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.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  • Unit Title

    Clinical Exercise Physiology: Neurological and Neuromuscular
  • Unit Code

    SPS4117
  • Year

    2022
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Prof Anthony John BLAZEVICH

Description

This unit examines the use of therapeutic exercise as a treatment modality in the context of neurorehabilitation. Clinical assessment of impaired movement and function is explored in relation to neurological and neuromuscular disorders. Human sensorimotor function and pathophysiology is covered, and the therapeutic benefits of common neurological treatments and ground-breaking discoveries are discussed. Principles of evidence-based medicine used to evaluate the efficacy of clinical exercise interventions are investigated in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 unit from SPS3302

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Access and interpret scientific and clinical data with reference to neurophysiological and neurorehabilitation literature; and use this data to inform your own practice.
  2. Apply this information in a clinical setting to determine a clients clinical status, assess their exercise capacity and risk of injury, recognise signs/symptoms of adverse reactions.
  3. Apply this information in the prescription of appropriate client-centred therapeutic exercise programs.
  4. Discuss the typical effects on exercise responses and risk factors associated with neurological and neuromuscular disorders, and medications commonly prescribed to treat these disorders.
  5. Explain the fundamental concepts in functional neuroanatomy, particularly relating to sensorimotor structures and the neural pathways involved in movement.
  6. Explain the psychological factors associated with living with chronic neurological or neuromuscular conditions, and use this knowledge to develop strategies to effectively communicate with clients and their families in an appropriate and respectful manner.
  7. Formulate appropriate clinical outcome measures to evaluate and monitor clients sensorimotor function and their functional capacity in activities of daily living.
  8. Identify the pathophysiology and symptoms occurring in a range of neurological and neuromuscular disorders.
  9. Understand the role of therapeutic exercise as a treatment modality in the interdisciplinary approach to neurorehabilitation.
  10. Use this information to establish the efficacy of prescribed exercise programs on a group or individual basis, and modify treatment accordingly.

Unit Content

  1. Aspects of neuro-motor control including complex multi-level feedback/forward neural pathways, physiological and neuromechanical properties of skeletal muscle, and the importance of sensory integration.
  2. Clinical measures of sensorimotor function including balance, gait, movement precision, coordination, muscle weakness, spasticity and fatigue; and outcome measures that may be used to assess a client's functional and exercise capacities and/or establish the efficacy of a clinical exercise intervention used in neurorehabilitation.
  3. Factors involved in prescribing appropriate, targeted clinical exercise interventions for clients with different neuromuscular and neuromuscular disorders, optimising the therapeutic benefit of prescribed exercise for the neurorehabilitation client; preventing secondary illness.
  4. Features of information conduction and transmission in the nervous system including neurone structure and classification, conduction of an action potential and synaptic transmission.
  5. Fundamental elements of functional neuroanatomy including cortical organisation, inputs and outputs of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, spinal tracts, the effects of select lesions to these structures, and methods used to study the brain.
  6. Neuroplasticity and cortical reorganisation - considerations and implications for neurorehabilitation.
  7. Pathophysiology, symptoms, co-morbidities, risk factors and common treatments for a range of neurological and neuromuscular disorders including - cerebrovascular accident (stroke), spinal cord injury, traumatic/acquired brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, peripheral neuropathy, motor neurone diseases and chronic pain.
  8. The interdisciplinary approach to neurorehabilitation.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 19 x 3 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 19 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Interpretation of complex information to make it relevant to clients through group seminar tasks and the Project; Development of clinical skills through Seminars, practical laboratory class sessions; Improved independent, ongoing learning skills through self-directed student activities and the Project. Laboratory classes provide students with the opportunity to interpret and discuss complex information and apply their knowledge to different client scenarios. Students gain experience and are assessed on their ability to apply neurological and neuromuscular testing and training procedures in simulated clinical environments during laboratory sessions. As part of the project requirements, students work in small groups to evaluate treatment modalities and formulate exercise testing and training plans to support clients, building their team work and collaboration skills, as well as their clinical reasoning and self-management capabilities.

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 School Progression Panel.

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 information 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
TestNeuroanatomy and neurophysiology knowledge20%
ProjectNeurological training and testing plan40%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%

^ Mandatory to Pass


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 Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SPS4117|1|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.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  • Unit Title

    Clinical Exercise Physiology: Neurological and Neuromuscular
  • Unit Code

    SPS4117
  • Year

    2022
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Prof Anthony John BLAZEVICH

Description

This unit examines the use of therapeutic exercise as a treatment modality in the context of neurorehabilitation. Clinical assessment of impaired movement and function is explored in relation to neurological and neuromuscular disorders. Human sensorimotor function and pathophysiology is covered, and the therapeutic benefits of common neurological treatments and ground-breaking discoveries are discussed. Principles of evidence-based medicine used to evaluate the efficacy of clinical exercise interventions are investigated in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 unit from SPS3302

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Access and interpret scientific and clinical data with reference to neurophysiological and neurorehabilitation literature; and use this data to inform your own practice.
  2. Apply this information in a clinical setting to determine a clients clinical status, assess their exercise capacity and risk of injury, recognise signs/symptoms of adverse reactions.
  3. Apply this information in the prescription of appropriate client-centred therapeutic exercise programs.
  4. Discuss the typical effects on exercise responses and risk factors associated with neurological and neuromuscular disorders, and medications commonly prescribed to treat these disorders.
  5. Explain the fundamental concepts in functional neuroanatomy, particularly relating to sensorimotor structures and the neural pathways involved in movement.
  6. Explain the psychological factors associated with living with chronic neurological or neuromuscular conditions, and use this knowledge to develop strategies to effectively communicate with clients and their families in an appropriate and respectful manner.
  7. Formulate appropriate clinical outcome measures to evaluate and monitor clients sensorimotor function and their functional capacity in activities of daily living.
  8. Identify the pathophysiology and symptoms occurring in a range of neurological and neuromuscular disorders.
  9. Understand the role of therapeutic exercise as a treatment modality in the interdisciplinary approach to neurorehabilitation.
  10. Use this information to establish the efficacy of prescribed exercise programs on a group or individual basis, and modify treatment accordingly.

Unit Content

  1. Aspects of neuro-motor control including complex multi-level feedback/forward neural pathways, physiological and neuromechanical properties of skeletal muscle, and the importance of sensory integration.
  2. Clinical measures of sensorimotor function including balance, gait, movement precision, coordination, muscle weakness, spasticity and fatigue; and outcome measures that may be used to assess a client's functional and exercise capacities and/or establish the efficacy of a clinical exercise intervention used in neurorehabilitation.
  3. Factors involved in prescribing appropriate, targeted clinical exercise interventions for clients with different neuromuscular and neuromuscular disorders, optimising the therapeutic benefit of prescribed exercise for the neurorehabilitation client; preventing secondary illness.
  4. Features of information conduction and transmission in the nervous system including neurone structure and classification, conduction of an action potential and synaptic transmission.
  5. Fundamental elements of functional neuroanatomy including cortical organisation, inputs and outputs of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, spinal tracts, the effects of select lesions to these structures, and methods used to study the brain.
  6. Neuroplasticity and cortical reorganisation - considerations and implications for neurorehabilitation.
  7. Pathophysiology, symptoms, co-morbidities, risk factors and common treatments for a range of neurological and neuromuscular disorders including - cerebrovascular accident (stroke), spinal cord injury, traumatic/acquired brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, peripheral neuropathy, motor neurone diseases and chronic pain.
  8. The interdisciplinary approach to neurorehabilitation.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 19 x 3 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 19 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Interpretation of complex information to make it relevant to clients through group seminar tasks and the Project; Development of clinical skills through Seminars, practical laboratory class sessions; Improved independent, ongoing learning skills through self-directed student activities and the Project. Laboratory classes provide students with the opportunity to interpret and discuss complex information and apply their knowledge to different client scenarios. Students gain experience and are assessed on their ability to apply neurological and neuromuscular testing and training procedures in simulated clinical environments during laboratory sessions. As part of the project requirements, students work in small groups to evaluate treatment modalities and formulate exercise testing and training plans to support clients, building their team work and collaboration skills, as well as their clinical reasoning and self-management capabilities.

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 School Progression Panel.

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 information 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
TestNeuroanatomy and neurophysiology knowledge20%
ProjectNeurological training and testing plan40%
Examination ^End of semester examination40%

^ Mandatory to Pass


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 Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SPS4117|1|2