Free Courses for Health Professionals
Click on the tab of each course below for a brief description and a link to the course. You will first need to create an account on LearnExeter. Once registered, you can log in to any of the individual courses below.
Who is this course for?
This course is for health professionals to learn to deliver the Back Skills Training Programme (BeST) to their patients with low back pain. Access the course here: https://learn.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=69
Overview of BeST programme
The BeST programme is an evidence-based group programme recommended for people with chronic low back pain.
It uses a cognitive behavioural approach to help people “undo” unhelpful beliefs about low back pain and develop skills to become more active.
It consists of one individual session lasting 60 minutes, followed by 6 group sessions of 90 minutes.
How long does this course take?
6 weeks with a weekly time commitment of 1.5 to 2 hours.
How will this course benefit me?
This course will equip you to better manage patients with ongoing low back pain and deliver the BeST programme in your place of work.
It will provide you with a range of cognitive behavioural skills such as how to use graded activity for exercise progression and thought challenging techniques.
The course also gives you access to free downloadable BeST programme materials to use with your patients.
Who is this course for?
This course is for health professionals and exercise providers to learn to deliver the Better Outcomes for Older People (BOOST) programme to older adults having neurogenic claudication resulting from lumbar spinal stenosis. Access the course here: https://learn.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=83
Overview of BOOST programme
The BOOST is an evidence-based programme and consists of 1 individual session lasting 30 minutes, followed by twelve 90-minute group-based sessions delivered once a week over 12 weeks.
How long does this course take?
Four weeks with a weekly time commitment of 1.5 to 2 hours.
How will this course benefit me?
This course will help you have a good understanding of what neurogenic claudication is and the impact it has on people’s daily lives. It will equip you with the clinical skills required to deliver the group-based BOOST programme underpinned by a cognitive behavioural approach and how to implement the programme in your place of work. The course also gives you access to free downloadable BOOST programme materials to use with your patients.
Who is this course for?
This course is for health professionals to learn to deliver the Getting it Right: Addressing Shoulder Pain (GRASP) programme to their patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. Access the course here: https://learn.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=64
Overview of GRASP programme
The GRASP programme is a single face-to-face session with a physiotherapist that aims to set up patients with appropriate advice and exercises with an emphasis on self-management.
How long does this course take?
Two weeks with a weekly time commitment of 1.5 to 2 hours.
How will this course benefit me?
This course will help you have a good understanding of the impact of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. It will equip you with the clinical skills required to deliver the GRASP programme underpinned by a cognitive behavioural approach and how to implement the programme in your place of work. The course also gives you access to free downloadable GRASP programme materials to use with your patients.
Who is this course for?
This course is for qualified Physiotherapists to learn to deliver the PDSAFE programme to their patients with Parkinson’s. Access the course here: https://learn.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=85
Overview of PDSAFE programme
PDSAFE is a falls prevention programme for people with Parkinson’s. It includes exercises, strategy training and functional task practice. The programme involves 12 face-to-face sessions spanning a 6-month period, reducing therapist contact and increasing patient involvement designed to encourage the patient’s self-progression.
How long does this course take?
Six weeks with a weekly time commitment of 1.5 to 2 hours.
How will this course benefit me?
This course will help you have a good understanding of falls in people with Parkinson’s and current evidence about the treatment methods. It will equip you with the clinical skills required to deliver the PDSAFE falls prevention treatment approach and how to implement the programme in your place of work. The course also gives you access to free downloadable PDSAFE programme materials to use with your patients.
Who is this course for?
This course is for health professionals to learn to deliver the Prevention of Shoulder Problems (PROSPER) programme for patients who have undergone non-reconstructive surgery for breast cancer and are at risk of developing shoulder problems. Access the course here: https://learn.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=84
Overview of PROSPER programme
The PROSPER programme is an early exercise programme (starting at 7-10 days postoperatively). Patients attend three individual face-to-face appointments with a physiotherapist. Three additional flexible sessions via phone or in-person are provided over 12 months if needed.
How long does this course take?
Four weeks with a weekly time commitment of 1.5 to 2 hours.
How will this course benefit me?
This course will help you have a good understanding of the impact of breast cancer treatment on shoulder function and who is at risk for developing shoulder problems following non-reconstructive breast cancer surgery. It will equip you with the clinical skills required to deliver the PROSPER programme and how to implement the programme in your place of work. The course also gives you access to free downloadable PROSPER programme materials to use with your patients.
Who is this course for?
This course is for health professionals to learn to deliver the Strengthening And Stretching for Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand (SARAH) programme for patients having hand function problems due to rheumatoid arthritis. Access the course here: https://learn.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=63
Overview of SARAH programme
SARAH is an individually tailored progressive 12-week exercise programme supplemented with evidence-based behavioural support strategies to encourage exercise adherence. It is delivered with routine advice on joint protection, splints, and assistive devices.
How long does this course take?
Two weeks with a weekly time commitment of 1.5 to 2 hours.
How will this course benefit me?
This course will help you have a good understanding of the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on hand function. It will equip you with the clinical skills required to deliver the SARAH programme and how to implement the programme in your place of work. The course also gives you access to free downloadable SARAH programme materials to use with your patients.
Who is this course for?
This course is for health care professionals who prescribe exercise for people with persistent low back pain. Access the course here: https://learn.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=112
Overview of Online Training programme
The content of this course includes the results of a realist review, which has been published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (link here). The realist review underpinning this content, and the online training program have been funded by the Orthopaedic Research UK charity (Orthopaedic Research | UK Charity (oruk.org). This course will not tell you what exercise to prescribe or at what dosage or duration. This course focuses more on the behavioural mechanisms and the adjunctive processes that support how we prescribe exercise to patients with persistent non-specific low back pain.
How long does this course take?
5 weeks with a weekly time commitment of 0.5 to 1 hours.
How will this course benefit me?
This course will equip you to optimise exercise prescription in patients with ongoing low back pain.
The course will cover behavioural mechanisms to consider in your clinical consultation to support you to prescribe exercise optimally.
