Exercise Physiology
Exercise Physiology
What is Exercise Physiology?
Our Exercise Physiologist (Emily) can treat NDIS & HCP adults. Exercise Physiology is a vital health service. An Exercise Physiologist uses the power of exercise to manage complex chronic conditions in individuals, thereby improving wellbeing and quality of life.
Our experienced Exercise Physiologist – Emily, will work with you to assess, set goals and prescribe exercise to help manage condition symptoms, aged related issues, disability and build capacity for everyday activities of daily living.
An Exercise Physiologist uses exercise rehabilitation as their primary form of treatment. This can assist you by:
• Improving outcomes – including muscular strength and endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness, functional capacity and reducing falls risk.
• Improving daily living capabilities
• Increasing social and community engagement
• Building confidence
• Improving mental and physical wellbeing
Working with Melbourne OT Services allows for an inter-disciplinary, holistic team approach.
Go to our ‘Contact & Referral’ page, email us your details and we will contact you.
Further Information
Why see an Exercise Physiologist (EP)?
Our Exercise Physiologist has expert knowledge on the human body’s anatomy, physiology and has a thorough understanding of the role of exercise for individuals with chronic disease and disability. This knowledge and deep understanding of the human body allows our EP to deliver safe, effective and tailored treatment plans. An individualised and targeted exercise plan will guide you to achieve goals such as, improved health and wellbeing, improved functional capacity and increased community engagement.
Who we can help and conditions we treat?
Our Exercise Physiologist can treat adults. See below for some examples (including but not limited to):
Physical Disability
- Conditions associated with ageing
- Arthritis
- Cardiac Issues
- Myositis
- Neurosarcoidosis
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Amputations
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral palsy
- Vision impaired
- Hearing impaired
- Spinal cord injury
- Muscular dystrophy
- Progressive neurological conditions
Other Conditions
- Down syndrome
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Intellectual disability
Exercise Physiology assessments:
To enable an understanding of your functional capacity, our Exercise Physiologist will undertake a thorough initial assessment in your home. This will evaluate your current physical condition, functional capacity and health status. These assessments will pave the way to designing a tailored exercise program. The assessments include (but are not limited to):
- Discussion highlighting medical history, medications, current physical activity, general lifestyle, barriers and limitations to exercise.
- Goal setting that fits within your specific goals.
- Functional questionnaires.
- Anthropometric tests.
- Gait analysis.
- Joint range of motion.
- Balance, agility and measuring falls risk.
- Cardiovascular and respiratory fitness
- Isolated muscular strength testing.
- Functional capacity testing.
Our Exercise Physiologist will monitor your progress over time, undertaking frequent assessments and reporting to track progress.
Exercise Physiology Interventions:
Our Exercise Physiologist will work with you to develop a tailored exercise program to address specific needs and goals. Some of the interventions our Exercise Physiologist can provide include:
- Home based intervention.
- Independent home exercise plan.
- Behavioural change strategies.
- Understanding and breaking down barriers to movement.
- Behavioural activation.
- Developing a positive relationship between movement and health.
The exercises that our Exercise Physiologist may prescribe can include a combination of cardiovascular exercises, resistance exercises, flexibility training, balance and proprioceptive based tasks. Exercise prescription is closely monitored for each participant, and exercise parameters are modified according to the person’s progress. Exercise prescription is conducted at an appropriate intensity, duration and frequency to ensure safety and provide results. Our Exercise Physiologist will guide you through the prescribed exercises, providing clear instructions on technique, form and safety considerations.
Expected outcomes from Exercise Physiology:
Engaging in Exercise Physiology offers a range of benefits for you. You may expect to see improvements in the following ways:
- Increased muscular strength:Targeted resistance exercise may lead to gains in muscular strength and function, resulting in improved mobility, muscle usage and overall function.
- Improved functional capacity: Targeted exercises have a specific purpose to replicate activities of daily living and assist in performing these tasks.
- Increased cardiorespiratory fitness: Cardiorespiratory exercise targets the health and function of the cardiovascular system, including the heart and blood vessels, and the respiratory system, including the lungs. This aspect of rehabilitation can assist with improving and preserving the health of these organs and build fitness and stamina. Cardiorespiratory exercise also helps to reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disease, development of comorbidities and prevention of chronic disease complications.
- Reduction in falls risk: Engagement in balance and agility training helps to reduce falls and injury risk.
- Mental wellbeing: Regular exercise has positive effects on mental health, including stress reduction, improved mood, improved self-esteem and improved confidence.
- Increased independence: Enhancing physical function and functional capacity allows for greater independence and ability to achieve important life goals.
- Increased social and community engagement: Individuals who have increased independence, confidence and function are more likely to engage in social activity with the community.
- Improved coordination and balance: Improved global coordination can assist with undertaking basic daily tasks and improve overall function and wellbeing.
Go to our ‘Contact & Referral’ page, email us your details and we will contact you.
