Clinical Exercise Physiology

Instructor Information

• Instructor: Dr. Tyler Harwood (Assistant Teaching Professor of Kinesiology)
• Email: tharwood@university.alkimi.ai
• Office: Calder Health Sciences Building 322
• Office Hours:
  • Tuesday & Thursday: 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (In person, Calder Health Sciences Building 322)
  • Wednesday: 10:00–11:00 a.m. (Virtual via Zoom; link posted in Canvas)
  • Also available by appointment.

Course Description

Exercise testing and training for people with cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular conditions, with case-based practice. KINE 410 prepares future clinical exercise physiologists to evaluate, test, and prescribe exercise for individuals diagnosed with chronic cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular diseases. Emphasizing clinical decision-making, pathophysiology, and pharmacological interactions, students learn to stratify clinical risk, monitor 12-lead ECG responses during graded exercise testing, and modify exercise prescriptions to optimize functional independence and reduce morbidity. Case-based clinical simulations align with certification standards established by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Prerequisites

KINE 301 and KINE 330.

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of KINE 410, students will be able to:

1. Evaluate Chronic Disease Pathophysiology: Analyze the etiology, pathophysiology, progression, and clinical manifestations of major cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular conditions.
2. Interpret Clinical Diagnostic and Exercise Data: Interpret 12-lead resting and exercise electrocardiograms, spirometry tracings, blood biomarkers, hemodynamic trends, and symptom-limited graded exercise test results.
3. Formulate Individualized Clinical Exercise Prescriptions: Design individualized exercise prescriptions using the FITT-VP principle tailored to the limitations, contraindications, and medications of patients with single or multi-morbidities.
4. Execute Clinical Risk Stratification and Safety Monitoring: Determine absolute and relative contraindications to exercise testing, stratify patient risk, and apply emergency response protocols for adverse cardiovascular events.
5. Demonstrate Clinical Competence for ACSM-CEP Credentialing: Synthesize clinical assessment data and patient interview findings into professional electronic health record progress notes and interprofessional referral summaries.

Required Course Materials & Approximate Costs

1. Ehrman, Jonathan K., et al. Clinical Exercise Physiology. 5th ed., Human Kinetics, 2022. Approx. $105 print, $65 digital rental.
2. American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 11th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2021. Approx. $55 print or digital.
3. Total estimated cost: $120 to $160.

Generative AI Policy (AI Level 2: AI Permitted with Disclosure for Specified Tasks)

In accordance with Alkimi University Academic Policies (Student Handbook §5.8), KINE 410 operates under AI Level 2.

• What is permitted: You may use generative AI tools to explore broad differential considerations for chronic disease interactions, generate hypothetical physiological symptom timelines, and review draft clinical exercise prescriptions for typographic clarity.
• What is prohibited: You may not use generative AI to interpret clinical electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythm strips, calculate target heart rate intensities for high-risk patients, formulate final clinical exercise prescriptions, or complete examination questions. Clinical safety judgments must originate entirely from your own clinical reasoning.
• Disclosure: All submitted clinical case plans and portfolio analyses must feature an explicit AI disclosure statement specifying which tools were consulted and the precise prompts used. If no generative AI tools were used, state: 'No generative AI tools were used in preparing this clinical document.'

Grading Components and Weights

• Clinical Examination 1 (Cardiovascular & Pulmonary): 15% (In class, Thursday, October 1)
• Clinical Examination 2 (Metabolic & Neuromuscular): 15% (In class, Thursday, November 12)
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Case Study & Exercise Prescription: 20% (Due Friday, October 23 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Multi-Morbidity Grand Rounds Clinical Project: 15% (Due Friday, November 20 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Clinical Decision Vignettes & ECG Canvas Quizzes: 15% (Due Mondays at 11:59 p.m. in Canvas; lowest quiz score dropped)
• Final Comprehensive Clinical Examination: 20% (Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 8:00–10:00 a.m.)

Grading Scale (Alkimi University Standard)

• A: 93–100% | A-: 90–92%
• B+: 87–89% | B: 83–86% | B-: 80–82%
• C+: 77–79% | C: 73–76% | C-: 70–72%
• D+: 67–69% | D: 60–66% | F: Below 60%
• Extra credit: No extra credit assignments are offered in KINE 410.

Course Schedule (Fall 2026)

Course Policies

Attendance Policy

Class attendance and active participation in clinical case discussions are mandatory. The seminar format requires collaborative risk analysis, mock clinical patient intakes, and ECG interpretation that depend directly on peer interaction. If you anticipate missing a session due to illness or clinical field interview, notify Dr. Harwood prior to class. Students who miss the first two class meetings without notifying the instructor may be dropped. Students may miss class for religious observance without penalty if they notify the instructor in writing within the first two weeks of the semester (by Wednesday, September 9, 2026). Absences for university-sponsored activities (athletics, performances, conferences) are excused with a letter from the sponsoring office at least one week in advance.

Late Work Policy

Clinical case assignments submitted after the deadline will be penalized 10% per calendar day for up to 72 hours. Assignments submitted more than three days late will receive a grade of zero. Weekly clinical vignettes must be submitted by the posted Canvas deadline.

Clinical CPR/AED Prerequisite Requirement

In accordance with Department of Kinesiology clinical safety standards, all students enrolled in KINE 410 must possess current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR and AED certification.

ACSM-CEP Professional Competencies

Course assessments are structured around the clinical exercise physiology performance domains of the American College of Sports Medicine. Students must earn a grade of C or higher to satisfy requirements for the Kinesiology BS degree.

Final Exam Policy

The final examination (Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 8:00–10:00 a.m.) is scheduled by the University Registrar and can't be moved without the Dean's written approval (Faculty Handbook §5.5). A student with three or more final exams on the same calendar day may reschedule one of them. Requests go to the instructor of the middle exam by the last day of classes. For this term, send the request by Wednesday, December 9, 2026 (Student Handbook §6.4).