Education
How Exercise could be Life-changing for your Patients! Let’s Introduce Exercise Physiologists!
“If exercise could be packaged in a pill, it would be the single most widely prescribed and beneficial medicine in the nation.”
It’s true – exercise truly is medicine. Research has shown that expertly prescribed exercise can help everything from managing chemotherapy, help reverse effects of Type 2 Diabetes, supporting complex PTSD and even assisting those with eating disorders. Learn more here
Accredited exercise physiologists are the experts who work with thousands of clients each day to help achieve some amazing health outcomes.
One story is that of Matt, a single, below-the-knee amputee who lost his leg to a workplace injury five years ago. Jess is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist who has been working with Matt who says that exercise has absolutely changed his life.
“Seeing an exercise physiologist has helped me massively, mentally and physically. Some days I come in here [to the clinic] not feeling too good, but I walk out with a smile. I love it, I’d recommend it to anybody,” says Matt.
Another story is that of 10-year-old Demi who was born with fibular hemimelia (where part or all of the fibular bone is missing) in her right leg. Before seeing an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Demi was in a wheelchair learning to walk again, but nine months later, all her hard work has paid off as she walks and runs around.
“This [exercise physiology] has made a world of difference to Demi’s world. From go to now, she’s just totally turned the corner,” shared Demi’s dad, Simon.
What is an Exercise Physiologist?
Exercise physiologists are very extensively university trained in exercise prescription, behavioural change and motivational interviewing. Their work helps breaks down the barriers and the reasons why people perhaps are not exercising. They try to make it non-threatening and not an intimidating experience, where exercise is something that they can help patients to explore and discover.
Exercise physiologists are trained to use exercise like it’s medicine.
For people who have chronic medical conditions: osteoarthritis, diabetes, heart failure, osteoporosis, cancer, is their key focus peak area. They help people to use exercise as a part of their medical treatment for lots of those chronic medical conditions.
Exercise physiologists do differ from physiotherapists. While there are areas of overlap in which physiotherapists and exercise physiologist perform similar roles, the most successful treatment options for patients will have these two professions working together.
The training of a physiotherapist has a heavy emphasis on the diagnosis and assessment of disease and disability states within the body, as such much of their treatment revolves around the acute reduction of symptoms.
Exercise physiologists have a greater emphasis on increasing functional capacities and quality of life over a longer period of time with a focus on chronic disease management.
How can they Support your Patients?
Exercise physiologists work hand in hand with nurses, GPs, specialists, and all allied health. They can both receive and give referrals.
Their services can be accessed through Medicare, DVA, NDIS, Private Health and all workers compensation schemes.
10 Reasons why should you Refer more Patients to Exercise Physiologist?
- They truly are the exercise experts backed by university degrees and hundreds of practical hours (just like you!)
- They create personalised exercise programs. No cookie cutter ‘no pain no gain’ program.
- Trained in motivational behaviours so will work with you patients to move for life.
- Their services can be claimed across many different schemes or programs, making it affordable.
- Will work with you and provide constant reports on updates of your patients
- Can work within a larger support team of allied health and medical/psychological specialists.
- Their work is backed by thousands of hours of research and is providing exceptional results.
- Work with many older Australians to help with keeping them safe and active for longer.
- They can create happier, healthier people who will learn new skills for life.
- They are all round awesome people!
Want some FREE resources and CPD Points?
Our public awareness website has a huge range of blogs and free eBooks for patients. Click here to access!
If you would like access to free CPD Points, undertake our free online training module on lifestyle modifications here.
This article was sponsored by Exercise and Sports Science Australia.