Established by: Programme Council for the Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology Programmes, 2025-06-10
Contents
The course provides an in-depth understanding of how exercise and physical activity affect health and specific medical conditions. The course focuses on three main areas:
A. Individualized Exercise Programs for Specific Health Conditions The course includes the development and implementation of evidence-based exercise programs for individuals with cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes), cancer, and asthma. Students learn to tailor exercise based on the individual's health status, medical guidelines, and physiological conditions.
B. Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms Behind the Effects of Exercise The course explores the effects of exercise at the cellular and systemic levels, focusing on muscle metabolism, hormonal responses, inflammatory processes, and the immune system. Students gain an understanding of how these mechanisms contribute to health and recovery in various disease states.
C. Public Health Strategies and Behavior Change The course addresses strategies to promote physical activity at the societal level, including policy development, implementation, and behavior change methods. It discusses how physical activity can be promoted through public health strategies to reduce the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding: The student should be able to 1. Describe how exercise can be used in specific medical conditions, including its mechanisms of action, potential risks, and health effects. 2. Explain the importance of physical activity and exercise in the prevention, management, and treatment of common diseases, and describe its benefits. 3. Discuss the importance of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare when treating common diseases, with a focus on the individual.
Skills and Abilities: The student should be able to 4. Analyze and apply national and international guidelines and evidence-based resources for individuals with specific health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and asthma. 5. Apply advanced methods to measure and evaluate physical activity and its effects on health. 6. Develop and implement evidence-based exercise programs for various target groups with specific health conditions for secondary prevention purposes. 7. Critically analyze and discuss the physiological and biochemical mechanisms behind the health effects of exercise in relation to different diseases.
Judgement and Approach: The student should be able to 8. Critically evaluate current evidence-based strategies to promote physical activity at the societal level and identify needs for further knowledge and competence.
Required Knowledge
A bachelor's degree at undergraduate level comprising at least 180 credits or an equivalent foreign degree. A minimum of 90 credits in either exercise physiology/sports medicine/medicine or physiotherapy, or a degree from the Biomedical Laboratory Science program with a specialization in clinical physiology, or a degree in sports science with at least 30 credits in exercise physiology, sports medicine, or medicine is required. In addition, English 6 is required.
Form of instruction
Distance learning with approximately two on-campus meetings in Umeå, including lectures, laboratory sessions, and seminars. The on-campus sessions focus on practical training components such as labs, group learning activities, examination seminars, and written exams. On-campus meetings may be scheduled on weekends. The course is taught in English but may also be offered in Swedish if only native Swedish-speaking students are enrolled.
Examination modes
Learning outcomes 1-3 and 5 are assessed individually through a written on-campus exam and graded as Pass with Distinction, Pass, or Fail.
Learning outcomes 4 and 6-8 are assessed individually through a written assignment and an oral seminar, graded as Pass or Fail.
To receive a grade of Pass, the student must achieve at least a Pass on all assessed components. To receive a grade of Pass with Distinction, the student must achieve that grade on the written exam.
The examiner may decide on deviations from the examination format stated in the syllabus. Individual adaptations of the examination format should be considered based on the student's needs. The examination format is adapted within the framework of the expected learning outcomes. A student who requires an adapted examination and has received a decision on support from the coordinator for students with disabilities at the Student Services must request the adaptation from the course coordinator no later than 10 working days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adaptation, which is then communicated to the student.
Other regulations
If the course is discontinued or the syllabus undergoes major changes, examinations based on the same syllabus as the original exam will be offered for two years after the student's first registration on the course.
