Exercise physiology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Exercise physiology is the identification of physiological mechanisms underlying physical activity, the comprehensive delivery of treatment services concerned with the analysis, improvement, and maintenance of health and fitness, rehabilitation of heart disease and other chronic diseases and/or disabilities, and the professional guidance and counsel of athletes and others interested in athletics, sports training, and human adaptability to acute and chronic exercise.

[edit] Exercise physiologists

An exercise physiologist is a person who has an Bachelors or Masters degree or a doctorate in exercise physiology from an accredited college or university. In the U.S. such an individual may be certified by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) to practice exercise physiology [via the Exercise Physiologist Certified exam (EPC)].

Topics studied in exercise physiology include human energy transfer, human energy expenditure, evaluation of energy-generating capacities, the nervous system pulmonary system, the cardiovascular system, the musculoskeletal system, endocrine system (including hormones) and the interaction of these, plus training methods, environmental effects on physiology, and ergogenic aids.

Exercise physiologists tend to specialise into either health and fitness or exercise rehabilitation streams with exercise used as a treatment strategy in physical rehabilitation, prevention of disease, and work conditioning.

Exercise physiolgists promote self-management strategies to encourage long term behaviour change, so real benefits can be achieved for the client. This is particularly useful for individuals with chronic and/or complex conditions such as diabetes mellitus, arthritis, lower back pain, kidney disease and many other states and conditions.