Abstract:

Physiology education in the Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy requires a constant connection between complex theoretical foundations and their application in clinical reasoning. To foster greater student engagement and participation, a flipped classroom methodology was integrated into the 'Neuromuscular and Exercise Physiology' course. This model was specifically applied to a unit of high ethical and professional relevance: the use of ergogenic substances and steroids in sports. The primary objective was to place the student at the centre of the learning process, enhancing their autonomy, critical analysis skills, and proficiency in scientific communication.

The learning sequence was organized into three stages. First, students carried out prior autonomous work by watching videos on the physiological effects, risks, and ethical aspects of steroid use, thereby preparing for the in-class discussion. Subsequently, during a computer lab session, students conducted searches for scientific articles across databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, performing a critical appraisal of the evidence regarding the advantages, risks, and physiological and ethical considerations. Finally, each group authored a scientific poster—comprising introduction, objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions—and presented it to their classmates, fostering academic communication and peer-to-peer debate.

Preliminary results show greater student involvement, an improvement in the capacity for critical analysis of scientific literature, and higher quality in both posters and presentations. The methodology reinforces key transversal competencies: information synthesis, written and oral communication, and critical-scientific thinking. Furthermore, the selected topic increases student motivation by linking theoretical content with real-world problems in the sports and healthcare sectors.

In conclusion, the implementation of the flipped classroom model in this unit proves to be effective in enhancing active learning, autonomy, and the comprehensive development of competencies in Physiotherapy students. This strategy can be easily applied to other Health Sciences subjects, contributing to a more thorough education oriented towards professional practice.

Keywords:

Flipped Classroom, Active Learning Strategies, Physiology, Physiotherapy, Anabolic Steroids in Sport, Scientific Articles, Scientific Poster.