Course program
Program
1. Pathophysiology of Sedentary Lifestyle
Definition and Consequences of Sedentary Lifestyle and Physical Inactivity
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation
Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases Related to a Sedentary Lifestyle
2. Beneficial Effects of Physical Exercise on Health and Performance
Physiological Responses to Muscle Work:
Types and Methods of Training
Molecular Mechanisms of Exercise Adaptation
Communication Between Organs and Systems During Physical Activity
Role of Physical Exercise in the Prevention and Management of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases
Risks of Physical Activity
3. Pre-exercise assessment
Informed consent and collection of medical and physical history
Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors.
Risk stratification for participation in exercise programs, with particular reference to cardiac rehabilitation patients and health gyms.
4. Functional assessment tests: theory and practice
Cardiopulmonary tests integrated with a laboratory breath-by-breath metabolimeter performed using various ergometers (measurement of pulmonary ventilation, oxygen consumption, and carbon dioxide production, and derived measures). Measurement and estimation of exercise intensity (Karvonen formula, Talk Test, Borg scale, etc.);
Strength and fatigue resistance tests;
Flexibility tests;
Measurement and monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate variability (Tilt test);
Anthropometric assessment, manual measurement techniques (height, body mass, circumference, skinfold thickness measurement) and instrumental measurement techniques (bioimpedance analysis, DEXA, and BodPod);
Balance, reaction time, proprioception, and sensation tests.
5. Clinical and special population functional assessment (including imaging assessment):
Elderly: components of fitness, epidemiology of longevity, functional decline
Paralympic athletes: classifications, anaerobic lactic metabolism, explosive power and anaerobic capacity tests
Elite athletes: application examples for America's Cup sailors and triathletes
Populations with specific health conditions: arthritis, cancer, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, HIV, intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease.
6. Principles of exercise prescription
Components of prescription: the FITT-P model, frequency, intensity, timing, type, and progression.
Aerobic exercise prescription.
Resistance exercise prescription
Flexibility exercise prescription
Behavioral strategies and theories for promoting physical activity
7. Exercise Prescription in Populations with Diseases:
a. Exercise Prescription in Metabolic Diseases (Dyslipidemia, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin Resistance)
b. Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease
c. Exercise and Musculoskeletal Diseases
d. Exercise and Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases
e. Exercise and the Respiratory System
f. Exercise and the Immune System
Arterial Hypertension
Ischemic Heart Disease
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Stroke Prevention and Management
Exercise-Induced Cardiovascular Protective Mechanisms
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Asthma
Regulation of the Immune System through Physical Activity
Books
Slides and presentations used during the lessons will be made available to students, containing the most recent and important scientific articles on each topic.
ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Wolters Kluwer Health.
Physical Exercise for Human Health, Junjie Xiao, Springer, 2020.
Bibliography
ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Wolters Kluwer Health.
Physical Exercise for Human Health, Junjie Xiao, Springer, 2020.
