Clinical Exercise Testing & Interpretation

Module overview

This module provides a comprehensive foundation in clinical exercise testing and interpretation -as well as core competencies required for registration as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). Students will develop the knowledge and practical skills to safely conduct, interpret, and report a wide range of clinical exercise assessments across diverse patient populations. Delivered within a world-leading hospital infrastructure, the module spans pre-exercise screening, risk stratification, and nutritional assessment; cardiovascular, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal testing; and functional testing in complex clinical groups, such as those with frailty or neurological conditions. Emphasis is placed on translating test results into individualised exercise prescriptions. Paediatric and perioperative considerations are also explored. Through lectures, case-based learning, and hands-on practical training, you will be equipped to implement appropriate testing protocols, interpret data in the context of disease pathophysiology, and apply this understanding directly to clinical practice and research.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Systematically collect and critically interpret comprehensive health information, including social and cultural determinants, to inform nuanced clinical exercise testing and risk stratification decisions.
Integrate and interpret exercise test data to establish baseline and longitudinal health status, applying clinical reasoning to develop and justify individualised exercise prescriptions that align with patient-specific risks and goals
Critically appraise pre-exercise screening techniques and risk stratification frameworks, synthesising evidence to identify contraindications and exercise-related risks across diverse clinical populations.
Select and safely administer a wide range of evidence-based clinical and physiological assessments (e.g., CPET, spirometry, ECG), demonstrating advanced competence in interpreting complex data to evaluate multi-system function throughout exercise testing.
Critically analyse and accurately document clinical exercise testing results, recognising and responding to adverse signs and symptoms with professional judgement; communicate findings effectively to patients and multidisciplinary teams, ensuring appropriate referral pathways are enacted.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This module will use blended learning approaches, including lectures, seminars, practical lab sessions, and online learning.

Study time
Type	Hours
Independent Study	240
Blended Learning	60
Total study time	300

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Laboratory practicals

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback:
Final Assessment:
Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Objective Structured Clinical Examination	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal

Module overview

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Syllabus

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Assessment

Formative

Laboratory practicals

Summative

Repeat Information