7027 version 3
28-Jun-16
1 of 6
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
Apply motor control and learning
principles
level:
5
credit:
4
planned review date:
December 2002
sub-field:
Fitness
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: apply
concepts and principles of motor control to exercise
prescription; apply concepts and principles of motor learning
to exercise prescription; and apply motor learning principles to
fitness programme development for special needs groups.
This unit standard is designed for people who will, with little
supervision, be prescribing exercise for clients in and
associated with fitness facilities, recreation programmes and
sports.
entry information:
Open.
accreditation option:
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
moderation option:
A centrally established and directed national moderation
system has been set up by the Sport, Fitness and Recreation
Industry Training Organisation - Fitness Advisory Group.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7027 version 3
28-Jun-16
2 of 6
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
Apply motor control and learning
principles
special notes:
1
Motor control as a discipline is defined as an area of
study dealing with the understanding of the neural,
physical and behavioural aspects of movement
(Schmidt, R.A.
Motor Control and Learning: A
behavioral emphasis. Champaign Il.: Human Kinetics.
Latest Edition). Motor control as a process is defined as
process associated with the reception and processing of
information from the environment and from the body; the
use of such information to select and control
movements, and the organisation of the central nervous
system to produce coordination of many individual
muscles, joints and body segments in movement
(Schmidt, R.A.
Motor Control and Learning: A
behavioral emphasis. Champaign Il.: Human Kinetics.
Latest Edition).
2
Motor learning as a discipline is defined as an area of
study focusing on the acquisition of skilled movements
as a result of practice (Schmidt, R.A. Motor Control
and Learning: A behavioral emphasis. Champaign Il.:
Human Kinetics. Latest Edition). Motor learning as a
process is defined as a set of processes associated
with practice or experience leading to relatively
permanent changes in skilled behaviour. (Schmidt,
R.A.
Motor Control and Learning: A behavioral
emphasis. Champaign Il.: Human Kinetics. Latest
Edition).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7027 version 3
28-Jun-16
3 of 6
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
Apply motor control and learning
principles
3
Special needs groups include:
life cycle stages - children and adolescents, older people
and seniors, ante- and post-natal women; people with
activity limitations imposed by - asthma, arthritis,
diabetes, hypertension, cardiac insufficiency and injury,
visual impairment, hearing impairment, common motor
disabilities including epilepsy and head injuries, and
undergoing functional rehabilitation.
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Apply concepts and principles of motor control to exercise prescription.
Range:
breadth of knowledge includes - role of nervous system components in
movement, information processing, information processing capacity, attention,
memory, feedback, elements of the peripheral nervous system, reflexes, motor
patterns, muscle recruitment, skill acquisition.
performance criteria
1.1
Description of the interaction of nervous system components in movement is
used to analyse how movements are generated.
Range:
nervous system components include - neocortex, cerebellum,
spinal cord, motor (efferent) nerves, sensory (afferent) nerves,
visual system, auditory system, proprioception (kinaesthesis),
proprioceptors (muscle spindles, Golgi tendon organs, joint
receptors).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7027 version 3
28-Jun-16
4 of 6
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
Apply motor control and learning
principles
1.2
Analysis of types of movement and skill matches motor control requirements to
movement and skill types.
Range:
1.3
movement and skills classification - gross and fine, discrete, serial,
and continuous, open and closed, posture, balance, planned
movements, locomotion;
motor control principles - Laws of Simple Movement, phases of
movement preparation and execution.
Analysis of sources and types of information establishes their role as inputs to
motor control and learning.
Range:
perception (sensory systems), attention,
(working or short term and long term).
feedback,
memory
element 2
Apply concepts and principles of motor learning to exercise prescription.
Range:
concepts include - information processing, information processing capacity,
attention, open and closed loop systems, feedback, memory (working or short
term and long term), motor programmes, reflexes, muscle recruitment.
performance criteria
2.1
Explanation of basic motor learning concepts establishes their relevance for
description and analysis of human movement.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7027 version 3
28-Jun-16
5 of 6
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
Apply motor control and learning
principles
2.2
Analysis of skill acquisition is carried out by application of motor learning
principles.
Range:
2.3
Analysis of instructional and environmental factors (conditions of practice) in
terms of motor learning principles shows how these can facilitate motor learning.
Range:
2.4
learning and performance variables, stages of motor learning,
retention, specificity, transfer.
instructional factors - rate of instruction, frequency of instruction,
duration of instruction, type of instruction;
environmental factors - additional sources of information, presence
of other exercisers.
Development of movement patterns in children is analysed in terms of motor
control and learning principles.
Range:
stages of development, motor learning limitations, characteristic
movement patterns.
element 3
Apply motor learning principles to fitness programme development for special needs groups.
performance criteria
3.1
Description of motor control and learning literature identifies sources relevant to
exercise prescription for special needs groups.
Range:
textbooks, periodicals, libraries, interloan systems, databases,
computer network forums.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7027 version 3
28-Jun-16
6 of 6
EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
Apply motor control and learning
principles
3.2
Research of a variety of sources obtains motor control and learning programme
development information for two distinct special needs groups.
Range:
3.3
Motor control and learning information for two distinct special needs groups is
presented in the form of exercise programme guidelines.
Range:
3.4
specialist literature, academic sources, health professionals,
government departments, support groups.
programme guidelines - skill requirements, learning environment,
distribution of instruction and learning periods, instruction and
feedback methods, exercise content, equipment and facility
requirements, assistance requirements, safety constraints, relevant
outcomes.
Consultation with special needs groups allows group members to evaluate
programme guidelines and provide input.
Comments to:
Sport, Fitness and Recreation Industry Training Organisation
- Fitness Advisory Group
Unit Standard Revision
PO Box 160
WELLINGTON
by December 2002.
Please Note:
Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority
before they can offer programmes of education and training
assessed against unit standards.
Accredited providers assessing against unit standards must
engage with the moderation system that applies to those unit
standards. [Please refer to relevant Plan ref: 0069]
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016