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HL50140: Athlete biomechanics and sports analysis

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department for Health
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 12
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Modular - March Start
Modular - September Start
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 100%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites:
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: This unit will require approximately 200 study hours to complete

Aims:

This unit aims to integrate athlete movement analysis with analysis of demands of different sports, enabling the identification of factors important to injury prevention and performance enhancement interventions.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this unit students should be able to:
1. Apply the principles of functional anatomy and biomechanics to the critical analysis of normal and abnormal human movement and how mechanical and physiological principles affect function;
2. Critically discuss the effects of different types of acute injury and illness on normal body composition and functions and evaluate the potential impacts of various factors on the rate and quality of tissue healing and recovery;
3. Critically analyse sports skills and sequences required by an athlete, including movements specific to the sport, athlete, team role or position;
4. Critically evaluate the demands placed on the body in different sporting contexts, with consideration of typical injury mechanisms and optimal performance;
5. Critically evaluate factors that influence injury risk and optimal performance, through integration of assessment findings with sport specific requirements in different sporting contexts;
6. Evaluate and design athlete profiling approaches in order to assess an individual's ability to participate in physical activity and exercise, including the influences on injury risk and performance and collection of relevant information from athletes and other professionals;
7. Design and communicate injury-prevention interventions, developed as a result of athlete profiling, to athletes, other professionals and individuals, including safe and optimal progression of participation in different types of activity;
8. Critically engage with current research relating to athlete biomechanics, injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Skills:
Knowledge and understanding (Taught, facilitated and assessed)
* Athlete biomechanics and sport and exercise movement patterns; safe participation in exercise; injury prevention and performance enhancement strategies; apply research and theory as relevant to physiotherapy practice; apply sports physiotherapy practice within a multi-disciplinary team.
Intellectual skills (Taught, facilitated and assessed)
* Information appraisal and synthesis; self direction and originality in problem solving; reflection on learning and practice
Professional practical skills (Facilitated)
* Safe sports physiotherapy practice; Support multi-disciplinary colleagues; reflective practice.
Key skills
* Communication skills (Taught, facilitated and assessed)
* Problem solving (Taught, facilitated and assessed)
* IT skills (Facilitated and assessed).

Content:
The unit is divided into the following topic areas:
1. Applied Anatomy
The structure and function of joints, ligament, tendon and bone, building on knowledge of muscle mechanics and energetics. Tissue load dynamics including stress and strain and the relationship to injury, performance and potential for adaptation (eg, training, detraining, immobilisation)
2. Tissue Injury and Healing
How the mechanics of bone, ligament, muscle and tendon relate to their acute and chronic injury risk. Principles of tissue healing and the role of mobilisation and loading in the healing process
3. Movement Analysis
Biomechanical principles of movement, including concepts such as stability versus mobility and factors which influence this balance. Analysis of discreet human movement patterns such as walking, running, jumping and throwing.
4. Sports Analysis
Biomechanics and movement patterns analysed in different sporting contexts, including evaluation of sport specific techniques and movement sequences. The influence of technique variability and movements that are specific to team role or position, and their effects on injury and performance.
5. Athlete Profiling
The analysis of individuals' strengths, weaknesses and preferences in relation to movement and physical activity. The application of clinical assessment techniques to obtain information relating to the athlete's function and movement efficiency, from the perspective of building an athlete profile integrating physical performance capacity and requirements of the specific sport or exercise.
The influence of factors such as pain and injury history, age, functional limitations and sports specific demands are considered.
6. Injury Prevention Strategies
Discussion and integration of the spectrum of factors that influence injury risk and optimal performance. Development and design of injury prevention interventions through integration of sports analysis and biomechanics with athlete specific requirements in different sporting contexts. Communication of advice and education to athletes, other professionals and individuals.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

HL50140 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department for Health
  • THHL-ADM10 : MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine (Distance Learning)
  • THHL-ADM11 : MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine (Distance Learning)
  • THHL-ADL07 : PG Dip Sport and Exercise Medicine (Distance Learning)

HL50140 is a Stage Required Unit on the following programmes:

Department for Health
  • THHL-ADM18 : MSc Sports Physiotherapy (Distance Learning)
  • THHL-ADC04 : PG Cert Sports Physiotherapy (Distance Learning)
  • THHL-ADL18 : PG Dip Sports Physiotherapy (Distance Learning)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.