Exercise Physiology for Medical Conditions
Exericse can be seen as a type of ‘medicine’ and has been shown to be an effective and safe way of treating up to 26 different medical conditions! And this number keeps growing all the time. This study demonstrates the positive effect that exercise has on these diseases from mental health to heart disease and cancer.
When starting a new exercise program, it’s very important to be guided by a knowledgeable practitioner with a good understanding of your condition. This includes knowing how to prescribe exercise that will be safe and effective. Exercise Physiologists (EP’s) are university-trained health professionals that are qualified to design exercise programs for people with medical conditions. Read below to find out more about EP’s and how they can help with your health problem.
What is an exercise physiologist?
Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) are allied health professionals who specialise in prescribing exercise for the treatment and prevention of medical conditions. These include cardiovascular conditions, metabolic disorders such as diabetes, weight control, balance and mobility impairments. Exercise can be enormously beneficial in both the treatment and prevention of many disorders and there has been a significant amount of research into the correct prescription of exercise for each condition. Our exercise physiologists are accredited with ESSA and engage in further study programs on a yearly basis to ensure we provide the best treatment for you.
Conditions Our Exercise Physiologists Treat
Rehabilitation following surgery (physiotherapy)
Rehabilitation after Stroke
Neurological and Neuromuscular Disorders
Balance and Falls Prevention (physiotherapy)
Work-related injuries and conditioning
Prehabilitation – preparation for surgery
Weight Control
Dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol)
Cancer Patients
Depression and other Mental Illness
What to Expect at Exercise Physiology
Arriving for the appointment:
At your first exercise physiology appointment, you will be asked to arrive 10 minutes ahead of the appointment time to complete a short form about yourself. If you have any paperwork related to any conditions you have, please bring these with you. This may include scans, reports, previous treatment, letters etc.
Initial Consultation:
Assessment – During the consultation, we will ask you a series of questions regarding yourself, your medical history as well as your goals. We will then perform a series of basic tests that are relevant to what you are coming to see us for.
Treatment – After the assessment, we will explain to you our findings and outline the exercise-based treatments that are known to be effective for your situation. We will then go through this exercise program together and provide you the program on a handout, as well as a link to your exercise program online, which includes photos and videos.
Follow-up Consultations:
In most situations, you will benefit from a number of follow-up appointments to reassess the program and progress the exercises accordingly. This will ensure that you get the best out of your exercise program and reach your goals in a timely manner. The number of follow-up appointments differ on a case-by-case basis and we are happy to discuss this with you.
Do I Need a Referral to Make an Appointment?
No. Exercise Physiologists are first-contact, primary healthcare professionals in Australia and that means that you can book an appointment without seeing your doctor first. Many of our patients are referred from GPs and specialists but many choose to see us themselves.
How much does an appointment cost?
For our latest pricing, please see our fees page
Do you accept private health insurance?
Exercise physiology is covered by private health funds as part of “extras” cover and we have HICAPS facilities to charge your health fund on the day of the appointment. The amount that your private health fund pays depends on your policy.
Is exercise physiology covered by Medicare?
Exercise physiology is generally not covered by Medicare but you can get part funding from Medicare through a Chronic Disease Management Plan if your GP refers you with one of these.
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For more, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
If you would like to ask a question about our services or anything else, visit our Contact Us page to get in touch.
If you are ready to make an appointment, visit our make a booking page and let us help you with your fitness or recovery.