Overview
In this unit you will explore the pathophysiological basis of cardiorespiratory conditions. You will attain advanced knowledge and skills in facilitating and interpreting functional assessments and clinical exercise interventions for people with cardiorespiratory conditions. You will also critically apply advanced clinical decision-making in selecting and implementing evidence-based assessments and exercise interventions for people with cardiorespiratory conditions throughout all stages of their life.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Describe and interpret advanced knowledge of the pathophysiology of cardiorespiratory conditions
- Critically apply advanced clinical decision-making in selecting and safely applying evidence-based cardiorespiratory assessments and exercise interventions for individuals and population groups throughout all stages of their life
- Demonstrate professional conduct and practice in case management and clinical reporting of cardiorespiratory conditions within the Exercise and Sport Science Australia accredited exercise physiology scope of practice, including working autonomously using ethical, culturally sensitive, and professional behaviour at all times.
Learning outcomes of this unit are linked to the following Exercise Physiology Professional Standards for Exercise and Sports Science Australia.
Element 2.2.1: Integrate knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and other determinants of health and function and apply these to inform safe and effective movement, physical activity, and exercise-based interventions for individuals and population groups throughout all stages of their life
Element 2.2.3: Evaluate physiological responses and adaptations to acute and chronic exercise for clients across the full health spectrum
Element 2.2.4: Evaluate the effect of commonly prescribed medications, diagnostic procedures, medical, surgical, and other interventions on both resting and exercise-related physiological responses across the full health spectrum
Element 2.2.5: Evaluate research findings and apply exercise prescription principles to develop recommendations and interventions, including targeted exercise prescription for the purposes of optimising health status, function, recovery, independence, and participation
Element 3.2.1: Formulate appropriate screening processes to evaluate and stratify risk for participation in assessments and interventions, including consideration of appropriate service modalities for clients
Element 3.2.2: Formulate safe, effective, and culturally sensitive assessments to collect relevant information, social and cultural determinants of health, client history, and client needs, preferences, barriers, facilitators, and goals
Element 3.2.3: Formulate appropriate assessments and outcome measures relevant to treatment and client goals, and evaluate health status, function, capacity, and progress, to inform clinical reasoning and to monitor the delivery and outcomes of interventions
Element 3.2.8: Choose and use relevant technology and equipment efficiently, effectively, and safely
Element 4.2.1: Formulate evidence-based exercise prescription, interventions, and recommendations that address health and treatment related client needs, preferences, goals, and abilities, assessment findings, and social and cultural determinants of health
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 40% | |||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 20% | |||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Clinical Exercise Physiology
Edition: 5th (2022)
Authors: Jonathan K Ehrman, Paul Gordon, Paul Visich, Steven J Keteyian
Human Kinetics Publishers
ISBN: 9781718200449
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (or similar) software for viewing PDF documents
- Microsoft Office or equivalent (word-processing) software for preparation of assessment items in the appropriate format
- ZOOM Videoconferencing software
- Computer/laptop with webcam to allow videoconferencing
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.guy@cqu.edu.au
r.clapperton@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to cardiorespiratory conditions
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Module/Topic
Hypertension
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Module/Topic
Ischaemic heart disease, angina, and myocardial infarction
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Module/Topic
Heart failure
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Module/Topic
Valve disease, atrial enlargement, and cardiomyopathies
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Module/Topic
Peripheral arterial disease
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Module/Topic
Break week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Self-directed study
Module/Topic
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Assessment 1 (Part A) Comparison of Exercise Approaches Through Dual Case Studies Report due Week 7 Tuesday (28 April 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Arrhythmias
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Module/Topic
Asthma
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Module/Topic
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial
Assessment 1 (Part B) Comparison of Exercise Approaches Through Dual Case Studies Presentation due Week 10 Friday (22 May 2026) 5:00 pm AEST (all presentations to be completed by this time)
Module/Topic
Respiratory tract infections
Chapter
Readings will be made available on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School Attendance.
Rockhampton: Wednesday 27 May - Thursday 28th May 2026
In-class test due Week 11 Wednesday (27 May 2026) at start of residential school
Practical assessment due Week 11 Thursday (28 May 2026) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Residential school (Cairns)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School Attendance.
Cairns: Thursday 4th June - Friday 5th June 2026
In-class test due Week 12 Thursday (4 June 2026) at start of residential school
Practical assessment due Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit coordinator for ESSC29008 Clinical Exercise Physiology for Cardiorespiratory Conditions is Roslyn Clapperton. You can contact Roslyn using:
- The discussion forums on the unit's Moodle site; or
- Through email: r.clapperton@cqu.edu.au
Unit Content:
The unit content has been developed so that the first week introduces cardiorespiratory conditions. The next seven (7) weeks cover the main cardiovascular conditions, and then the last three (3) weeks cover the main respiratory conditions. The learning material(s) for each week are located within the weekly tiles.
Lectures:
The pre-recorded lectures are delivered by Roslyn Clapperton and will be released progressively throughout the term on the Moodle site. It is expected that students will review the weekly content, including the
assigned readings and prerecorded lectures prior to attending the tutorials.
Tutorials:
All students are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in the weekly tutorials. These tutorials will also be recorded to enable all students to view the content if they are unable to attend the live tutorial. Students will get the most benefit from the tutorials if they watch the weekly lectures beforehand.
Residential School:
This unit includes compulsory on-campus activities (residential school) and students must attend one (1) of the residential schools outlined below. The residential school practical assessment is pass/fail, and you must pass the residential school practical and achieve at least 49.5% overall to pass the unit. Please see the CQUniversity Handbook and the ESSC29008 Moodle site for up-to-date information. Please ensure you complete your residential school location via the class registration option in MyCQU. While every effort is made to ensure the residential schools run on time and finish by 4:00 pm, these finish times may be delayed due to the nature of the activities and assessments taking place. Students should keep this in mind when scheduling flights and accommodation.
- Rockhampton residential school
The residential school for this unit will be held between Wednesday, 27th May (8:30 am - 4:00 pm) and Thursday, 28th May (8:30 am -4:00 pm) (Week 11). All students should meet in the upstairs classroom in Building 81, Room 1.17 (Rockhampton North Campus, Yaamba Road, Norman Gardens).
- Cairns residential school (CNS and MIX)
The residential school for this unit will be held between Thursday, 4th June (8:30 am - 4:00 pm) and Friday, 5th June (8:30 am - 4:00 pm) (Week 12). All students should meet in the classroom above the CQU Exercise and Sport Science labs located at Cairns Basketball (Building 3, Mezzanine, 289 Aumuller Street, Manunda).
1 Portfolio
The Portfolio assessment comprises two (2) components:
- Part A: review an acute and long-term exercise intervention for either cardiac or respiratory conditions and compare and contrast these to current literature / guidelines and prepare a written report.
- Part B: using the report and your understanding of the conditions and relevant exercise literature, develop an individual exercise presentation at the correct health literacy level and respond to associated questions and discussions about the presentation content.
Part A: Review of Case Studies
You will be provided with two case studies of patients with either a cardiac or a respiratory condition who have undergone an exercise intervention as part of their treatment. One of the case studies will be an acute exercise intervention, and the other case study will be a long-term exercise intervention. You will conduct a comprehensive review of current (within the past 10 years) peer-reviewed published literature and/or guidelines relevant to your case study. You will use the knowledge gained from this review to compare and contrast your two case studies. You will then submit a 2,000 word report identify application of best practices for screening, functional assessment and exercise interventions for the conditions described in the case study, as well as any gaps / areas of improvement that you find. Please review the task summary in the Assessment tile for a suggested report template and word count for each section, and the associated marking guide/rubric.
Report Due: Week 7 Tuesday (28th April) at 5pm AEST.
Part B: Individual presentation
You will prepare and deliver a 10-12 minute individual presentation based on your assigned case studies followed by a short question and answer session (3-5 minutes). Your presentation should cover areas such as the pathophysiology of the conditions, current exercise guidelines and recommendations for the conditions, evaluation of the screening processes used and how to potentially better stratify risk for participation in exercise, explain how they evaluated the exercise interventions, summarise what the best practice findings were from the two case studies, and demonstrate clinical reasoning for implementing any changes to the exercise intervention across the full health spectrum. The presentation should be prepared using PowerPoint or similar software, will be delivered live online using ZOOM, and will be recorded for marking purposes.
All presentations to be completed by: Week 10 Friday (22nd May) at 5pm AEST.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to Part B of this assessment.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 3: You may use Al to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any Al-generated content you use.
See due dates outlined for each part of the assessment in the task description.
Feedback will generally be provided within two (2) weeks of submission.
No Assessment Criteria
- Describe and interpret advanced knowledge of the pathophysiology of cardiorespiratory conditions
- Critically apply advanced clinical decision-making in selecting and safely applying evidence-based cardiorespiratory assessments and exercise interventions for individuals and population groups throughout all stages of their life
2 In-class Test(s)
You will complete a 60-minute in-class test at the commencement of the residential school. Content will be related to your knowledge of physiology, pathophysiology, and other determinants of health and function for cardiorespiratory conditions. There will also be questions related to physiological responses and adaptations to acute and chronic exercise for clients with cardiorespiratory conditions. This in-class test will contain a variety of question styles to assess your understanding.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
The in-class test will be held at the start of day one of the residential school.
Feedback will be provided at each residential school and marks returned to all students after the completion of all residential schools.
No Assessment Criteria
- Describe and interpret advanced knowledge of the pathophysiology of cardiorespiratory conditions
3 Practical Assessment
You will be assessed during the residential school on the elements of working with a client with a cardiorespiratory condition. You will assume the role of an accredited exercise physiologist (AEP) for a mock client (another student) who will be provided with specific case details including information such as general client details; health conditions; medication history; history of other practitioners who have undertaken an assessments of health characteristics; and diagnostic outcomes. You will be assessed on your ability to screen the client to determine any risk for participating in exercise, and perform suitable assessments such as sub-maximal exercise and strength tests using relevant technology and equipment. You will use this information to prescribe and deliver a safe and effective acute or long-term exercise intervention that considers the physiological responses and adaptations of this intervention. Based on the client assessment, you will also need to distinguish when client needs are outside of scope or competence (e.g. ECG result changes) and take appropriate, timely actions including engaging effectively with other professionals through the use of a mock referral form. You will then swap roles with the ‘client’ using a different case. You will be assessed on, but not limited to:
- The use of appropriate communication
- The use of appropriate professional behaviour
- Choice and implementation of screening and assessment tools
- The planning and delivery of an appropriate program
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
The practical assessment will be held during the residential school.
Feedback will be provided at each residential school and marks returned to all students after the completion of all residential schools.
No Assessment Criteria
- Critically apply advanced clinical decision-making in selecting and safely applying evidence-based cardiorespiratory assessments and exercise interventions for individuals and population groups throughout all stages of their life
- Demonstrate professional conduct and practice in case management and clinical reporting of cardiorespiratory conditions within the Exercise and Sport Science Australia accredited exercise physiology scope of practice, including working autonomously using ethical, culturally sensitive, and professional behaviour at all times.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
