SPEX13-337: Exercise and Sport for Lifelong Health

This subject will provide students with the knowledge and skills to design a basic evidence-based population intervention to increase physical activity and sporting engagement levels across the human lifespan. Students will develop a thorough understanding of how both exercise and sport can influence exercise capacity to positively impact on individual and population health, by reducing sedentary behaviour and positively impacting on associated chronic diseases as well as behavioural and biomedical risk factors.  Chronic diseases addressed will include cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, obesity, asthma, cancer, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mental health. Students will also develop an understanding of the epidemiology, aetiology and pathophysiology of these conditions and how they relate to different population groups and age cohorts. Emphasis will be on evidence-based practice with specific focus upon physical activity, exercise (type and dose) and sport as a non-pharmacological therapy using the Exercise is Medicine model and its application at all stages of the human lifespan.