Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
21/07/2026 11:19 PM AWST

Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.

Advise on injury prevention and management

Advise on injury prevention and management

Unit of competency
National Code
SISFFIT525A
State Code
D6241
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
2.00
Current Release Date
28/11/2011
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
22/12/2011
Field of Education
069903 - Human Movement
Original Release Date
22/12/2011
Nominal Hours
60
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide information to fitness clients about exercise related injuries, their prevention and management.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Undertake injury surveillance.
  • 1.1. Source and analyse data on common injuries for specific fitness activities.
  • 1.2. Monitor occurrence of injury and analyse injury patterns for specific fitness activities.
  • 1.3. Identify risk factors that may lead to injury for specific fitness activities according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • 1.4. Identify preventative measures in consultation with medical or allied health professionals.
2. Develop injury prevention strategies.
  • 2.1. Analyse various exercises, exercise technique and fitness activities to formulate effectiveinjury prevention strategies according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • 2.2. Develop injury prevention strategies in consultation with medical or allied health professionals.
  • 2.3. Communicate recommendations about injury prevention strategies to relevant stakeholders according to organisational policies and procedures.
3. Implement injury prevention strategies.
  • 3.1. Assess facilities and equipment for safe participation and advise relevant personnel of problems according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • 3.2. Promote preventative strategies to clients to minimise the likelihood of injury according to best practice guidelines.
  • 3.3. Implement strategies for the management of common exercise-related musculoskeletal injuries according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
4. Monitor injury management.
  • 4.1. Monitor client progress and encourage reassessment of injury by a medical or allied health professional as required.
  • 4.2. Adjust preventative measures and interventions in response to ongoing injury surveillance.
  • 4.3. Conduct ongoing monitoring of injury trends in consultation with medical or allied health professionals as required.
  • 4.4. Evaluate own performance and identify potential improvements for future implementation of injury prevention strategies.
5. Conduct postural appraisals tests to evaluate the clients mobility, stability, muscle strength and endurance.
  • 5.1. Observe the client's static posture using a valid and reliable postural screening method to identify common postural variances and observe the degree of deviation.
  • 5.2. Conduct standardised tests to evaluate joint mobility and observe joint specific functional range of movement of the major joints to identify restrictions and right and or left differences in range.
  • 5.3. Conduct standardised postural appraisal tests to evaluate muscle strength and muscular endurance in order to identify functional ability.
  • 5.4. Apply knowledge of the functional anatomy of the joints and the location of relevant bony landmarks when conducting postural appraisals.
  • 5.5. Use a standardised method of recording the results of tests accurately and systematically using a process that allows for subsequent re-evaluation.
  • 5.6. Refer clients with significant injury and postural variances or concerns to appropriate medical or allied health professional before recommending any corrective exercises.
  • 5.7. Consult with an appropriate medical or allied health professional to discuss results of the postural evaluation to determine an appropriate exercise management plan.
  • 5.8. Implement valid postural appraisal methods according to recognised test protocols and industry standards.
6. Observe and evaluate a client's dynamic posture through observation of gait.
  • 6.1. Observe the client's dynamic posture whilst performing suitable locomotive movements and record information about movement coordination and balance.
  • 6.2. Apply an understanding of the biomechanics of movement to the gait observation to obtain relevant information about the client's dynamic posture.
  • 6.3. Relate the effect of common postural variances to the client's gait.
  • 6.4. Conduct functional tests to evaluate range of movement, movement control, muscular deficits and proprioception.
  • 6.5. Use a standardised method of recording information obtained to allow for further re-evaluation.
  • 6.6. Understand the aim of gait observation by the specialised exercise trainer is not to be diagnostic or prescriptive, but to identify potential causes of injury.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Data may include:
incidence
severity
prevalence
cause
types of injuries.
Injuries may include:
primary or secondary
direct or indirect
acute or overuse
musculoskeletal.
Risk factors may include:
personal and internal factors
extrinsic factors
equipment used
gender
age
weight
fitness level.
Relevant legislation may include:
Occupational Health and Safety
duty of care
privacy
codes of practice
fair trading.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
Occupational Health and Safety
emergency procedures
risk management
use of client record systems
collection and use of client information
equipment use and maintenance
client supervision
incident reporting
client screening procedures
client referral procedures.
Preventative measures may include:
screening
physical conditioning
protective equipment
hydration and nutrition.
Medical or allied health professionals may include:
sports physician
sports doctor
general practitioner
physiotherapist
accredited exercise physiologist
occupational therapist
remedial massage therapist
chiropractor
osteopath
accredited practising dietician
psychologist
aboriginal health worker.
Prevention strategies may include:
pre-exercise, warm-up and stretching
neural stretching
protective equipment
recovery strategies and physical conditioning
frequency and duration of participation
correction of technique
adequate rehabilitation following injury
appropriate management of previous injury.
Stakeholders may include:
clients
fitness professionals and centre owners
coaches
parents or caregivers
medical or allied health professionals.
Facilities and equipment may include:
exercise specific equipment
first aid kit
environment
protective equipment.
Best practice guidelines may include:
guidelines for fitness trainers
Code of Ethics
Code of Conduct.
Clients may include:
young or aged
experienced or inexperienced.
Range of movement may include:
joint specific
muscle specific
passive range
active range
functional range
joint and muscle specific tests
equipment:
flexometer
goniometer
electronic
Major joints may include:
intervertebral
glenohumeral
elbow
radiocarpal
sacroiliac
hip (coxal)
tibiofemoral
patello-femoral
ankle
Postural appraisal may include:
visual observation
appraisals using appropriate equipment
joint mobility:
joint specific range of movement
tests for specific joints
segmental mobility of vertebral sections
active range
passive range
functional range
hypo and or hyper mobile joints
contra lateral
symptoms
muscular strength:
tests for specific muscles and or muscle groups
functional strength
relative strength
muscular endurance:
tests for specific muscles and or muscle groups
functional endurance
functional tests:
squat
single leg squat
single arm push up
special tests
postural screening equipment:
plumb line
grid
photographic technology
video analysis
tape measure
goniometer
flexometer
plurimeter
pressure biofeedback unit.
Functional anatomy of the joints may include:
glenohumeral:
bones:
humerus
scapula
clavicle
ligaments:
corocohumeral
corococlavicular
glenohumeral
transverse humeral
related structures:
subscapular bursa
subacromial bursa
subdeltoid bursa
subcorocoid bursa
muscles acting on the joint
elbow:
bones:
humerus
ulna
radius
ligaments:
ulnar collateral
radial collateral
related structures:
olecranon bursa
muscles acting on the joint
lumbo-sacral:
bones:
5th lumbar vertebrae
1st vertebrae of sacrum
ligaments
muscles acting on the joint
intervertebral:
bones:
vertebral bodies
ligaments
muscles acting on the joint
hip (coxal):
bones:
femur
hip
ligaments:
pubofemoral
iliofemoral
ischiofemoral
transverse ligament of acetabulum
ligament of head of femur
muscles acting on the joint
knee (tibiofemoral and or patellofemoral):
bones:
tibia
femur
patella
ligaments:
patella
oblique popliteal
arcuate popliteal
tibial collateral
fibular collateral
posterior cruciate
anterior cruciate
related structures:
tendons of the quadriceps femoris and facia latae
medial meniscus
lateral meniscus
prepatellar bursa
intrapatellar bursa
suprapatellar bursa
muscles acting on the joint
ankle (talocrucal):
bones:
talus
tibia
fibula
ligaments:
deltoid
anterior talofibial
posterior talofibial
calcaneofibular
related structures:
achilles tendon
muscles acting on the joint
Bony landmarks may include:
mastoid process
spinous process of the vertebrae
spine of the scapula
inferior angle of the scapula
acromion process
coracoid process
xiphoid process
lateral epicondyle of humerus
head of the radius
styloid process
olecranon process
umbilicus
anterior superior iliac spine
posterior superior iliac spine
iliac crest
ischial tuberosity
greater trochanter
lateral femoral condyle
medial epicondyle
lateral epicondyle
superior border of the patella
inferior border of the patella
lateral malleolus
medial malleolus
calcaneous.
Posture may include:
static
dynamic
standing
sitting
supine
specific observations of standing posture:
head and neck
thoracic spine
rib cage
shoulder position
scapula position
elbow position
lumbar spine
pelvis
abdominals
femur
knee
patella
foot position.
Locomotive movements may include:
walking
jogging
running.
Biomechanics of movement may include:
levers
loads
fulcrum
movement arms
muscle actions
centre of gravity
base of support
balance
stability
equilibrium.
Gait observation may include:
view:
anterior
posterior
lateral
gait cycle:
stance phase
swing phase
flight phase
double stance phase
evaluation:
ankle
foot
tibia
knee
pelvis
trunk
head
arm
foot cycle:
foot strike
mid-stance
toe off
evaluation of:
sequence of movement at each joint
sequence of muscle actions
efficiency of movement
method:
visual analysis
video analysis.
Postural variances may include:
structural
functional.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
researches cause and prevalence of commonly occurring injuries to develop injury prevention strategies for fitness clients
implements injury prevention strategies and monitors and adjusts the effect of interventions within the parameters of own accepted roles and responsibilities
applies effective contingency management techniques according to own level of responsibility to respond to problems impacting on effective injury prevention and management
evaluates and reflects on own performance in implementing and evaluating injury prevention strategies.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure development and implementation of effective injury prevention strategies that are of sufficient breadth to allow the candidate to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
a fitness centre with appropriate equipment and facilities in which the candidate operates or intends to operate
fitness clients participating in the specific fitness environment in which the candidate operates or intends to operate.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of interaction with fitness clients and other personnel in conveying information about injury prevention strategies
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of common injuries and preventative methods related to fitness activities
portfolio containing evidence of analysis of injury patterns in relation to fitness activities and self evaluation of own performance
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance
portfolio containing evidence of injury prevention and management strategies developed for specific clients.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
SISFFIT526A Deliver prescribed exercise to clients with musculoskeletal conditions
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
C7917 SRFFSP002A Provide information about injury prevention and management to fitness clients Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AVD32 SISFFIT031 Implement injury prevention strategies Unit of competency