Elements and Performance Criteria
- Consult with clients presenting with neurological impairment.
- Receive exercise referral from a relevant medical or allied health professional.
- Confirm exercise referral has sufficient detail to allow flexibility for modifications to accommodate progression of the client.
- Become familiar with typical adverse signs and symptoms that may arise during exercise for clients with neurological impairment or disability.
- Consult with an appropriate medical or allied health professional as necessary.
- Discuss with the client their complete exercise history and their neurological impairment and record relevant information according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- Explain to the client the different roles of cardiovascular and muscular conditioning, and the reasons for their inclusion in the exercise prescription.
- Confirm the outcomes of a goals and needs analysis in collaboration with the client and the medical or allied health professional if appropriate.
- Explain to the client their need to be referred back to a medical or allied health professional if their condition becomes unstable.
- Identify any potential barriers to exercise and discuss methods to enhance exercise adherence with the client.
- Clarify any areas of concern with the referring accredited exercise physiologist or relevant medical or allied health professional, in conjunction with the client.
- Obtain the informed consent of the client and maintain the client's records according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- Consult with clients presenting with disabilities.
- Receive exercise referral from medical and allied health professional if applicable or undertake pre-exercise screening with client.
- Interpret referral and pre-exercise screening and seek clarification from medical or allied health professional.
- Discuss with the client their complete exercise history and condition and record relevant information according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- Explain to the client the role and benefits of physical activity in managing disabilities and enhancing health.
- Deliver prescribed exercise programs.
- Undertake appropriate fitness assessment as required.
- Work with medical or allied health professional to deliver an exercise plan in accordance with recognised exercise recommendations, fitness test results, client limitations, and potential interactions of medications.
- Explain to the client the different roles of cardiorespiratory and muscular conditioning, and the reasons for their inclusion as part of the client's exercise prescription.
- Explain to the client the exercise variables to be implemented in the context of managing their specific cardiorespiratory conditions.
- Apply instructional techniques to ensure safe and appropriate application of the exercise program by the client.
- Demonstrate the safe and appropriate use of selected exercise equipment and report or address any unsafe equipment according to organisational policies and procedures.
- Monitor and review clients responses to the prescribed exercise program.
- Monitor perceived exercise intensity and make adjustment as required.
- Assess the client's performance and explain and correct any unsafe exercise procedures.
- Monitor client responses for any typical signs and symptoms requiring intervention that may occur during exercise.
- Apply procedures to respond to signs and symptoms requiring intervention as required according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- Recognise signs of an unstable condition and refer the client back to an appropriate medical or allied health professional.
- Monitor progress and report outcomes to the client.
- Revise the client's record and advise the referral source of suggested changes to the exercise program if required.
- Provide advice regarding additional lifestyle modifications to enhance the management of the disability or neurological impairment.
- Obtain information about the client's current lifestyle.
- Discuss possible barriers to behaviour change and implementation of healthy eating practices.
- Provide information about the fundamental features of balanced nutrition and recommend modifications to dietary intake to improve general health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Recommend other lifestyles changes to improve current disease status.