
FitMed Academy
Developing knowledge and skills in health and medical professionals for more effective patient care
Virtual and face to face delivery of the latest research and clinical practice for management of chronic disease with instructors who are world experts in their field using advanced digital learning systems.
Exercise Medicine
in Cancer Management
Medical, Nursing, Allied health, and Fitness Professionals
Overview
This course is designed to develop knowledge and skills in the application of exercise medicine for assessment, prescription, delivery, and monitoring of exercise for people with cancer. Medical, nursing, allied health and fitness professionals will benefit most from this course because it builds on your extensive knowledge of human biology, patient care and health systems. In this course we concentrate on developing skills and knowledge of exercise assessment, prescription, supervision, monitoring, exercise technique, motivating behavior change, prescribing safe and effective exercise for people with cancer.
Structure
This course is delivered virtually with resources provided through our learning management system. It consists of seven key components:
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Background readings – key scientific, professional, and lay publications are prescribed and provided at specific stages throughout the course.
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Pre-recorded lecture videos.
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Multiple choice and true false quizzes following each major section.
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Discussion forums on key topics, controversies, and questions.
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Video demonstrations of digital tools for exercise assessment and prescription.
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Q&A sessions with the instructor
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Case studies discussion
Want to find out more?
Introduction and course orientation
10
Cancer biology, sites, and types
60
Cancer treatments
30
Physical and psychological consequences of cancer and treatments
30
Principles of exercise prescription
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Exercise dosage
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FITT Principle
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Overload
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Progressive overload
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Acute physiological responses to exercise
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Adaptations to chronic exercise
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Specificity of training
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Variation in Training
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Cardiorespiratory (Aerobic) training (MICT & HIIT)
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Neuromuscular and musculoskeletal (Resistance) training
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Strength and Power
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Flexibility training
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Components of an exercise session
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Periodization
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Auto-regulation of session volume and intensity
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Stages of change model
60
Exercise acute and chronic effects
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Muscular system
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Nervous system
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Metabolic system
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Skeletal system
30
Exercise Medicine within Cancer Management
60
Patient Flow
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At diagnosis
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On referral – physician or self-referral
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Pre- Initial consultation
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At consultation
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Ongoing monitoring and patient review
30
Health history
10
Pre-exercise screening
10
Virtual Practical Session 1 – Patient flow, forms and risk stratification
30
Recruiting the patient
10
Informed consent and research participation
10
Absolute and relative contraindications to exercise
10
Rating of perceived exertion and wellness check
10
Virtual practical Session 2 - Assessments of cardiorespiratory capacity
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CPET
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Steep Ramp Test
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Step test
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400m walk
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6 minute walk
30
Virtual Practical Session 3 - Assessments of neuromuscular strength and power
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Chest press
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Leg press
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Seated row
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Abdominal strength test
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Force platform tests
30
Virtual Practical Session 4 - Assessments of functional capacity
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Timed 6 meter walk
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Timed up and go
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5 x sit to stand
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30 second sit to stand
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Stair climb
30
Assessments of quality of life and psychosocial wellbeing - fatigue, anxiety
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SF36
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HADS
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DASS
10
Assessments of cancer specific health and status
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FACT-G
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EORTC
10
Assessment of body composition
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DEXA
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pQCT
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bioimpedence
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height
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weight
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BMI
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hip and waist circumference
20
Virtual Practical Session 5 - Introduction to FitMed Exercise Prescription Platform
60
Targeted exercise prescription
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cardiorespiratory
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muscle hypertrophy
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muscle strength
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functional performance
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balance
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skeletal health
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fat loss
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lymphoedema
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bone metastatic disease
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pre-habilitation for surgery
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neoadjuvant and adjuvant to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, steroid therapy
60
Virtual Practical Session 6 – Targeted exercise prescriptions
30
Long term planning, prescription and periodisation
20
Nutritional considerations
30
Graduation to self-management
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Fitness centre
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Home based
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Group exercise
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Park fit
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Sport as medicine
10
Clinician, fitness professional and patient feedback
10
Case studies and scenarios
60
Total Time:
770
Topic
Approximate Study Time (mins)




