What is an Exercise Physiologist?
An Exercise Physiologist (EP) is an expert in improving the lives of people living with injury, chronic disease or disabilities. Using exercise and lifestyle interventions an EP can help you with your chronic lower back pain, improve your management of type 2 diabetes, or increase your potential to overcome the challenges of your disability. EPs are 4-year university trained and backed with a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and behavioural psychology. Some common conditions an EP will help with are:
Cardiovascular
- Coronary artery disease
- heart failure
- high blood pressure
- cardiac rehab
Musculoskeletal
- sports injury
- chronic pain
- osteoarthritis
- osteoporosis and osteopenia
- pre and post-surgery
Mental Health
- Depression
- anxiety
- stress
- Cancer
Pain and fatigue
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) / Myalgia encephalomyelitis (ME)
- fibromyalgia
- complex regional pain syndrome
- chronic pain
Neurological
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- stroke
- spinal cord and brain injuries
- Parkinson’s disease
Metabolic
- Type 2 diabetes
- obesity
- PCOS
What will an Exercise Physiologist do to help me?
For the majority of clients, an EP will run through a thorough interview to determine your challenges, goals and expectations, before moving through a series of tests designed to work out the best approach for you. From there, the EP will work with you to devise an effective yet sustainable plan of action that might include specific exercises to treat your condition, management strategies to overcome challenges or work in the gym.
What is the difference between a personal trainer and an EP?
Whilst they may seem similar, a PT and an EP are very different. EPs are Allied Health Professionals and are registered Medicare providers who have the qualifications to work with population groups with complex needs, such as those listed above.
