What is an Exercise Physiologist?

Being six months away from graduating with my master’s degree, I often get asked “What’s your major?” or “What are you going to do now that you are done with school?” Exercise physiology is a small field that many people don’t know about but plays a vital role in helping keep the population healthy. So here is to all my friends, family, and others who want to know what I will be doing when I graduate.

Exercise physiology is a sub discipline of kinesiology that focuses on 1.) the short term biological responses to stress of physical activity and 2.) how the body adapts to repeated bouts of physical activity over time.1 Also, exercise physiologist oversee the analysis, improvement and maintenance of health and fitness; rehabilitation of heart disease and other chronic diseases and disabilities; and the professional guidance and counsel  of athletes and others interested in sports training.2 Often exercise physiologist have the responsibility of conditioning a person to a higher level of fitness or health while being aware of safety issues associated with that session of exercise.1 Exercise physiologist can work with world class athletes who wish to improve their performance or with patients who suffer from a chronic illness who wish to improve their quality of life.1

A certified exercise physiologist is trained to:

·      Administer exercise stress tests in healthy and unhealthy populations2

·      Evaluate a persons overall health, with special attention to cardiovascular function and metabolism2

https://francis.edu/exercise-physiology-degree-options/

·   Develop individualized exercise prescriptions to increase physical fitness, strength, endurance and      flexibility2

·      Design a custom exercise program to meet health care needs and athletic performance goals2

Exercise physiologist can be found in health care and athletic training settings such as universities, athletic programs, fitness facilities, corporate wellness programs, military training centers, rehabilitation clinics and hospitals.2 The patients I will work with will be referred from a doctor and I will be responsible for evaluating the patient's medical and fitness needs and design a customized exercise program that promotes individual goals.2 The exercise physiologist field is continuing to grow as society learns of the value of exercise as an important health care treatment.2

1Davis, P. (n.d.). Exercise Physiology. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.americankinesiology.org/featured-careers/featured-careers/exercise-physiology

2Exercise Physiologist. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/career/142/exercise_physiologist