Strength and Conditioning with Rehabilitation

This practical module develops students’ understanding of gym-based movements and how to coach them. Students will gain first-hand coaching experience with a variety of exercises, while analysing movement patterns to be able to make appropriate progressions and regressions based on scientific evidence base practice. This better understanding of normal and faulty movement patterns in a range of exercises and movements will aid in identification of injury, injury risks. These exercises can also be used during various stages of rehabilitation and therefore this module helps to lay the foundations of understanding movements. This module is in line with the UKSCA competency documents, preparing the students for the assessment.

This module will develop understanding of Plyometric, Agility and Speed training and movement techniques, with an emphasis on practical coaching. Students will gain first-hand coaching experience with a variety of different exercises and drills, while also developing the understanding necessary to create Plyometric, Agility and Speed sessions with appropriate warm-ups based on scientific peer reviewed literature. Students will explore and critique, based on scientific evidence, the use and usefulness of a variety of exercises in different settings and with context of multiple sports. This understanding of movement helps to identify injury risk factors through faulty movement patterns. These movements may also be used as part of a rehabilitation programme, therefore this module lays foundations for both strength and conditioning coaches and rehabilitation specialists. Exercises and coaching will be based on the UKSCA competency documents preparing students for the assessment.

This module will develop students’ understanding of biomechanical and physiological principles based on scientific peer reviewed evidence, relating to training and sports performance. Students will develop their understanding of how athletes move while fully fit or injured and how to assess this movement both qualitatively and quantitatively. They will also further understand how we measure forces gaining further insight into effective movement strategies, injury risk strategies and measure fatigue of the athlete through the use of critical engagement with relevant scientific literature. Students will also further their understanding of physiological aspects of performance and ways to measure these again through the use of critical engagement with relevant scientific literature. These biomechanical and physiological measurements will be used to appraise athletes’ current fitness and fatigue levels giving insight into the areas of strength and weaknesses for the athlete as well as their training readiness.

This module will use the underpinning physiology of muscle tissue and force production to further understand how the body responds to training and adapts to different stimuli. The module will use this to help gain a deeper understanding of training and therefore design training sessions focused for specific adaptations with neural or metabolic emphasis for strength and conditioning or rehabilitation focuses. With this understanding Students will then evaluate different periodisation strategies at a micro-, meso- and macro- level in order to manage fatigue for strength and conditioning or rehabilitation focuses. Students will develop Excel skills to create training programmes which are informative to them, athletes and coaches. Using this and other modules’ skills students will be able to create and critique, suitable training programmes of various lengths based on the understanding of the sport and athlete.

The module will develop student’s knowledge and application of rehabilitation in performance environments. Students will learn to design effective, evidence-based rehabilitation plans with an ability to adapt rehabilitation exercises depending on stage of rehabilitation, performance criteria and type of injury/condition. Students will gain firsthand experience in designing and coaching rehabilitation exercises throughout different rehabilitation stages and will critically analyse rehabilitation exercises and research. In addition, student’s will develop their ability to analyse movement patterns and design exercises/progressions/regressions based on this movement analysis. Students will reflect on factors which influence rehabilitation effectiveness including barriers and facilitators. The module will be delivered in a hybrid manner of self-directed study and practical sessions. Students will be expected to study rehabilitation theories and principles, prior to attending practical classes to apply this knowledge. The practical sessions will be case study based requiring students to use their problem-solving skills to find solutions to rehabilitation challenges and design suitable exercises.

This module is designed to give students the opportunity to work with athletes for an extended period of time. Students can work with a university athlete on the Elite Sport Programme and/or with an external athlete on a placement. This module will be an excellent way to show their development on the programme and add working with a high-level athlete to their CV.

For this students will work with a mentor and increase responsibility while working with an athlete developing their independent learning, communication, coaching and programming skills. This module will also help students to become evidence-based practitioners by learning about research methods and statistical analysis from both a researcher’s and a practitioner’s point of view.