Exercise Prescription for the Prevention and Treatment of Disease Course - Trinity College Dublin

Discover how physical exercise can help patients, including those with cardiovascular disease, mental health problems and cancer.

Discover why exercise is important in treating and preventing diseases

Over recent years, the full health benefits of exercise have become well established. Perceptions within the healthcare sector of exercise and its prescription as a treatment have also changed dramatically.

On this course from Trinity College Dublin, you’ll explore the evolution of exercise prescription. You’ll learn about the role of exercise in the treatment of a variety of clinical populations including those with cardiovascular disease, paediatric conditions and cancer.

You’ll also consider the connection between exercise and mental health improvements.

What topics will you cover?

Over two weeks discover the benefits of exercise in both preventing and treating diseases and enhance your confidence in exercise prescription as a treatment.

• Week 1: Explore research on the benefits of physical activity; the evidence that has informed exercise prescription guidelines and safety considerations.
  
• Week 2: Learn how physiological adaptations to exercise translate to improved health outcomes and the evidence that supports exercise prescription in several common clinical populations.

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts.

• Available now

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to:

• Identify basic physical activity measurement tools - heart rate monitors, accelerometers, pedometers and questionnaires.
• Summarise the history of exercise prescription guidelines.
• Identify the benefits of exercise for brain health, the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and COPD.
• Appreciate the complex interaction between exercise, physical activity and the immune system, specifically the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise.
• Describe how exercise prescription guidelines can be adapted for clinical pediatric populations.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the evidence to support exercise as a treatment tool for various clinical populations including those with osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
• Reflect on experiences of exercise prescription, physical activity guidelines, and exercise prescription safety.
• Describe cardiovascular and respiratory responses to acute and chronic exercise.
• Critically appraise current physical activity guidelines.
• Describe how to objectively measure fitness and strength - the six-minute walk test, and handgrip dynamometer use.
• Describe how exercise prescription guidelines can be adapted for older populations.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for healthcare professionals who wish to broaden their understanding of exercise prescription and physical activity as a tool to prevent and treat disease.

No previous experience or qualifications are required.

Who will you learn with?

Who developed the course?

Trinity College Dublin

Founded in 1592, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s highest-ranked university. It promotes a diverse, interdisciplinary environment to nurture ground-breaking research, innovation, and creativity.

Join this course