According to the Clinical Exercise Physiologist Association.
Clinical Exercise Physiology is a relatively new career field that has only been around since the late 1960s. It is found within the healthcare realm, primarily in medical settings, where exercise is used to help patients manage or reduce their risk of chronic disease. It is a unique and vital profession – and with the upcoming changes in the field of healthcare.
1. What is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP)?
A Clinical Exercise Physiologist is a health professional that utilizes scientific rationale to design, implement and supervise exercise programming for those with chronic diseases, conditions and/or physical shortcomings. They also assess the results of outcomes related to exercise services provided to those individuals.
Clinical Exercise Physiology services focus on the improvement of physical capabilities for the purpose of: (1) chronic disease management; (2) reducing risks for early development or recurrence of chronic diseases; (3) creating lifestyle habits that promote enhancement of health; (4) facilitating the elimination of barriers to habitual lifestyle changes through goal-setting and prioritizing; (5) improving the ease of daily living activities; (6) and increasing the likelihood of long-term physical, social and economic independence.
2. What does a Clinical Exercise Physiologist do?
A CEP typically obtains a medical history on a patient, prior to administering exercise-related tests. From the test results, the CEP would then be able to design an individualized exercise prescription that meets the specific needs of each patient. Along with each patient, the CEP will determine short- and long-term goals.
The CEP will use their expertise to assist patients improve aerobic capacity, decrease heart disease risk factors such as high body fat and high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels or high blood glucose levels, decrease peripheral neuropathy, and decrease fatigue. CEPs will work with patients to prioritize exercise as an enjoyable habitual lifestyle practice.
3. How does a CEP differ from a physical therapist or a personal trainer?
CEPs have a broad focus of improving aerobic endurance, and whole-body strength in order to enable those with a chronic disease (diabetes, heart disease, renal disease, pulmonary disease) to live life to the fullest and to achieve the most effective management of their disease.
In contrast, physical therapists treat patients who have acute or chronic pain due to injury and disability (an example is rehabilitation after knee or shoulder surgery). They use exercise and other therapeutic modalities (like ultrasound, traction, electrical stimulation) to focus on improving the area of injury.
Personal trainers work with clients who are healthy, and, like CEPs, use different types of exercise to enable their clients to reach their physical potential. Personal trainers are not required to have any formal training in exercise science.
4. What are the benefits of exercise in people with chronic conditions?
- Improves your quality of life
- Lowers your risk of developing heart disease and having a stroke
- Lowers your risk for developing several common cancers (breast, lung, stomach, kidney, endometrium, and others)
- Lowers blood pressure
- Lowers cholesterol levels
- Reduces your risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome
- Improves your mood
- Reduces short-term feelings of anxiety
- Reduces your risk of depression and anxiety
- Promotes better sleeping habits
- Strengthens your bones and muscles
- Reduces any physical limitations
- Weight management
- Increases your chances of living a longer healthier life
- Helps you quit smoking
Clinical Yoga and breathwork
We offer group exercise yoga classes, which are modified to suit our patients’ needs.
Studies have shown that Yoga can reduce the severity of the side effects caused by cancer treatments or other medical interventions and improve your overall quality of life. In 2021, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network listed yoga as something that helps patients manage cancer-related fatigue and nausea.
