SISFFIT530A
Deliver prescribed exercise to children and young adolescents with specific chronic conditions

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge to deliver exercise programs to children and young adolescents who present with risk of an adverse event or exacerbation of impairment during exercise, in collaboration with relevant medical or allied health professionals.

Application

This unit applies to specialised exercise trainers whose clients have one or more specific but stable chronic conditions. A chronic medical condition is usually a condition in which the signs and symptoms related to that condition last more than three months. Common paediatric chronic medical conditions include, but are not restricted to, metabolic and endocrine, musculo-skeletal, respiratory, sensory impairment and neurological. This unit excludes clients with congenital cardiac disorders and some cardiorespiratory conditions.

The specialised exercise trainer demonstrates the ability to analyse the clients responses to exercise and where appropriate consult with the medical or allied health professional.

The specialised exercise trainer applies the understanding and skills to deliver and modify the program in terms of mode, frequency, intensity and volume to accommodate the progression of the client within the parameters prescribed by the medical or allied health professional.

They apply self directed application of knowledge and skills related to chronic conditions of children and young adolescents, and exercise judgment in delivering the prescribed exercise. The specialised exercise trainer demonstrates the ability to analyse the clients responses to exercise and where appropriate consult with the medical or allied health professional.


Prerequisites

SISFFIT313A Plan and deliver exercise to apparently health children and adolescents


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Apply pre-screening and baseline assessment protocols and procedures to children and young adolescents.

1.1. Demonstrate the appropriate pre-screening required to determine the needs of children and young adolescents to participate in an exercise program in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.

1.2. Recommend advice be sought from a medical or allied health professional based on any health, nutritional or dietary disorder, or medical or injury concerns according to organisational policies and procedures.

1.3. Provide advice for participants and their parents or guardian when referrals are required following appropriate pre-screening procedures.

1.4. Plan and develop physical activity sessions based on results of pre-screening procedures.

1.5. Demonstrate appropriate baseline assessment protocols for children and young adolescents with special needs prior to participation in an exercise program in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.

2. Develop a plan for an exercise session for children and young adolescents with special needs.

2.1. Identify prevailing conditions of children and young adolescents and establish client needs.

2.2. Become familiar with typical adverse signs and symptoms that may arise during exercise for children and young adolescents with specific chronic medical conditions.

2.3. Consult with an appropriate medical or allied health professional as necessary.

2.4. Work with medical or allied health professionals to document exercise session plans for a variety of exercise programs for children and young adolescents with specific chronic medical conditions in accordance with recognised exercise recommendations, fitness test results, client limitations, and potential interactions of medications.

2.5. Explain to the children and young adolescents and their caregivers their need to be referred back to a medical or allied health professional if their condition becomes unstable.

3. Instruct an exercise session for children and young adolescents with special needs.

3.1. Outline the purpose of the exercise session to participants including the benefits of exercise for children and young adolescents with specific chronic medical conditions.

3.2. Deliver appropriate instructional skills for the client group.

3.3. Select and modify appropriate equipment for safe use according to the prevailing needs of children and young adolescents with specific chronic medical conditions.

3.4. Demonstrate the safe and appropriate use of selected exercise equipment and report or address any unsafe equipment according to organisational policies and procedures.

3.5. Deliver exercise sessions suitable to the needs and goals of the client group.

3.6. Demonstrate how modifications to the exercise can incorporate the different needs of children and young adolescents.

3.7. Demonstrate motivational techniques providing positive and effective feedback to the client group.

3.8. Implement strategies to promote positive behaviour.

3.9. Monitor client responses for any typical signs and symptoms requiring intervention that may occur during exercise.

3.10. Apply procedures to respond to adverse signs and symptoms requiring intervention as required according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.

3.11. Recognise signs of an unstable medical condition and refer the client back to an appropriate medical or allied health professional.

4. Review a range of exercise programs for children and young adolescents with special needs.

4.1. Critically evaluate a series of exercise sessions for children and young adolescents with special needs according to feedback received from participants and parents, carers or guardians.

4.2. Produce a written evaluation assessing observations.

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to provide clear instruction and constructive feedback to children, young adolescents, parents, guardians or caregivers, medical or allied health professionals

problem-solving skills to:

identify exercises targeted to specific fitness components and to make modifications where required

recognise conditions outside own scope of practice and make appropriate referral to medical or allied health professionals

planning and organising skills to deliver the exercise session including accessing all required equipment

team work skills to work collaboratively with medical or allied health professionals according to legal and ethical condition.

literacy and numeracy skills to enable:

the accurate interpretation of referrals and to

document exercise sessions and calculate and

adjust exercise duration and frequency.

manage the time of sessions and facility schedules

decision making skills to select venues appropriate for the physical and social needs of children and young adolescents and determine appropriate instructional techniques

ability to adapt to the inclusion of children with specific chronic medical conditions in normal sessions where appropriate.

Required knowledge

the medical and allied health sector to enable appropriate recommendations to be made to parents, guardians or care givers

principles of biomechanics and exercise science to enable the selection of exercises appropriate to participant characteristics and needs

stages of physical, social and cognitive growth and development in children and young adolescents to enable effective planning of programs

principles of exercise program design to enable development of exercise sessions for specific age groups or development stages of children and adolescents

medical and anatomical terminology to interpret referrals from medical or allied health professionals

motivational psychology to enable identification and mitigation of barriers to exercise adherence

relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe and appropriate conduct of exercise for children and young adolescents and to maintain the confidentiality of client information.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

screens children and young adolescents with specific chronic medical conditions needs prior to commencement of physical activity sessions and communicates results to relevant caregivers and recommends referral to appropriate medical or allied health professionals where necessary

develops a variety of physical activity sessions for a range of client groups of children and young adolescents with specific chronic medical conditions

monitors and maintains the safety of clients, exercise equipment and the exercise setting and applies effective contingency management techniques to deal with problems and issues that may arise during the exercise program.

communicates effectively to provide clear instruction and constructive feedback to a range of children and young adolescents, caregivers, medical and allied health professionals

demonstrates appropriate manner, empathy and patience when working with children and young adolescents.

modifies individual exercises to accommodate the specific chronic medical conditions of the client group

evaluates exercise sessions and modifies exercise plans according to feedback received from participants, relevant medical and allied health professionals and own evaluation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure training of multiple exercise sessions that are of sufficient duration and breadth to allow the demonstration of competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

a facility where a variety of exercise modes and equipment are available, such as a weights gym, exercise room or outdoors

relevant resources; for example, nutritional information prepared by dieticians for a range of ages

appropriate documentation normally used in the workplace such as fitness charts, client record forms and assessment questionnaires

a range of participant groups composed of children and young adolescents with specific medical conditions.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of instructing and monitoring exercise sessions for children and young adolescents

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of stages of development and growth in children and young adolescents and how these relate to effective exercise planning

portfolio of plans for physical activity sessions for different age groups, covering a range of specific medical conditions.

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing work performance.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Pre-exercise screening may include:

medical history

functional limitations

medication

lifestyle evaluation

fitness goals

exercise history

questionnaire

interview.

Children and young adolescents may include:

children:

aged between 3 - 5 years

aged between 5 - 9 years

young adolescents:

aged between 9 - 16 years.

Exercise programs may include:

cardio-vascular exercise for age variations

resistance training

flexibility

fundamental motor skills.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

Occupational Health and Safety

emergency procedures

risk management

use of client record systems

collection and use of client information

equipment use and maintenance

client supervision

incident reporting

client screening procedures

client referral procedures

ethical considerations in assessing children

child protection

Medical or allied health professional may include:

sports medicine physician

staff specialist

general practitioner

physiotherapist

accredited exercise physiologist

occupational therapist

remedial massage therapist

chiropractor

osteopath

accredited practising dietician

psychologist

aboriginal health worker

diabetes educator.

Baseline assessment may include:

cardio-vascular

strength

agility

flexibility

fundamental motor skills.

Client needs may include:

consideration of adaptations by children with specific medical conditions to physical activity programs

methods of instruction

time delivery to achieve outcomes

changes to environment and or spaces

adaptation and modification of equipment

modification to rules.

Specific chronic medical conditions may include:

musculoskeletal issues

sensory impairment

eating disorders

metabolic and endocrine conditions

physical disabilities

neurological disorders

respiratory conditions

mental health.

Session plans may include:

exercise selection

identification of client needs and goals

components of the session

order and or sequence of physical activities

duration and or intensity of exercise

safety considerations

instructional skills

equipment selection

suggested progression within the physical activity

special consideration to accommodate the different needs and limitations and age variations

selection of appropriate music.

Instructional skills may include:

transitions between exercises or games

session structure variations.

communication skills

verbal and visual instructions relevant to age group

technique correction.

Exercise equipment may include:

treadmill

cycle

ergomoters

rowing machine

dumbbells and age specific strength training equipment

small equipment

interactive equipment

sporting

circuit-based equipment.

Modifications may include:

accommodation for the physical changes and health conditions associated with developmental age

accommodation for the social and psychological changes that occur with children.

Motivational techniques may include:

goal setting

positive feedback.

Symptoms requiring interjection may include:

shortness of breath at rest or with mild exertion

dizziness or syncope

orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

palpitations or tachycardia

intermittent claudication

unusual fatigue or shortness of breath with usual activities

illness or sickness

lack of functional strength

neck soreness or strain

pain on movement of any body part.

Procedures to respond to adverse signs and symptoms requiring intervention may include:

cessation of activity

first aid

emergency medical assistance

referral.

Written evaluation may include:

evaluation of session

possible improvements.


Sectors

Fitness


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No licensing, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.