Module: Medicine in Sport

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Medicine in Sport
Module Code	HEA1048 (ITS: SS312)
Faculty	Health & Human Performance	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module aims to introduce students to the areas of the medical management of athletes, pharmaceuticals and doping practices. This module will discuss common chronic and acute illnesses in athletes and their general prevention, management and onward referral pathways. Students will be able to differentiate between musculoskeletal and systemic pain. Students will be introduced to the prevention, signs, symptoms and treatments of patients suffering from adverse reactions to environmental conditions. This module will also introduce students to pharmacology, including the use of common medications and doping practices, as well as the rules and regulations regarding their use.

Learning Outcomes

1. List and describe common chronic and acute (both mental and physical) illnesses in athletes, their prevention and management, including onward referral pathways.
2. Differentiate between systemic and musculoskeletal pain.
3. Identify the signs, symptoms and management of adverse reactions to environmental conditions.
4. Understand the concepts of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and be able to describe common routes of drug intake
5. Describe indications, contraindications, precautions, adverse reactions and regulations for common medications, as well as understanding the abuse of drugs and use of doping.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lecture
Group work	28	Group work on presentation.
Independent Study	73	Independent study
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11587	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Eddie McGuinness	Module Teacher	Aoife Burke, Enda Whyte

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group presentation	Group presentation about medical conditions, their recognition, diagnosis, management and referral pathway.	40%	Week 6
Written Exam	Written test examining the course content.	60%	Week 12

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Common chronic illnesses in athletes and their prevention and management
Including arthritis, epilepsy.

Differentiating between systematic and musculoskeletal pain
Including how to identify pathologies masquerading as MSK pain, how to refer and the referral pathway.

Communicable diseases, their prevention (including vaccinations), recognition and management
Including understanding the high risk environment environment for communicable diseases faced by athletes and the role of the Athletic Therapist in managing and minimising risk.

Adverse reactions to environmental conditions
Including lightning, heat illness, altitude illness

Pharmacology and the athlete
Including the rules and regulations, therapeutic exemptions, methods of intake and use of supplements

Doping practices and drug abuse
Including drug testing protocols and indications of misuse of drugs

The basic signs and symptoms of mental disorders.
Including sociocultural factors, and personal values and beliefs

Indicative Reading List

Books:

William Prentice, Daniel Arnheim,: 0, Arnheim's Principles of Athletic Training, 9780073523736
James M. Ritter,Rod J. Flower,Graeme Henderson,Yoon Kong Loke,David MacEwan,Humphrey P. Rang: 2019, Rang and Dale's Pharmacology, Chapter 2, Elsevier, 808, 9780702074486
Clare Stephenson: 0, The Complementary Therapist's Guide to Red Flags and Referrals, Churchill Livingstone, 9780702047664

Articles:

0: World Anti-Doping Agency The Code,

Other Resources

None

This will also be restored to a semester 1 module.