What does an exercise physiologist do? -An exercise physiologist specializes in the treatment of specific medical conditions (or merely the improvement of general health and wellbeing) through the prescription of exercise (and specific exercise regimes). The work of an exercise physiologist involves identifying and assessing the chronic pathological effects of a patient’s day-to-day activities and general physical condition and prescribing specific modes and levels of exercise to alleviate symptoms or to repress or remedy any present ailments or medical conditions entirely.

Exercise physiologists usually possess an extensive knowledge of the metabolism and nutrition, human physiology and the musculoskeletal system specifically, and biomechanics and human motor learning and control. Most exercise physiologists work as clinicians or sports trainers, however some choose to works as scientists or other researchers.

Given Australia’s ageing population and soaring obesity rates, with obesity itself leading to many other medical conditions requiring such treatment, exercise physiology as a field of study can be expected to grow quite significantly in coming years, and demand for exercise physiologists can likewise be expected to increase. Exercise physiologists can effectively treat such conditions as obesity, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma and other cardiovascular diseases and even depression.