Unit Code: PHT625

Unit Name: Health and Fitness Practicum

Description: This course is designed to initiate an interdisciplinary learning practicum course enabling physiotherapy students to apply the first year of didactic learning through a real world experience and settings approach. Students will learn to integrate the concepts of culturally competent health and wellness related services for the prevention of chronic diseases, promotion of fitness & wellness for optimal health to individuals, groups and the community. Particular attention will be placed upon understanding the mechanisms and responses to exercise and physical activity prescription. The course will reinforce concepts learned in PHT 512, PHT 513, PHT 514, PHT 620, PHT 630 and PHT 626.The relationship among good health behaviors, health education and health promotion will also be explored. Students will begin to apply knowledge regarding groups and communities by planning and participating in community health promotion wellness and sporting activities.

Learning Target Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, the students will be able to: 1. Construct population based programmes designed to provide culturally competent physical therapy services for the prevention, health promotion, fitness and wellness to individual groups and communities. 2. Promote health and quality of life by providing information on health promotion, fitness, wellness, impairments, functional limitation, disability and health risks related to age, gender, culture and lifestyle within the scope of physical therapy practices 3. Evaluate health behavior and develop a wellness prescription and risk assessment using an individual and population based approach. 4. Apply the knowledge and skill sets of exercise science, including the design and delivery of exercise programs and assessments to meet the specific needs of apparently healthy clients. 5. Deliver exercise programs for clients with pathology or injury that have been prescribed by an appropriately qualified health professional. 6. Demonstrate evidence-based practice, including the ability to compile, critically evaluate and communicate the scientific rationale for their professional decision making and service delivery. 7. Conduct population based programmes aimed to improve fitness for health and wellness in various settings i.e communities, corporate settings, faith based settings, sport settings etc.

Prerequisite: PHT510, PHT511, PHT512, PHT513, PHT514, PHT515 & PHT520

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 15

Offered In: Semester 2