This course is designed to provide physical and occupational therapists with a review of exercise physiology principles and how they may be applied to the older adult. The recently published CDC “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans” will be discussed as they relate to healthy older adults, as well as the older adult with chronic health conditions. Evidence-based exercise examination techniques will be reviewed to establish appropriate goal setting. The American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for Exercise Prescription will be examined with practical applications for aerobic, muscle strength, flexibility, and neuromuscular exercise. The student will learn to modify their exercise prescription in response to frequently encountered co-morbidities. Finally, psychosocial aspects of exercise prescription will be discussed to begin and maintain physical activity and exercise programs with the patients we serve.

Course Objectives/Outcomes

By the end of the course, a successful learner will be able to:

• Analyze principles of physiology related to the aging adult and determine how they impact rehabilitation programs for older adult patients
• Employ techniques to promote patient engagement in physical activity through educational techniques on the benefits of exercise intervention
• Distinguish various evidence-informed tests that may be used for baseline exercise testing in various pathologies within the older adult population to establish accurate and proper goal-setting
• Apply the exercise prescription principles of FITT-VP to our rehabilitation programs regarding aerobic, strength,
  flexibility and neuromuscular exercise
• Select various rehabilitation program components in response to patient co-morbidities
• Implement strategies in therapist-patient interactions to help improve exercise program compliance

Applicability

• Geriatric Certification 

Evidence in Motion is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID# 4272. This distance learning-independent activity is offered at 24 Contact hours/2.4 CEUs Intermediate, OT Service Delivery. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.