Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 32: MOBILITY AND EXERCISE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CAREEssential guidance for tutorsDeliveryLearners could be introduced to this unit by familiarising themselves with the namesand unique characteristics of all the bones of the body. Opportunities to examine amodel skeleton, including a skull, and to relate bone shape and size to functionwithin the skeleton would be useful. If possible, the opportunity to look at freshspecimens of bone from a butcher would help to support understanding of thestructure of moveable joints and the characteristics of the different tissues, eghyaline cartilage, long bones, flat bones.Examination of prepared histology slides and electron micrograph images to showsarcomeres are useful to enhance understanding of muscle physiology. Simple testswith lever systems could be used to gain an understanding of relationships betweenstructure of joints, the relative positions of muscle groups lying around the joint, andthe efficiency of the work carried out.Before exploring the actions of muscles around joints, it would be worth raisinglearners’ awareness of their own fitness, suppleness and stamina by participation in akeep fit type activity led by a suitably qualified expert. The effects of regularexercise and training on musculo-skeletal performance could involve exploration ofdifferent training strategies for different sports and activities.The use of guest speakers such as physiotherapists or sports therapists could bevaluable to enhance understanding of different approaches to maintaining andmaximising musculo-skeletal mobility health, as well as exploring the effects ofdifferent disorders and injuries on this.AssessmentAssessment is likely to be based on documentary evidence that could take the formof informative and detailed wall charts. Reports and oral presentations, possibly withpractical demonstrations, would also be acceptable. It would be expected thatdiagrammatic and other visual formats, together with detailed annotation, will formthe basis of evidence submitted for assessment.In order to achieve a merit or distinction, learners will need to have a goodunderstanding of the interrelationship between posture, mobility and exercise, andthe structural features of the musculo-skeletal system, in supporting movement ofthe body as a whole, rather than just focusing on movement about a single joint.Three assignments could form the basis of assessment of this unit. The first couldenable learners to provide evidence for P1, P2 and M1, concerning the developmentof the skeletal system and the structure and functioning of different types of joints.A second assignment could then focus on muscles, and be used to assess P3, P4, P5and M2, but also to include D1, which draws together the muscular and skeletalsystems. The third assignment could be used to assess P6, based on injuries, and alsoD2, which again draws on both the muscular and skeletal systems.BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007411