Clinical Exercise Physiology MSc
1 Year Full-Time | September Start

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.

You will learn a range of research approaches and data analysis methods applicable to your subject of study as well as a critical understanding of their relative strengths and weaknesses. You will learn how these approaches can be applied in the planning of a methodologically-rigorous and ethically-sound research study.

On this module you will explore the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of cardiovascular conditions and learn how to safely assess and prescribe exercise for people living with these conditions. You will critically appraise the literature related to exercise intolerance, physical activity promotion and exercise as a treatment to manage these conditions. You will also develop an understanding of good clinical practice for the assessment of patients and evaluate and interpret patient’s physical health, using physiological tests, such as blood pressure and ECG assessment.

This practical focussed module will provide the foundations of exercise assessment, prescription and physical activity promotion. You will critically appraise the evidence base and guidelines related to exercise assessment, prescription, and physical activity promotion. You will cover important principles in relation to the frequency, intensity, type, time, volume and progression of exercise in the context of strength, aerobic fitness, balance, flexibility and mobility. You will also consider the needs and preferences of the patient or client in your exercise prescription. The core principles learned on this module can be applied within the condition specific modules on the programme, where you will learn how to tailor them to different conditions.

On this module you will explore the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of respiratory, cancer and neurological conditions and learn how to safely assess and prescribe exercise for people living with these conditions. You will critically appraise the literature related to exercise intolerance, physical activity promotion and exercise as a treatment to manage these conditions. You will also develop an understanding of good clinical practice for the assessment of patients and evaluate and interpret patient’s physical capacity, using physiological tests, such as lung function assessment.

On this module you will explore the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of ageing, musculoskeletal and metabolic conditions and learn how to safely assess and prescribe exercise for people living with these conditions. You will critically appraise the literature related to exercise intolerance, physical activity promotion and exercise as a treatment to manage these conditions. You will also develop an understanding of good clinical practice for the assessment of patients and evaluate and interpret patient’s physical health, using physiological tests, such as strength assessment and gait analysis.

This critical appraisal of evidence in clinical exercise physiology module will help you understand how to critically appraise the evidence base related to a topic in Clinical Exercise Physiology. You will learn how to conduct a systematic review within an area of clinical exercise physiology, in accordance with PRISMA guidance. You will also learn how to use quality assessment tools in the appraisal of research. This module aims to improve your ability to critique the evidence base that underpins practices in the field of clinical exercise physiology.

This clinical placement and professional practice module will help you learn and gain experience of working in a professional environment. You will learn about the scope of the clinical exercise physiologist, how to reflect on your practice, and important skills in motivational interviewing and behaviour change that you can apply to your practice. You will undertake a placement within one or more clinical or community settings that fall within the scope of the clinical exercise physiologist. You will keep a record of your learning activities in a portfolio and reflect on your experiences. You will also write up an evidence-based case study based on your experience on placements. This module aims to enhance your understanding of working in a clinical/community environment and enhance your employability prospects.