Joints
• Understand the function of joints:
- Joint movement terminology: flexion and extension, adduction and abduction, circumduction, supination and pronation, plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, lateral flexion and extension, horizontal flexion and extension, elevation and depression, inversion and eversion, tensile strength of ligaments.
- Planes of motion: transverse, frontal and sagittal.
- Joint stability, passive and active structures, shock absorption: e.g. natural curves of the spine. 

Muscles Understand the classification and structure of muscles:
- Cardiac, smooth, skeletal.
- Connective tissue (epimysium, perimysium, endomysium). - Muscle fibres - slow twitch type I (slow oxidative), fast twitch (type 2a: fast oxidative glycolytic and type 2b: fast glycolytic).
- Muscles and muscle attachment sites (origins and insertions), to cover: 

• Rotator cuff: SITS (S: supraspinatus I: infraspinatus T: teres minor S: subscapularis).
• Shoulder girdle: levator scapulae, pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, trapezius, rhomboids major/minor, teres major.
• Spinal extensors: erector spinae, iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis, multifidus, quadratus lumborum.
• Hip flexors (iliopsoas): iliacus, psoas major.  
• Adductors: magnus, brevis, longus, pectineus, gracilis, sartorius.
• Abductors: gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, piriformis, tensor fascia latae.
• Abdominals: internal and external obliques, transversus abdominus.
• Intercostals: diaphragm.
• ‘Core’ and pelvic floor muscles.
• Local/deep, global/superficial muscles.

Understand the function of muscles:
- Muscle actions: to cover muscles listed above. - Roles of major muscles: prime mover (agonist), antagonist, synergist, fixators.
- Muscle contractions: concentric and eccentric (isotonic), isometric and isokinetic.
- The principles of muscle contraction: e.g. all or none law, sliding filament theory, stretch reflex and reverse stretch reflex, size principle of motor unit recruitment.
- Biomechanics: 1st, 2nd and 3rd class levers. - ‘Core’ and pelvic floor.
- Local/deep; global/superficial.

Understand the effects of exercise on muscles:
- Short and long-term effects, delayed onset of muscles soreness (DOMS), muscle fatigue.
- Response to overuse, underuse, misuse: e.g. shortening/weakening, altered roles/synergists becoming prime movers etc.

Biological Systems Understand the effects of exercise on biological systems:
- Cardiorespiratory: short and long-term effects on blood pressure, aerobic respiration, venous return, the implications of blood pooling.
- Nervous: motor unit recruitment, inter and intramuscular coordination, neuromuscular coordination.
- Endocrine: hormonal responses.
- Signs and symptoms of overtraining.

Energy Systems
Understand the classification of energy systems:
- Aerobic, anaerobic (lactate and creatine phosphate).

Understand the function of energy systems: - How the energy systems function independently and how they interact with one another.

Understand the effects of exercise on energy systems:
- ATP re-synthesis, aerobic and anaerobic threshold, effects of different training methods/systems.

Anatomical planes of movement
Understand the classification of anatomical planes of movement:
- Frontal (coronal), sagittal and transverse.

Anatomical terms of location Understand the classification of anatomical terms of location:
- Superior and inferior, Anterior and posterior, Medial and lateral, Proximal and distal, Superficial and deep.

Applied biomechanics and kinesiology Understand the effect of exercise variables on biomechanics and kinesiology:
- Levers, gravity/centre of gravity, momentum, force, planes of motion, length-tension relationships, open and closed chain kinetic movements with examples of each and a consideration of their advantages and disadvantages.

Designing and tailoring exercise programmes  

Understand how to design and tailor exercise programmes for a range of clients within scope of practice:
- Including: sedentary, recovering from injury, over-trained, high-level performer, sport specific performer, clients with low-risk health conditions, etc.
- How to apply the principles of training to exercise programme design to develop, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength (hypertrophy and endurance), flexibility, body composition, posture and core stability, motor skills.
- The advantages and disadvantages of exercising at various intensities for: sedentary (untrained) experienced (trained), high-level performers (well trained).

Know a range of different protocols and tools:
- Calculations of repetition maximums (1RM – 10RM).
- Methods of monitoring exercise intensity to include: maximum heart rate formula, rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scales, both 6-20 and 1- 10, metabolic equivalents (METs), kilocalories per hour (Kcal.hr), visual assessment and verbal assessment (talk test).
- The repetition ranges for strength, power, endurance and muscle hypertrophy.
- Heart rate training zone models for developing aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
- The current ACSM or other recognised International guidelines for developing the different components of fitness.
- Relevant guidelines for hands-on-contact with clients (with reference to relevant code of ethics/health and safety guidelines)
- The reasons for using periodisation or progressive programming and the principles behind them.

Variables Understand the variables of training and how to tailor exercise programmes to support goal achievement:
- How to manipulate the FITT principle to tailor exercise programmes: e.g. choice of exercises, sequence of exercise, resistance and repetitions, number of sets, rest between sets (recovery), speed of movement, type of muscle contraction, duration of session, rest between sessions, volume of training, split routines, development of aerobic and anaerobic CV fitness, strength, endurance, hypertrophy, speed and power etc.

Principles of training Understand the principles of training and how they relate to exercise programme design:
- Including specificity, progressive overload, reversibility, adaptability, individuality and recovery time and how they relate to individual wants, goals and needs.
- The importance of adequate rest phases between training loads and the signs and symptoms of overtraining.

Exercise modes and training environments

Understand how to design and deliver different modes of exercise in different environments:
- Different environments: e.g. gym-based, studio-based, sports hall, outdoors, home-based or confined space.
- Exercise modes: e.g. resistance training (machines, free-weights, body-weight), CV training, circuit training, body conditioning, core exercise, flexibility training etc.

Small Group Training

Understand how to design sessions that can be delivered to small groups ensuring the safety of all clients at all times:
- How to design effective small group PT sessions.
- How to balance the needs of the individual and the group.

Application of exercise science to programme design and delivery

Evidence the application of knowledge of:
- The musculoskeletal system to programme design: e.g. musculoskeletal structure, muscle physiology, postural abnormalities, physiological adaptations to exercise, measuring exercise response, exercise risks.
- Biomechanical concepts to programme design: e.g. resistance training equipment, exercise intensity, exercise safety and contraindications.
- Physiological concepts to programme design: e.g. nervous and endocrine system, overtraining, effects of various environmental conditions on exercise response, effects of various individual factors on exercise response, dose-response relationship.
- Cardio-respiratory system and energy systems to programme design: e.g. structure and function of the cardiorespiratory system, cardiac cycle, transport and gaseous exchange, aerobic and anaerobic systems, heart rate response to exercise, oxygen demands of different activities, physiological adaptations to exercise. 

Applied biomechanics and kinesiology

- Know the effect of exercise variables on biomechanics and kinesiology.

Develop a Strength and Conditioning Programme • Understand the components of fitness (health and skill related).

- Understand the principles and variables of fitness/training e.g. FITT principles (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type) including: Adaptation, modification and progression for each component. Implications of specificity. Progressive overload. Reversibility. Adaptability. Individuality. Recovery time.
- Understand the differences between programming exercise for physical and general health benefits, and sports performance.
- Know how to incorporate safe and effective warm ups and cool downs.
- Understand the range of available equipment and how to select the most appropriate exercise and exercise modes to meet the participant’s needs and goals. • Understand the effect of speed of movement on posture, alignment and intensity.
- Understand different learning styles, goals, needs, likes and dislikes and how these should to be reflected in planning.
- Develop alternative activities, exercises or participation options for the overall programme. • Plan for the provision of adaptations, progressions and regressions for each exercise included in the programme.
- Set and adapt meaningful goals linked to a participant’s individual needs, wants and motivators.
- Understand the best use of different forms of external resistance for strength and explosive training.
- Understand the importance of developing muscular equilibrium when planning and designing training programmes, especially in the weight room.
- Know how to programme exercise to develop metabolic fitness, resistance training, and explosive training outcomes.
- Know how to minimise any risks relevant to the programme.
- Be able to set realistic timings and sequences for sessions.

Coaching a range of strength and conditioning methods

Know a range of S&C training methods including: Effective RAMP warm up protocol. Foundation movements to promote mobility, stability, postural integrity and coordination. Strength based training and explosive activities. Energy system training protocols. High intensity running-based activities.

Foundation movements training
Know safe and effective technique for a range of foundation movements to cover: Squat. Lunge, including multi-planar. Hinge. Jump, including bilateral and unilateral variations. Quadrupedal. Push. Pull. Rotation. Running.

Resisted movements for strength based and explosive training
Know safe and effective technique for a range of exercises to cover: Bodyweight exercise including suspension training. Medicine balls. Barbells: lifting and spotting technique. Dumbbells: lifting and spotting technique. Other resistance training equipment such as kettlebells and sandbags. Supplementary equipment: e.g. the use of mats for trunk strength exercises.

High Intensity running based activities  
- Know safe and effective technique for a range of exercises to cover: Acceleration. Deceleration.