COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Learn the principles of diagnostic exercise assessment.
• Review and enhance his or her understanding of cardiovascular physiology and exercise effects.
• Review basic resting and exercise EKG interpretation for proper testing and exercise prescription.
• Know the ACSM guidelines for exercise testing and prescription for symptomatic and asymptomatic populations.
• Greatly enhance their clinical laboratory exercise testing skills with regard to various methods of maximal and submaximal exercise testing, muscular strength and flexibility testing, and body composition measures.
• Be able to compare and contrast different measures of body composition and exercise testing and choose appropriate testing methods for various populations.
• Learn how to develop an appropriate exercise prescription for various special patient populations (young, old, pregnant, diseased).
• Be able to present his or her clinical findings, testing results, and exercise       recommendations in an oral and written format.
• Demonstrate through two examinations and one oral and written case presentation that the knowledge base has been mastered.

Course Topics

1. Risk assessment and pretest evaluation
2. Resting measurements of heart rate, blood pressure, and EKG
3. Basic rest and exercise EKG interpretation
4. Methods and comparison of body composition measurements
5. Cardiorespiratory fitness testing (maximal, submaximal, and field testing)
6. Muscular strength and flexibility testing
7. Exercise prescription for various populations