Talk:Exercise and metabolic disease/BCRL/Exercise Prescription
1. What parts of the resource were most useful in working with the "client" and why?
The breast cancer related lymphedema wiki resource had a wide range of useful information which was sued and sort after by the client in the role play scenario. The parts referred to and utilised the most during the role play were medical complications, exercise prescription and exercise training. These were particularly important because they centred around the main questions and fears that a client seeking an exercise physiologist may have about the service for their particular condition. The layout of these sections in particular was useful for this scenario as well organised and obvious heading allowed the physiologist to quickly jump to information or answer questions. In particular when explaining the intervention program to the client, the Wiki had a nice FITT principle run down to run through or even print out for the client in order for them to gain a greater understanding of exactly what type of activity may improve their quality of life. The exercise training page was incredibly relevant and helpful during the scenario as the client had been given mixed opinions on the role of exercise in breast cancer related lymphedema via different specialists. The list of benefits was a short, sharp way to explain the potential benefits of exercise for the client. The ‘challenging the myth’ background paragraphs were less well laid but they too helped to show why some specialists may still oppose this treatment method but also that their opinions are not necessarily backed up by current research into lymphodema. The use of relevant study references (list form at the bottom of each page) allow the physiologist to go and review these findings in greater depth if they require and having many resources blocked into specific categories would allow this much more efficiently. The use of pictures and other links also allow the physiologist to give a visual representation of some of the points he is making to the client to better increase client understanding and interest.
2. Can you suggest improvements to the practical use of the resource? Rationalise any improvements and provide examples where possible.
Areas of improvement for greater practical use could be the inclusion of goal setting categories. The emphasis should be on the likely specific goals of the client. For example many lymphedema patients are as concerned with the aesthetic and psychological impact of breast cancer and lymphedema. Specific assessments should be included as these could be used as indicators of goal orientated results. Eg arm girths and confidence/10/ Greater information on why lymphedema still has many myths that are believed by many specialists may also be an nice inclusion to back up the current research evidence as many people are likely to trust their specialists over their exercise physiologist.
3. Was the resource factually accurate? Use references to support your response.
After reviewing several of the resources cited and some not cited by the authors it appears the resource was very factually accurate. This is particularly true in the exercise areas of the Wiki which go into greater depth than many of the earlier pages. This is very important as the deeper the information covered is the easier it is to become inaccurate and means the material can be trusted and relied upon much more by the physiologist and client. For example, the exercise guidelines given were directly in line with current research and may be trusted by professionals using the resource when planning the training program of a client.
4. What are your thoughts on the layout of the resource? Describe what changes you might make to improve ease of understanding of the resource. If you are aware of anything that may improve the resource (e.g. a video, reference to further reading etc) include them here.
The Wiki on a whole is set out very well. Bigger headings and the use of more obvious sub headings may make the quick location of information slightly easier though. Splitting up the benefits of exercise into general and lymphedema related may be useful to underline the fact that exercise has very specific benefits to such clients and help gain trust in intervention plan. These could also be better organised into psychological, physiological and aesthetic etc to underpin the fact that the treatment will potentially benefit various areas of the clients life that may have been impacted on through their condition. The inclusion of active support groups such as Dragons Abreast in the ACT may also provide other means of exercise that may increase successfulness of your treatment and client results. It may also lead into a marketing effect in which the clients may suggest you onto others at such clubs.
5. Describe any personal experiences you have had, or anticipate, in professional life and how such a resource might be used in practice.
Prior to conducting the role play I was not sold on the usefulness of such resources in a clinical setting. Throughout and after the scenario I began to realise the ease and speed at which this resource method allows a physiologist to gather and relay certain information. It allows quick information sorting via organised layout, good use of headings and page to page links and use of page to external resource links. I have definitely done assessment or research items in which a quick link to specific resources covering certain areas of a field would be incredibly useful. I have also found times when working as a fitness professional for clients with such conditions that a succinct resource for them to have to remind them of the benefits of what they are doing and to reassure them of these benefits (as backed up by research) over common myths or misconceptions that may hear through friends etc. As a professional there will be a plethora of different clients with different disorders and individual differences. The Wiki resource would allow a physiologist to quickly sift through risk factors, medical considerations, current exercise guidelines and benefits of exercise for the condition quickly and accurately. It must be included though that this is a student project Wiki resource. Therefore although the accuracy of this particular Wiki was very good, many other un edited or un marked pages may not be as reliable as other resources such as peer reviewed journals and literature reviews etc. Therefore a trade-off between speed, layout and accuracy may have to be taken. I ahve also discussed thw Wiki with clients and other phsyiologits who beleive the Wiki is a great clinical resource method for many of the same reasons discussed above.
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