Making it real
PERFORM’s newest intern sits beaming in the centre’s cardiopulmonary suite. “In here, everything comes to life,” says Lindsay Hacker, a third-year exercise science student. “Until now, most of what I’ve learned about this type of equipment has been words on paper. This is my chance to put what I’ve been studying to practical use.”
Hacker is the first student from the Department of Exercise Science specializing in clinical exercise physiology to take part in an internship designed to prevent and manage chronic illness through physical activity.
“The field of clinical exercise physiology examines how certain exercises can alleviate symptoms of major illnesses, such as cancer and diabetes, as well as cardiac and pulmonary disease,” explains Marion Lowe, PERFORM’s clinical exercise programs manager. “At the PERFORM Centre, students will play a central role in delivering community health programs that will improve the quality of life of diseased populations.”
Program development begins with testing and calibrating all of the equipment in the cardiopulmonary suite and on the conditioning and rehabilitation floor. Hacker is working alongside PERFORM’s clinical exercise instructors during this important first phase.
“Having Lindsay participate at this stage will be an invaluable learning opportunity for her inasmuch as she will gain practical experience that is often unavailable to students in this field,” says Ana Moga, one of the centre’s clinical exercise science instructors.
Initial testing and calibration is being done with PERFORM staff as the test subjects. “Using this equipment on healthy people is an essential first step in my educational experience,” says Hacker. “This will allow me to better understand and compare test results between healthy populations and those suffering from chronic disease.”
Hacker is learning how to administer pulmonary function tests on the centre’s plethsymograph and metabolic cart apparatus. They measure lung function and volume to determine the efficiency of a person’s oxygen consumption under different conditions. Findings from these assessments will help students and instructors to jointly design specialized exercise regimens for program participants.
“When Lindsay started, I told her, ‘this is your lab,’” says Moga. “As an instructor and professional in the field, my role is to guide her as she learns first-hand what it takes to be a clinical exercise physiologist.”
More internship students from the Department of Exercise Science will join PERFORM in early 2012 to participate in the delivery of clinical exercise programming.
Related links:
• "Watching and Learning" – NOW September 28, 2011
• "Back to Work ... and Play" - NOW September 15, 2011
• "More Than Just a Workout" – NOW September 7, 2011
• "Chief Administrative Officer Named" – NOW June, 2011
• PERFORM Centre
• Department of Exercise Science