Course

Therapeutic Exercise Prescription

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Sport Science
Course Code
SPSC 4276
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 Weeks
Max Class Size
35
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Course Designation
None
Industry Designation
None
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course examines the role of therapeutic exercise in the management, treatment, and prevention of disease. Topics include the pathophysiology of conditions commonly encountered by kinesiologists and exercise physiologists, evidence-based and client-centered biopsychosocial approaches to interventions, common non-exercise-based supporting therapeutic modalities, knowledge of when to refer to other practitioners, and practical aspects of providing safe and effective exercise protocols across the lifespan.
Course Content
  • Psychological stress and chronic disease
    • Psychological stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary axis
      • Psychology of personality and health
      • Social psychology and health
      • Stress and chronic disease via hypothalamic-pituitary axis
    • Mental health and exercise prescription for:
      • Depression
      • Anxiety
    • Other interventions, contraindications, and efficacy:
      • Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, & other psychological interventions
  • Orthopedic conditions
    • Muscular pathophysiology of, and exercise prescription for:
      • Chronic low-back pain
      • Texter’s neck/shoulders
      • Adhesive capsulitis
    • Skeletal and Joint pathophysiology of, and exercise prescription for:
      • Osteoporosis
      • Osteoarthritis
      • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • Musculoskeletal pathophysiology of, and exercise prescription for:
      • Post-surgery protocols
    • Other interventions, contraindications, and efficacy:
      • Supporting healthcare profession’s scope in multidisciplinary healthcare for musculoskeletal conditions (physiotherapy, massage therapy, medical doctors, chiropractic, osteopathy, etc.)
  • Cardiorespiratory conditions
    • Respiratory pathophysiology of, and exercise prescription for:
      • COPD
      • Asthma
    • Heart pathophysiology of, and exercise prescription for:
      • Congenital heart conditions
      • Hypertension
      • Congestive heart failure
      • Myocardial Infarction
    • Vascular pathophysiology of, and exercise prescription for:
      • Peripheral artery disease
    • Other interventions, contraindications, and efficacy:
      • Surgical
      • Medication
  • Neurological conditions
    • Central nervous system pathophysiology of, and exercise prescription for:
      • Stroke
      • Cerebral palsy
      • Parkinson’s disease
      • Concussion
      • Acquired brain injuries
    • Other interventions, contraindications, and efficacy:
      • Occupational therapy
      • Physiatry
      • Medication
      • Surgery
  • Endocrine, neoplasms, and multi-factorial disease:
    • Pathophysiology of, and exercise prescription for:
      • Diabetes
      • Hyper/hypothyroidism
      • Cancer
      • Obesity, and metabolic syndrome
  • Lived experience considerations for client-centered care for exercise prescription, and client advocacy in ethical clinical decision making:
    • Age (e.g., pediatric and older adult clients)
    • Race, ethnicity, and colonization (e.g., Black, Indigenous, and immigrant clients)
    • Gender, sexuality, and sexual health (e.g., LGBTQ2I+)
    • Socioeconomic status, and insurance health coverage
    • Disability (e.g., Alzheimer’s)
    • Family and social support network
Learning Activities
  • Lecture
  • Labs
  • Discussion groups
  • Practical application exercise programing
  • Case studies
  • Problem-based learning scenarios
  • Reflection/journaling
  • Study critiques
  • Online learning experiences
  • Guest speakers
  • Experiential learning
Means of Assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

 

Case studies: 0-30%

Research study critique: 0-15%

Presentations: 0-15%

Labs: 15-40%

Psychological intervention/Cognitive-Behavioural Theory journal assignment: 5-15%

Practical/oral exam: 0-40%

Tests and Quizzes: 0-40%

Final exam: 10-40%

 

Total: 100%

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. explain the pathophysiology of chronic and acquired disease states commonly encountered by kinesiologists and exercise physiologists;
  2. identify contraindications to exercise;
  3. evaluate the potential effectiveness of exercise protocols in the management of common disease states;
  4. prescribe evidence-based and client-centered exercise programming for individuals living with chronic illness and disease states;
  5. make ethical decisions in the role of a healthcare professional operating within their defined scope of practice;
  6. demonstrate a safe approach to conducting an exercise session for individuals living with a disease state.
Textbook Materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:

Ehrman J.K., Gordon, P.M., Visich, P.S, & Keteyian, S.J. (Current Edition). Clinical Exercise Physiology. Human Kinetics. 

Moore, G., Durstine, L., & Painter, P. (Current Edition). ACSM’s Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Diseases and Disabilities. Human Kinetics.

Gibson, A., Wagner, D., & Heyward, V. (Current Edition). Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription. Human Kinetics. 

Requisites

Prerequisites

SPSC 3276

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for SPSC 4276
Acsenda School of Management (ASM) ASM GEN 4XX (3)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO KIN 3XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU KINE 405 (3)
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC KINS 128 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) No credit
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU BPK 3XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU PHED 4XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU HKIN 4XX (3)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU KIN 4th (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
35
Currently Enrolled
15
Remaining Seats:
20
On Waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N1119
Times:
Start Time
18:30
-
End Time
21:20
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N2221
Times:
Start Time
18:30
-
End Time
21:20
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N2223
Times:
Start Time
18:30
-
End Time
21:20
Section Notes

Registration in this course provides registrants with a 'time conflict' error. This error can be disregarded for this course as it is due to a required room booking overlap.