Exercise Physiology South Australia
Exercise Physiologists are university-qualified, allied health professionals who prescribe and deliver exercise-based lifestyle and behaviour modification programs to prevent and treat injury and disease. They work alongside GPs and specialists to provide holistic care.
At Exercise Physiology SA, we offer 1-on-1 appointments to provide clinically prescribed exercise for people living with diabetes or at risk of developing diabetes. Medicare Australia funds these sessions.
Accredited Exercise Physiologists
Exercise physiologists are experts in prescribing exercise as a preventative measure and treatment for various chronic health conditions. They can also help with injury rehabilitation and pain management and educate on healthy lifestyle modification strategies to improve health outcomes. In Australia, specifically trained exercise physiologists are recognised as healthcare professionals and their services are covered by Medicare, the national universal health insurance. This means that patients can directly engage with exercise physiologists without having to be referred by their medical doctor first.
An exercise physiologist will assess your fitness level, body composition and strength and consider your medical history. They will then prescribe a safe, evidence-based program tailored to your needs. These programs will include strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, and flexibility exercises. Your personalised program will be delivered in a gym-based setting with the assistance of specialised rehab equipment.
If you have diabetes, exercise physiologists can teach you how to manage your condition with exercise. They can also provide a customised home program to complete independently. Walking, swimming, a home exercise bike, or even playing sports with friends.
Exercise Physiologists can also assist with various health conditions, including arthritis, heart disease and diabetes. If you have diabetes, an Accredited Exercise Physiologist can work with you to develop a plan that includes healthy eating and regular exercise. They aim to help you achieve a better quality of life, manage your condition, and reach your health goals.
Athletes rely on the expertise of SASI Sports Physiologists to optimise their performance. They can conduct specialised tests in a laboratory environment or, more commonly, out in the field to assess athletes in a training or competition environment. This can help identify factors influencing athletic performance, such as skeletal and muscular structure, physiology, nutrition, and exercise psychology.
During your exercise physiology SA degree, you can undertake clinical placements with real-world industry professionals. These placements will give you hands-on experience in implementing exercise physiology services and provide you with valuable professional contacts. You will also receive education and support from our exercise physiology lecturers, which is essential in developing the practical skills required to become an accredited exercise physiologist.
Exercise Physiologists for Diabetes
An accredited exercise physiologist experienced in diabetes care can assist patients with managing their condition. Exercise has been proven effective in reducing diabetes-related complications such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. However, the challenge for those with diabetes is to ensure that they can undertake and sustain an appropriate amount of exercise to gain the desired benefits. An experienced allied health professional can guide you on what types of exercise are safe, what activity to avoid and the best way to manage your glucose levels through your exercise program.
For those with a chronic health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, it is possible to access five individual Medicare funded 1-on-1 appointments with an exercise physiologist each year, subsidised by the Australian government via a GP Care Plan. Exercise physiologists are specifically trained to prescribe the correct types of exercise based on your condition. They can teach you how to do these exercises correctly in a safe, supervised environment.
In addition, if you want to become an exercise physiologist and learn more about this exciting career option, you should consider studying for a Clinical Exercise Physiology SA degree from the University of South Australia (UniSA). This unique degree provides you with a broad base of knowledge and skills and specialised training in exercise for health and wellbeing.
Exercise Physiology is Adelaide’s leading and specialist women’s health exercise physiology and wellness studio and offers women-centric care in a safe and empowering environment. The studio is run by a team of Accredited Exercise Physiologists passionate about female-centric health and fitness, led by Director and Diabetes and Women’s Health Exercise Physiologist Kiara.