By Shauna Downes, an exercise physiologist at Purpose Healthcare
You might not have heard much about exercise physiologists or know much about what they do. I would describe the role of an “EP” as using exercise as a treatment to help achieve your health goals.
Exercise physiologists have been trained to work with specific injuries or conditions. The scope of exercise and its ability to improve and heal the body is impressive.
Just to scratch the surface, it has the capacity to:
- Help manage lower back pain, or joint pain in general
- Control blood sugar levels to assist in preventing or managing type 2 diabetes
- Improve heart strength and function
- Lower blood cholesterol levels
- Improve health outcomes after cancer treatment
- Assist in management of depression or anxiety
- Improve sleep
- Increase blood flow to brain to help with memory and cognition
- Lower falls risk
Exercise physiologists work with people with different goals and abilities – from those looking to start an exercise program for the first time, to people coming back from surgery, to athletes who are looking to improve their performance.
Through working with an exercise physiologist you begin to understand the importance of tailoring programs to individual needs, and the importance of teaching mindful, controlled and overall ‘good’ movement to achieve the best outcomes.
Commonly used is a combination of strength and conditioning work as well as pilates-based exercises delivered in both individual and small group class formats.
