical basis and practical application of physical activity as an intervention for maintaining health and wellbeing for 'apparently healthy' people and a wide range of special populations (including people with chronic disease, elderly, children and pregnant women).
  2. The importance of 'Exercise as Medicine' in the prevention of chronic disease.
  3. The role of physical activity in maintaining health with an emphasis on the benefits of different exercise types, exercise programming, and maximising participation.
  4. The relationship between physical inactivity and chronic disease.
  5. The burden of chronic disease (for example; cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and sarcopenia) in modern society.
  6. The relationship of physical activity to health and key aspects for maintaining a healthy body weight and adequate nutrient intake to support the body's functions.
  7. Biological basis of physical activity and physiological regulation of the human genome through physical activity.
  8. The role of screening tools and risk stratification for fitness testing and exercise prescription.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and tutorials.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PerformancePractical test15%
AssignmentWritten assignment20%
TestMid semester test30%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination35%

Text References

  • American College of Sports Medicine. (2010). ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Bouchard, C., Blair, S.N., & Haskell, W.L. (2012). Physical activity and health (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  • Brill, P.A. (2004). Functional fitness for older adults. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Note: Seminal Reference.
  • Bushman, B. (2011). Complete guide to fitness and health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  • Coombes, J., & Skinner, T., (2014). ESSA's student manual for health, exercise and sport assessment. Sydney: Elsevier   
  • Heyward, V.H. (2010). Advanced fitness assessment and exercise prescription (6th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SPS3111|2|1

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Physical Activity and Health

  • Unit Code

    SPS3111

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit focuses on a wellness approach to maximising health through lifestyle education and skills to address such factors as physical activity, nutrition, chronic disease risk, and weight control. Considerable emphasis will be placed upon the role of specific modes of physical activity in the prevention of disease.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 unit from SPS1104, SPS1111

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SPS2108, SPS2120, SPS3103

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply the risk factors for development of chronic disease and strategies for reducing their risk.
  2. Appraise screening tools and risk stratification prior to fitness testing or prescription of exercise programs to a wide range of special populations.
  3. Critique evidence based-research that supports the theory 'Exercise is Medicine'.
  4. Evaluate the importance of physical activity in maintaining health and be able to implement illness prevention practices in their lifestyle.
  5. Explain the epidemiological and molecular-biological basis of physical activity in the prevention of chronic disease.
  6. Explain the health consequences of physical inactivity.
  7. Identify the importance and benefits of physical activity for weight control.

Unit Content

  1. Theoretical basis and practical application of physical activity as an intervention for maintaining health and wellbeing for 'apparently healthy' people and a wide range of special populations (including people with chronic disease, elderly, children and pregnant women).
  2. The importance of 'Exercise as Medicine' in the prevention of chronic disease.
  3. The role of physical activity in maintaining health with an emphasis on the benefits of different exercise types, exercise programming, and maximising participation.
  4. The relationship between physical inactivity and chronic disease.
  5. The burden of chronic disease (for example; cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and sarcopenia) in modern society.
  6. The relationship of physical activity to health and key aspects for maintaining a healthy body weight and adequate nutrient intake to support the body's functions.
  7. Biological basis of physical activity and physiological regulation of the human genome through physical activity.
  8. The role of screening tools and risk stratification for fitness testing and exercise prescription.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, laboratories and workshops.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PerformancePractical test15%
AssignmentWritten assignment20%
TestMid semester test30%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination35%

Text References

  • American College of Sports Medicine. (2010). ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Bouchard, C., Blair, S.N., & Haskell, W.L. (2012). Physical activity and health (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  • Brill, P.A. (2004). Functional fitness for older adults. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Note: Seminal Reference.
  • Bushman, B. (2011). Complete guide to fitness and health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
  • Coombes, J., & Skinner, T., (2014). ESSA's student manual for health, exercise and sport assessment. Sydney: Elsevier   
  • Heyward, V.H. (2010). Advanced fitness assessment and exercise prescription (6th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SPS3111|2|2