How do our bodies respond and adapt to an exercise bout and prolonged training? You will review the structure and function of the muscular, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, assessing how they respond to physical strain, and how they contribute to the limitations of human performance. You also consider how the nervous and endocrine systems adapt and help to control the responses to acute exercise and training.

Optimal performance in sports and health requires two things: the ability to optimize performance without compromising injury risk. This module will provide you with a very practical toolbox towards designing the appropriate exercise programs for your clients. This module will cover topics ranging from the biomechanical basis of optimizing core stability for health and performance, neuromuscular adaptations to pain and injuries, neuromuscular basis for exercise selection, overuse and acute injury mechanisms, to understanding the mechanical limits of athletic behaviours. In a practical, you will collect your own data and perform scientific experiments to understand and characterise the effect of footwear in the context of injury prevention. Lessons will be a mixture of lectures and hands-on session, where students get taught on how to instruct the optimal performance of different exercises to ensure maximum benefit to health and function.

This module will advance students’ understanding of the psychology of sport and exercise. The content of the lectures builds upon the knowledge gained in the first year module by exploring in more depth the theoretical explanations of psychological phenomena in sport and performance contexts. It explores a diverse literature which includes issues about psychological skills, developing interventions, research methodology, and social and cognitive factors related to performance and well-being.

Students will learn about the theoretical and practical values and limitations inherent in assessing fitness, and of the methods and outcomes of training to enhance components of fitness. Student will learn how to perform reliable fitness tests, how to interpret their results and develop an understanding of the limitations of test methods. We will also review the rationale for, and the design and management of, training programmes to develop different components of fitness that are tailored to produce sport- and health-specific outcomes.

This module is for those who think they might like to be self-employed or start their own business. Many graduates with a degree in sports science or rehabilitation take this route but are unaware of the pitfalls that are associated with it. This module is designed to enable you to succeed in business. This module is based around skills and knowledge and explores the nuts and bolts of having your own business, learning how to sell and promote your ideas. You will get the opportunity to meet business professionals who are making a successful career in your area.