Module Details

Module Code: n/a
Full Title: Performance Nutrition, Health and Practice
Valid From:: Semester 1 - 2023/24 ( September 2023 )
Language of Instruction:English
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits:: 5
Module Owner:: Rowan Kearns
Departments: Life and Health Sciences
Module Description: The aim of this module is to educate learners on how to convert the science of sports nutrition into practical and meaningful interventions for athletes and coaches. This module builds on the knowledge gained from ‘Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition’ module to advance learners into more specialised areas of Elite athlete nutrition. The key learning outcomes are in line with the SENr guidelines.
 
Module Learning Outcome
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Module Learning Outcome Description
MLO1 Discover the importance of focusing on an athlete’s health, which will then underpin their performance. Knowledge of digestive challenges faced by athletes, and strategies to help their GI function.
MLO2 Recognise the acute and chronic effects of various exercise workloads on the athlete’s immune system, the health implications for resistance to bacterial and viral diseases, and strategies to support athlete immunity.
MLO3 Describe nutrition for sleep quality and its relationship with athletes’ recovery.
MLO4 Identify nutritional strategies to help manage prevention and recovery from sports injuries. Learn how to develop nutrition and lifestyle strategies for recovery.
MLO5 Examine the professional demands required when practicing in a consultancy or team environment.
MLO6 Discover the Business of Sport - structure, hierarchies, roles within, rules. Understand ambitions, values, religious beliefs, motivations, training and performance pressures of athletes. Guest Speaker on sporting business from a Performance Nutritionist and a Sporting Director.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named DkIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
 
Module Indicative Content
Integrative Sports Nutrition and Health
Importance of focusing on an athlete’s health, which will then underpin their performance. Knowledge of digestive challenges faced by athletes, and strategies to help their GI function. Understand the acute and chronic effects of various exercise workloads on the athlete’s immune system, the health implications for resistance to bacterial and viral diseases, and strategies to support athlete immunity. Recognise the role of psychoneuroimmunology with regards to immune compromise/imbalance and chronic fatigue / ‘burn out’.
Inflammation, sleep and chrono-nutrition in sport performance & biomarkers interpretation in athletic population
The basics of chronic and acute inflammation. Inflammation and sports practice. Chronobiology, chrononutrition, hormonal function and its relationship with sleep and sports performance. Nutrition for sleep quality and its relationship with athletes’ recovery. Biomarkers: decision making, analysis, interpretation and use in health and performance of athletes.
Nutrition for prevention and treatment of sports injuries
Identify nutritional strategies to help manage prevention and recovery from sports injuries The basics of sports injuries: bone mass, muscle tissue, soft tissues and other sports injuries. Body composition, energy demands and metabolism changes during sports injuries. Develop nutrition and lifestyle strategies for recovery. Understand musculoskeletal adaptations to various exercise workloads, the importance of musculoskeletal health for optimal performance, and strategies to manage exercise-induced muscle damage, soreness and inflammation.
Professional Sport
Prepare students for the professional demands they will be required to meet once practicing in a consultancy or team environment. This includes assessing and analysing, communication skills, and models for changes, compliance, and follow up that are needed and can significantly impact the outcome of nutritional interventions either positively or negatively, as well as ethics, governance, professional conducts and business skill. Understanding of the Sporting World - structure, hierarchies, roles within, funding, rules etc Awareness and consideration of ambitions, values, Religious beliefs, motivations, training and performance pressures of athletes
Practitioner Skills Applying Theory to Practice
Practical advice from the experts on: getting involved in sports nutrition, working with athletes and teams, research in sports nutrition, how to overcome performance issues, planning a performance nutrition program
Module Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Course Work60.00%
Final Examination40.00%
Module Special Regulation
 

Assessments

Full-time

Course Work
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 30
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing S1 Week 10 Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5,6
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
n/a
Assessment Type Essay % of Total Mark 30
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing S1 Week 9 Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5,6
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Case Study
No Project
No Practical
Final Examination
Assessment Type Formal Exam % of Total Mark 40
Marks Out Of 0 Pass Mark 0
Timing End-of-Semester Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5,6
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Open Book

DKIT reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full-time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description Every Week 4.00 4
Independent Study Non Contact No Description Every Week 3.00 3
Directed Reading Non Contact No Description Every Week 1.00 1
Total Weekly Learner Workload 8.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
This module has no Part-time workload.
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Burke L and Deakin V. (2017), Clinical sports nutrition, 5.
  • Jeukendrup A and Gleeson M. (2018), Sport Nutrition, 3.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
This module does not have any other resources