
Exercise is one of the best strategies for managing chronic health conditions. It boosts mood, reduces stress levels, improves cognition and increases energy levels.
Tailored exercise programs enhance cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure for patients with heart disease. For diabetes, regularly training muscles can enhance insulin sensitivity and stabilise glucose levels.
Strengthening muscles
In order to maintain a good level of health and well-being, people with long-lasting conditions should exercise regularly. However, it can be difficult for some to start or stick to an exercise program. This is where an exercise physiologist can help.
An exercise physiologist at Ace Allied Health Bendigo specialises in understanding how the human body responds to physical activity and exercise. They can create a personalised exercise plan that enhances cardiovascular health, muscle strength and overall function. They also provide ongoing monitoring of progress to ensure safe and sustainable results.
It’s important to note that you don’t need a referral to see an exercise physiologist, and they can be found in many different settings including hospitals, private healthcare companies and community fitness centres. However, if you’re looking to get into the field, it’s recommended that you have at least a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology, exercise science or kinesiology. A master’s degree may be helpful as well but is not a requirement.
In addition to helping you find the right exercises and setting you up with a tailored workout, exercise physiologists can also offer support and encouragement to make sure you stay motivated to keep exercising. They can even help you set realistic goals for yourself, which will give you something to look forward to and achieve.
Lowering blood pressure
Accredited Bendigo exercise physiologist are university trained allied health professionals who specialize in the delivery of scientific exercise interventions for people with acute, subacute, or chronic medical conditions across the spectrum of healthcare (including cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, musculoskeletal and mental diseases).
One of the primary ways that EP’s help manage chronic conditions is through conducting thorough assessments. They will look at your current fitness levels, health status and the specific limitations associated with your condition. From here they can then create a personalised exercise plan to improve the long-term outcome of your illness.
Long-lasting diseases such as Arthritis, Asthma, Back Pain and Cancer can all benefit from regular exercise. However, it’s essential that you get expert guidance to ensure that the exercises you’re doing are safe. AEP’s are fully qualified to monitor your progress and prevent any injuries or further complications.
Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are a huge burden on health care systems, and are increasingly common in Australia. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of NCDs such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, by promoting physical activity and improving health-related quality of life. Exercise Physiologists are a valuable and underutilized component of the prevention and management of these diseases. By implementing structured and monitored physical activity programs, they can decrease national health care costs in the long-term through decreased need for symptom-related prescriptions, fewer hospital admissions, and reduced morbidity and mortality related to sedentary lifestyles.
Reducing weight
Long-lasting diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and mental health conditions, can be very difficult to manage. Despite their chronic nature, many of these illnesses are very treatable. By incorporating regular exercise into a healthy lifestyle, you can significantly reduce the symptoms and risk factors of these conditions.
Accredited exercise physiologists, or EPs, have an in-depth understanding of how your body responds to physical activity. Their expertise allows them to craft personalised exercise programs that improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and overall function. This knowledge is invaluable when managing a chronic condition.
EPs can also help you cultivate habits that promote wellness. They can help you set achievable goals, prioritise and reward progress, and provide ongoing support to ensure that you stay on track. They can even assist you in breaking down complex lifestyle changes into smaller steps so that you can manage them more easily.
Studies have shown that specialised exercise prescription is highly effective in managing non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Clinical exercise physiologists (CEPs) can be an essential part of the solution by providing rehabilitative exercise programs that are scientifically proven to reduce the burden of these conditions on society and the health care system.
Relieving pain
With a thorough understanding of human anatomy and physiology, exercise physiologists know how to safely prescribe exercises. They understand that each individual’s needs are unique, so they will design a program that suits your current ability and goals.
For example, if you suffer from back pain, your EP might choose a low-impact exercise such as swimming or walking to increase your heart rate without increasing your joint movement. They also understand that it’s important to incorporate core strength training as a part of the exercise to support your spine.
The goal is to help you manage your symptoms and prevent future health problems. A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for many chronic conditions, and it’s an EP’s job to get you moving.
As well as designing programs to manage your existing conditions, EP’s can also design programs to reduce the likelihood of you developing a condition in the first place. This is done by performing clinical assessments and measuring your strength, balance and cardio-respiratory fitness.
Clinical exercise physiologists have proven to be an integral component of managing long-term non-communicable diseases, thus alleviating the burden they place on national health systems. By providing structured and monitored physical activity, they are able to decrease national health care costs in the long term by reducing the need for symptom-related prescriptions, hospital admissions and reduced morbidity and mortality.