Unit title:Applied Physiology of Testing and Training
Credit points:20 / Unit code:SPO501
FHEQ level:5 / School/Service:Sport, Health and Social Sciences
Unit designation: Traditional / Programme Group: Health, Exercise and Sport Science
Unit delivery model: CD
Max & Min Student No.: n/a

TOTAL STUDENT WORKLOAD

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal timetabled sessions for the unit. Students are also expected to manage their directed learning and independent study in support of the unit.

Where normal timetabled sessions do not take place, additional directed learning may be provided, and/or students are expected to undertake additional independent learning.

PREREQUISITES AND CO-REQUISITES: Level 4 Introduction to Physiology of Exercise or equivalent

UNIT DESCRIPTION

The unit builds upon the knowledge learnt in Year 1/Level 4 and develops this further through application of knowledge to a sporting environment. The unit introduces students to the critical concepts of data collection, appropriate measurement and evaluation, and training implementation in the context of contemporary physiology of exercise. This will be done through the discussion of these issues and the practical applications of relevant measurement techniques, training interventions and their underpinning physiological mechanisms, and how this then impacts on training programmes and their design.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of the unit, students should beable to:

Knowledge and Understanding

K1 Examine the underpinning physiology related to the validity and reliability of fitness tests and present a well balanced case for use of appropriate tests for a designated client, in addition to examining and interpreting the underpinning physiology related to differing training interventions.

Cognitive Skills

C1Apply the information from appropriate measurement and evaluation to make appropriate recommendations for athletes

Practical and Professional Skills

P1 Display practical competency whilst working in a laboratory or field-based setting

Transferable and Key Skills

T2Use IT packages appropriately to generate accurate evaluations

AREAS OF STUDY

  1. Measurement issues in sport and exercise physiology; validity and reliability of physiological testing.
  2. Assessment of body composition; direct, indirect and doubly indirect methods to obtain and estimate body composition.
  3. Assessment of aerobic capacity; online gas analysis and interpreting ventilation threshold, VO2 kinetics and VO2max.
  4. An introduction to routine haematology; health and safety and procedures for collecting and analysing blood.
  5. Lactate threshold and the capacity for sustained exercise; investigating the inflection point, maximal lactate steady state and lactate turn point.
  6. Field based testing to include; aerobic, strength, speed (maximum speed and acceleration), agility/change of direction and power.
  7. Assessment of skeletal muscle function; isometric and isokinetic dynamometry.
  8. Assessment of anaerobic exercise capacity; the Wingate Anaerobic test
  9. Training mechanisms and adaptations to aerobic and anaerobic training modes.
  10. Training mechanisms and adaptations to resistance training modes.
  11. Inter-individual variability in training responses and implications for training recommendations.

LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY

This unit will be delivered via lectures, seminars and practicals. The lecture programme will provide some of the underpinning physiology of exercise content pertaining to validity and reliability of the fitness testing in addition to training interventions, whereas the seminars will be student-centred and encourage discussion and presentation techniques around a range of topics related to the measurement, evaluation and application of physiological testing and training. It is envisaged that students will undertake large amounts of independent learning to ensure that all underpinning theory is covered. This will be highlighted in the preparation for seminars where students will be asked to lead discussion on present findings from current research and the findings from their own practicals. The practicals will be delivered in the laboratory, gym or sports hall and will enable students to become familiar and competent in using a wide range of physiological equipment. The practicals will also prepare students to work together successfully within group situations. The BASES Code of Conduct will underpin all student work in this unit.

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

The unit will be assessed in two ways. The presentation will allow students to test a group of,or individual athlete from Solent Sport or one that has been arranged by the student during one of the practical sessions during the unit (or another suitable time) and then present the results to the tutor and team management (this may, when appropriate, include the performance manager and/or director of sport) as part of the assessment. The students will be responsible for conducting a needs analysis, determining appropriate physiological tests to use that are both valid and reliable, collecting and analysing the data and presenting it appropriately. The presentation will include evidence of ethical considerations, health and safety and how the student has upheld the BASES code of conduct.The students will be in groups but, where the evidence supports, the tutor reserves the right to give marks to individuals who participate within the group more effectively than others and who demonstrate greater understanding and critical evaluation of the materials presented. In situations where the group is not functioning effectively due to non-engaged members, the unit guide contains guidance on procedures to follow to address any issues.

The written assignment will be designed to bring together all the knowledge ascertained from the unit. Students will be required to assimilate this information to produce a review of a chosen training approach including:1) the underpinning acute physiological mechanisms that stimulate adaptations, 2) the chronic physiological adaptations produced, 3) how these produce measurable performance changes, 4) and implications for training recommendations. The students will be required to review the body of literature, analyse and critically evaluate it before applying this information to cover the areas described above.

Formative assessment will be undertaken in the form of presentations in seminars whereby students will be required to show their plans to test, their results from testing the squad and how they intend on analysing and evaluating the results.

ASSESSMENT

AE1weighting:60%

assessment type: Written assignment

length/duration:2500 words

online submission:Yes

grade marking:Yes

anonymous marking:Yes

AE2weighting:40%

assessment type: Group presentation

length/duration:20 minutes per group

online submission:No

grade marking:Yes

anonymous marking:No

AGGREGATION OF MARKS

All marks for this unit will be aggregated.

RE-ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS

Reassessment work will follow the same pattern and requirements. However, the presentation will be undertaken in a shorter format (10 minutes and 5 minutes for questions) with the student assessed individually.

Unit Author:Dr James Steele

Unit history:

Unit Approved/Year Implemented/Code / June 2016 / 2016/17 / SPO501
Unit modified/Year Implemented/Code