Physical Activity and Health

Recommended Prerequisites

Students are expected to mobilise prior knowledge in Nursing, human anatomy and physiology, movement physiology, self-care, health promotion, chronic disease and intervention with vulnerable populations, in order to support the integration of course contents and their critical application to specialised Rehabilitation Nursing practice.

Teaching Methods

The course unit includes theoretical and theoretical-practical sessions. Theoretical sessions will use expository and questioning methods, aimed at conceptual clarification, integration of scientific evidence and understanding of the foundations of physical activity and health. Theoretical-practical sessions will privilege demonstrative methodologies, analysis of clinical situations, guided discussion, problem solving and application of contents to specialised Rehabilitation Nursing practice. Students’ autonomous work will be supported by pedagogical materials and selected bibliography.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course unit, students should be able to: relate fundamental concepts of biomechanics and human movement physiology; understand criteria for physical fitness assessment and principles of physical activity/exercise prescription; recognise the benefits and risks of physical activity for health; analyse the relationship between physical activity, chronic disease and vulnerable population groups; and critically reflect on the competences of rehabilitation nurses in promoting physical activity across different intervention contexts.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Concepts of movement physiology: physical activity, physical exercise, physical fitness and sport; energy production and expenditure; muscle and physical activity; cardiovascular and respiratory systems and physical activity. Physical fitness: assessment. Prescription of physical activity/physical exercise. Benefits and risks of physical activity/physical exercise for health and physical fitness. Relationship between physical activity and chronic disease: heart disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer and other chronic conditions. Physical activity and vulnerable population groups: children/adolescents, pregnant women, older adults, people with functional disability and workers in different occupational contexts. Rehabilitation Nursing intervention in promoting physical activity across different contexts.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria de Fátima de Sequeira Loureiro

Assessment Methods

Continuous assessment
Individual oral presentation and critical discussion of the work.: 25.0%
Synthesis work: 75.0%

Bibliography

- Booth, F. W., Roberts, C. K., & Laye, M. J. (2012). Lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases. Comprehensive Physiology, 2(2), 1143-1211. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphy.c110025
- Guthold, R., Stevens, G. A., Riley, L. M., & Bull, F. C. (2020). Global trends in insufficient physical activity among adolescents: A pooled analysis of 298 population-based surveys with 1.6 million participants. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(1), 23-35.
- Strain, T., Flaxman, S., Guthold, R., Semenova, E., Cowan, M., Riley, L. M., Bull, F. C., Stevens, G. A., & Country Data Author Group. (2024). National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: A pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 5.7 million participants. The Lancet Global Health, 12(8), e1232-e1243. https://doi.org/10.1016
- World Health Organization. (2022). WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: At a glance. Geneva: World Health Organization.