Ageing, Physical Activity and Health: From Theory to Practice

The main goal of the course is to provide the students insight into age-related changes in the main biological systems and how and to which extent such changes can be attenuated and reversed through daily physical activity and structured exercise programs as well as through other modifiable life-style interventions such as reduction in sedentary behavior and nutrition. 

Also, the course aims to qualify the students’ competences to deal with the challenges of implementing exercise and complex active life-style interventions in the community and provides examples of how to tackle this with complex interdisciplinary interventions based on ongoing large-scale projects at the department.  

Sammenhæng mellem læringsmål for dette modul og uddannelsens kompetenceprofil kan ses nederst på denne hjemmeside.

The examination is a cross-disciplinary essay where the student demonstrates ability to apply methods of biological test and measuring and methods of case study and cultural understanding.

The module contributes to the following elements of the competency profile of the programme: 

• The student has deep insight into interdisciplinary knowledge about ageing and understands the relations between theories and practice in interdisciplinary interventions. 

The module contributes to the following elements of the competency profile of the programme: 

• The student is able to argue, analyze and reflect on key aspects of ageing in relation to exercise and physical activity in an independent and critical way on an academic level

The module contributes to the following elements of the competency profile of the programme: 

• The student understands ageing in its contextual framework and is able to design, implement and objectively evaluate the effect of exercise programs and complex active life-style interventions for older adults 
• The student is able to support such implementation through hands-on motivational approach. 
• Through the combination of theoretical and practical competences the student has a solid base for future professional situations related to ageing. 

The course is structured as an Intensive Program (IP) with a condensed teaching period.

Teaching is organised in such a way as to support the SDU’s Underlying principle for active learning and activating teaching, as well as the Faculty of Health study’s translation of this principle - the FAIR principles.

The following forms of instruction and work may be applied in the course:

• lectures, lab exercise, seminars, hands-on knowledge (e.g. exercise for specific older population, frail older adults) interviews, and students driven presentations. 

The following forms of feedback may be applied in the course:

• Teacher feedback, peer feedback (one on one or group).

The activities in the course are primarily aimed at achieving learning objectives and preparing students for the form of examination. The specific forms of instruction and work as well as forms of feedback is made clear in the lesson plan on itslearning. 

15 ECTS is equivalent to 420 working hours.

• Lectures: 60 hours
• Preparation: 161
• Casework and preparation: 22 hours
• Preparation for exam: 166.5 hours
• Exam activities: 4.5 hours

The module is included in the constitutive package of electives, Sports Science and Health

Forskningstilknytning:

• Muskelfysiologi og Biomekanik