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HL30188: Environmental & occupational physiology

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department for Health
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX %
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Examination
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this module you must take HL30044 OR take HL30054
Description: Aims:
To examine the physiological responses of humans to extreme hot, cold, high altitude and undersea environments and evaluate the impact of these environments on function and performance. Using real-world examples, the unit also aims to examine the adaptive (e.g. acclimatisation) and maladaptive (e.g. injury/illness) responses experienced when humans are exposed to such environments for prolonged periods of time without adequate protection.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit students should be able to:
* Demonstrate a critical understanding of: (i) the physiological strain induced by performing sport/exercise in various extreme environments; (ii) the acute physiological responses which allow humans to maintain function/performance in such environments; (iii) the chronic adaptive physiological responses which occur following prolonged or repeated exposure to environmental extremes; (iv) how sports governing bodies and various occupational groups select and train personnel to protect them from maladaptation leading to injury and illness.
* Demonstrate the ability to engage in small group discussions around relevant real-world problems and generate evidence-based solutions.

Skills:
Critically appraise relevant literature (facilitated and assessed)
Assess physiological responses to extreme environments (taught and assessed)
Critically appraise relevant real-world problems (facilitated and assessed)

Content:
Exercise in the Heat: body temperature regulation during exercise in hot/humid environments; methods of sustaining and/or enhancing exercise performance in the heat, including heat acclim(atis)ation; influence of heat stress on sweat loss and the influence of fluid replacement strategies; metabolic responses and the molecular basis of exertional heatstroke.
Exercise in the Cold: acute physiological responses to cold air and cold water exposure; influence of cold exposure on human function/performance; influence of prolonged/repeated exposure on cold acclimation; cold injuries.
Exercise at High Altitude: acute physiological effects of altitude and effect on performance; adaptation to altitude and effect on performance at altitude and on return to sea level.
Hyperbaric Exercise Physiology: influence of graded increases in ambient pressure (i.e. underwater environment) on human physiological responses and function.
Occupational Physiology: development of legally defensible physical selection standards; risk factors for injury and illness in physically demanding occupations; prevention of injury and illness in physically demanding occupations.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

HL30188 is Optional (DEU) on the following programmes:

Department for Health
  • UHHL-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (Year 3)
  • UHHL-ACB04 : BSc(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Combined Professional Placement and Study Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHHL-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHHL-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • UHHL-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (Year 3)
  • UHHL-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (Year 4)
  • UHHL-ACM01 : MSci(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Combined Professional Placement and Study Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHHL-ACM01 : MSci(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Combined Professional Placement and Study Abroad (Year 5)
  • UHHL-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHHL-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Study year abroad (Year 5)
  • UHHL-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • UHHL-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Professional Placement (Year 5)

HL30188 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry
  • UXXX-AFB11 : BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences (Year 3)
  • UXXX-AKB11 : BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences with Professional Placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change 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.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.