XNH462 Clinical Exercise for Musculoskeletal and Neurological Disorders
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | XNH462 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | (XNB381 or XNB361) and (XNH386 or XNH366) and (XNB387 or XNB367) |
| Corequisite(s): | XNH461 |
| Equivalent(s): | XNH482 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $4,848 |
Unit Outline: Flexible Period - 03A 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal (Start Date: 16 Feb 2026)
| Unit code: | XNH462 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | (XNB381 or XNB361) and (XNH386 or XNH366) and (XNB387 or XNB367) |
| Co-requisite: | XNH461 |
| Equivalent: | XNH482 |
| Coordinators: | Tania Best | tania.brancato@qut.edu.au Robert Mullins | robert.mullins@qut.edu.au |
Overview
The role of exercise for both treatment and secondary prevention in individuals with neurological and musculoskeletal disorders is well accepted. Well-designed treatment programs require assessment, prescription and education based on practical clinical skills and clinical reasoning. This advanced unit converges and builds on your previous knowledge of exercise prescription and neurological and musculoskeletal pathophysiology by systematically considering a range of disorder-specific concepts and case studies as seen in professional practice and applying them to a real-world clinical practice setting.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Design and justify effective programs of assessment, treatment, and management of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders
- Integrate knowledge of biopsychosocial issues and apply interpersonal communication skills in delivering exercise physiology consultations for neurological and musculoskeletal disorders
- Demonstrate clinical reasoning through developing and delivering evidence-based exercise physiology assessment, treatment, and management sessions
Content
The topics covered in this unit have been developed to provide you with advanced knowledge and skills in the exercise assessment, treatment, and management of selected neurological or musculoskeletal disorders.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be delivered in block mode during a flexible teaching period. Successful completion of this unit is required before the 4th year clinical practicum units are undertaken. This unit provides opportunities for learning in a real-world clinical environment that includes diverse perspectives and digital practices. This unit strengthens the connection between theory and application, preparing you for professional practice. The content will be supported by face to face and online learning modalities that may include but are not limited to: lectures, readings, case studies, tutorials, workshops and clinical activities with real clients.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback to Students
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- Formative learning activities facilitates self-reflection and peer review.
- Summative assessment includes academic and industry written and verbal feedback
- Generic comments back to the cohort via QUT Canvas
- Criteria sheet grading
Assessment
Overview
General Assessment Information
Summative assessment consists of two assessment items as outlined below. Assessment focussed formative learning opportunities will be provided during the flexible teaching period.
The Clinical Examination (Practical) must be successfully completed at a grade of 4 or above to pass this course.
In this unit, for you to be eligible to receive a passing grade, threshold assessment conditions apply. If you do not achieve the pass level for the Clinical Examination (Practical) you are able to resit the assessment for the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback from the unit coordinator prior to re-sit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Case Study
A real-world case study will be provided for you to demonstrate your application of evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning. You will examine biopsychosocial issues through the design of a clinical exercise physiology treatment plan (including exercise prescription and programming with justification) relevant to musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. This treatment plan aligns with the requirements common of a clinical exercise physiologist.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Clinical Examination (Practical)
You will be assessed on your application of clinical skills, patient interaction and clinical reasoning in the form of a clinical examination. With a real patient from the QUT Health Clinic, you will be assessed on your understanding and integration of the patient history, client consultation skills, health and fitness assessment and exercise delivery as relevant to musculoskeletal and neurological disorders.
Threshold Assessment:
In this unit, for you to be eligible to receive a passing grade, threshold assessment conditions apply. If you do not achieve the pass level for the Clinical Examination (Practical) you are able to resit the assessment for the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback from the unit coordinator prior to re-sit.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Blue Card
A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.
Resources
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Coombes, J., & Skinner, T. (2022). ESSA's student manual for health, exercise and sport assessment (2nd edn.). Elsevier.
American College of Sports Medicine. (2026). ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (12th ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Brukner, P., Khan, K., Clarsen, B., Cook, J., Cools, A., Crossley, K., Hutchinson, M., McCory, P. & Bhar, R. (2016). Brukner & Khan's clinical Sports medicine (5th ed). North Ryde, McGraw-Hill.
Ehrman, J., Gordon, P., Visich, P. & Keteyian, S. (2019). Clinical exercise physiology (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, USA.
Risk Assessment Statement
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.XN51 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology
- Design and deliver exercise assessments and programs to meet the specific needs of individuals and populations across the full health spectrum.
Relates to: Case Study, Clinical Examination (Practical) - Apply problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical reasoning to implement, analyse and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
Relates to: Case Study, Clinical Examination (Practical) - Communicate and collaborate to transfer complex knowledge to clients and health professionals in a culturally safe manner.
Relates to: Case Study, Clinical Examination (Practical) - Apply knowledge, skills, and clinical reasoning within the professional, legislative, and ethical standards of practice.
Relates to: Clinical Examination (Practical)