Exercise in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease

Exercise in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease

Delivery institution

Faculty of Health Sciences
Discipline of Physiotherapy

Instructor(s):

Dr Emer Guinan, Dr Julie Broderick, Dr Cuisle Forde.

Start date

12 January 2026

End date

23 February 2026

Study field

CHARM priority field

Study level

Study load, ECTS

10

Short description

The aim of this module is to provide the student with a theoretical background and evidence supporting the prescription of physical activity and exercise for the treatment and prevention of common chronic diseases.

Full description

https://www.tcd.ie/medicine/physiotherapy/postgraduate/online-certificate-in-clinical-exercise/

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
• Compare and contrast different approaches to exercise rehabilitation
• Identify contraindications to exercise and potential threats to the safety of exercise testing and implementation of exercise programs
• Explain the effects of medication on exercise response
• Modify a typical exercise prescription to suit a child/adolescent/elderly client
• Describe modifications to exercise prescriptions which accommodate people with a cognitive disorders
• Describe the role of exercise in the prevention of chronic disease processes
• Describe the benefits of exercise in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disease
• Explain exercise as a treatment tool for patients with respiratory disease
• Explain exercise as a treatment tool for patients with cancer
• Explain exercise as a treatment tool for patients with chronic musculoskeletal disease

Course requirements

This course is open to those with an honors primary degree in Physiotherapy, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition/Dietetics and Physiology. Applicants with other qualifications will be assessed on an individual basis by the course selection panel.

Places available

5

Planned educational activities and teaching methods:

Session titles:
1. Safety of exercise specific to clinical populations and the effects of medications on exercise prescription
2. Exercise modifications for children and adolescents / the elderly
3. Exercise modifications for those with cognitive disorders
4. Exercise in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease
5. Exercise in the prevention and treatment of respiratory disease
6. Exercise in the prevention and treatment of chronic musculoskeletal disease
7. Exercise in the prevention and treatment of cancer

Language

Assessment method

No assessment is available for this module. The module is available for auditing purposes only and no transcript of records will be provided

Final certification

Transcript of records

Modality

Learning management System in use

Contact hours per week for the student:

1

Specific regular weekly teaching day/time

Wednesday 1-2 GMT

Time zone