Active Treatment
Exercise Physiology (EP) is an active (movement) evidence based (scientifically proven) practice. An EP is required to complete a four year health and applied science degree at university specific to Exercise Physiology to become registered to Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). To retain a membership with ESSA an EP is required to complete a minimum of 20 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points per year. NPEP have increased the company requirements to a minimum 30 CPD points per year.
It is important to note active exercise treatment has been proven to improve both physical injury and conditions (acute and chronic) and psychological injury (depression, anxiety, social phobia).
Every individual has their own recommended intensity level. Clients should not be concerned about being "over worked" prior to attending an initial assessment as safety is first and foremost during any exercise program.
Goal Setting (The reason you came to see an EP):
The first and most important question should be "How can I help you?". You have come to see an EP for a reason which could be any of the following or more:
- Improve quality of life
- Improve your mental health
- Get back to your job or find new employment
- Increase your work capacity (e.g lifting capacity, working tolerance to specific duties)
- Improve your pain and function
- Increase your capacity to be involved with your family and children.
- Reduce the risk of re-injury
- Improve chronic condition risk factors (blood pressure, blood sugar, T score)
- Lose weight and "lean up"
- Gain weight and increase strength
When the reasons for seeking EP assistance have been identified these goals will be further developed into SMART goals to ensure you achieve your goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic, Timely.
Safety:
Once SMART goals are agreed upon the next step is to take a thorough medical history to ensure any tests required and exercise programs prescribed do not exacerbate underlying conditions including but not limited to joint injury, heart and lung conditions, blood sugars. The intensity of an exercise program and the types of exercises prescribed will be specific to both the medical history and the goals set above.
Outcome Measures (How to prove the program is working to help you achieve your goals):
Each program needs to be measured for success. Outcome measures specific to each persons SMART goals are used to track progress towards achieving goals as well as providing treating doctors, physiotherapists and rehab management
- Functional lifting capacity tests (lifting from floor to waist, 10m bilateral carry, squatting tests)
- Qualitative questionnaires (pain symptoms, function with daily living tasks)
- Weight specific measures (weight, BMI, waist and hip measures)
- Key chronic condition markers (blood pressure, blood sugar levels)
- Range of motion tests
- Balance and stability tests
- Aerobic capacity tests
Exercise program (Specific and client centered):
Each exercise program is highly specific to the individual's needs and takes into account goals and any specific information such as work site assessment reports and job dictionaries. During the provision of the initial home program or gym program manual handling (how you lift weights and objects) will be reviewed and instruction provided. Each exercise and the amount of repetitions and rest in every program is included for a reason. NPEP prides itself on explaining the reasoning behind each detail of the program to prepare clients for self-management.
Program reviews and progression towards self-management:
The number and timing of reviews is again variable depending on client needs. Initial goals will be discussed and outcome measures taken and reviewed against initial outcome measures. Clients goals may change over time. A goals change so will exercise development. Once appropriate a client will be progressed to self-management.