What is an Exercise Physiologist (EP)?
According to Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA):
The term “Exercise Physiologist” describes professionals from within the field of exercise science who have specialised into either health and fitness or exercise rehabilitation streams. As knowledge in the area of physical conditioning and rehabilitation has increased, the evolution of specialists in various fields have become apparent. The development of a specialised area in the field of exercise science has only occurred in recent years.
What isn’t an Exercise Physiologist (EP)?
An exercise physiologist is NOT a personal trainer. Exercise Physiologists have tertiary qualifications, studying for at least 3 or 4 years and cover topics of study that allow them to work with special populations such as those with diabetes, high blood pressure and various other ailments. Personal Trainers can gain accreditation over the internet and do not have as intricate a knowledge about the body as EPs.
Exercise is like a drug – if it were prescribed to you, would you want it from the equivalent of an exercise doctor (EP), or someone who runs a backyard laboratory?
What is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)?
Accreditation is given to those Exercise Physiologists deemed to have a specific amount of knowledge and experience in the field of Exercise Physiology to be accredited by a review panel.
Only AEPs can have their services claimed at Health Funds, and only AEPs are issued with Medicare provider numbers for services with GPs.
What is an Accredited Musculoskeletal Physiologist?
AEPs can get further accreditation in their field of expertise. The board of ESSA believes my skills in the area of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation to be specialized enough to be awarded accreditation in that area as well. This is due to my knowledge and experience specifically dealing with numerous spinal, neck, knee and shoulder injuries. Rehabilitating injuries through exercise requires even more detailed knowledge of how the body works in terms of motor programs and poorly functioning muscles.
Having this also differentiates a practitioners' skills from other accredited exercise physiologists in rehabilitation, who have already separated themselves from the standard EP.
What is a CHEK Practitioner
The C.H.E.K Institute is known as the foremost organization committed to excellence in education and innovation in the fields of corrective exercise and high-performance conditioning. World champion surfer Mick Fanning, fellow surfer Taj Burrow and rugby league player Craig Fitzgibbon are just a few elite athletes who subscribe to the CHEK theory. Through study with the CHEK institute, principal practitioner Andrew Schwartz is also an accredited practitioner in CHEK principles of conditioning.
