Question 1

Your doctor said you need to exercise but aside from walking, you don’t know what else to do or what else you can do safely?

Accepted Answer

The Exercise Therapist (Clinical Exercise Physiologist) is specialized in safely prescribing specific exercise that will help improve the outcomes of your diagnosed condition. She or he generally does this after conducting a clinical exercise test which will enable the collection of baseline measures (where you started) and help personalize the exercise prescription. The exercise is essentially another form of medicine. Walking maybe part of it or you may need to focus on another type of exercise for your condition.

Question 2

You find the gym intimidating?

Accepted Answer

Most people in the gym are fit and appear healthy. Those are the ones that go to the gym most often and have adopted that lifestyle at a relatively young age. The exercise therapist understands the difficult barriers one must overcome, especially if they have not frequented gyms very often or have had bad experiences in gyms making them feel worse about themselves. Also, it can be very difficult to get the type of specialized exercise care you need considering your diagnosed chronic condition. That's why the exercise therapist will initially give you several options for how and where to engage in the prescribed exercise. Initially, these may even be done from home in some cases. Hopefully, you will reach an efficiency and self-confidence level that will allow you to go to the gym confidently and equipped with the knowledge of knowing what's best for you and how to do it.

Question 3

You’re not sure what exercises you should be doing?

Accepted Answer

The exercises selected have been tested through decades of research for the condition(s) you have and have been shown to be effective in improving the outcomes of your treatment. These are evidence-based therapeutic exercises that are now part of guidelines for chronic conditions.

Question 4

You are worried about hurting yourself because of a pre-existing injury, condition, or disease?

Accepted Answer

The exercise therapist is there to ensure that you are doing the correct and most beneficial exercises and are doing them safely taking into account your condition. They will set the intensity (dosage) accordingly.

Question 5

You have already tried exercising and hurt yourself or experienced pain or discomfort?

Accepted Answer

The exercise therapist will know what intensity is best for you and when you are ready to progress safely.

Question 6

You are not sure if the exercises you are doing are benefiting you?

Accepted Answer

The exercise therapist is trained to know what combination of exercises is best for you and at what intensity and frequency.

Question 7

You don’t know how far you can push yourself safely?

Accepted Answer

The Exercise Therapist knows.

Question 8

You don’t know where to start?

Accepted Answer

The exercise therapist will guide you from the beginning through your progression.

Question 9

You started but then stopped for a number of reasons…You just can’t seem to stick with it?

Accepted Answer

Aside from keeping you accountable, the exercise therapist tries to work with the team of professionals that are treating you. She or he will hold recall appointments (consultations) even after your sessions are done in order to see how you're doing. They know it's not easy and they are there for you.  They are also trained to apply principles in cognitive behavioral therapy to help adopt positive habits long term.

Question 10

You need someone with the proper background, qualifications, and experience to guide you!?

Accepted Answer

The exercise therapist has a university degree in science that required many science pre-requisites and went through a minimum of 4 years of university study and training and received training in pathophysiology, adapted physical activity, exercise physiology, clinical exercise physiology, basic principles of pharmacology, anatomy, health promotion, human behavior (cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing), biomechanics, nutrition (basic principles of dietetics), geriatric exercise, clinical exercise assessment, specialized exercise prescription, to name a few. They are trained to help you! Most have passed exams to become certified professionals. These certifications require a university degree, often in a related field, as a pre-requisite to becoming certified.

Question 11

What is the difference between physiotherapists and exercise therapists?

Accepted Answer

Physiotherapist 
Whom can they help?: 
 • The main focus is on orthopaedic rehabilitation. Dealing with patients after an accident or surgery, addressing the musculo-skeletal system and helping patients function as normally as possible and get back to their activities of daily living. 
 • By far, the large majority of physiotherapists practice orthopedic rehabilitation although some specialties exist.

Qualifications and background: 
 • Physiotherapy is a Bachelor of Science degree at the university level. There are many requirements and pre-requisites for admission to schools of physiotherapy.

Scope of practice: 
 • As mentioned, most patients seen are patients referred by physicians for orthopedic-related problems in order to help the patient regain range of motion and become functional again in order to go back to work and activities of daily living. 
 • They use special tests to assess joints and muscles in order to determine if the damage or injury is related to cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc... 
 • They use modalities such as ultrasound, ice, heat, electrical stimulation, and specific exercises and massage to name a few in order to rehabilitate the injured area.

Exercise Therapist 
Whom can they help: 
Allied Healthcare Professional trained to deliver evidence-based exercise for people with chronic conditions such as: 
 • diabetes 
 • cardiovascular disease (heart conditions) 
 • hypertension 
 • metabolic syndrome 
 • obesity 
 • high cholesterol 
 • COPD, asthma (or other pulmonary conditions) 
 • among others...

Qualifications and background: 
- Exercise Therapists are university trained and possess a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science (usually specializing in Clinical Exercise Physiology). The degree requires candidates to complete many pre-requisites to be accepted.

- Most have passed exams to become certified professionals. These certifications require a university degree, often in a related field, as a pre-requisite to becoming certified.

- Some of the areas they are trained in, aside from assessment and rehab of the spine and pelvis and the extremities,  anatomy, biomechanics, are also: 
 • pathophysiology 
 • basic principles of pharmacology 
 • clinical exercise physiology 
 • adapted physical activity 
 • geriatric exercise 
 • basic principles of dietetics 
 • behavior change strategies (cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing) 
 • clinical exercise assessment 
 • Exercise prescription using established guidelines for chronic populations 
 • among others ...

Scope of practice: 
 • Patients referred are usually treated by a GP, internal medicine specialist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, obesity physician or bariatric surgeon, pulmonologist, or a combination of these. 
 • The focus here is on metabolic rehabilitation, therefore the direct positive impact of specific types of exercises on a chronic condition keeping in mind the interaction and effect of medications. 
 • Exercise Therapists conduct clinical exercise tests to determine baseline measures of patients 
 • They are often part of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals which includes the treating physician, dietician, and psychologist. 
 • After the initial clinical exercise test, exercise therapists work one-on-one with patients in a series of sessions to guide patients on what type of exercises are best to help them contain the ill effects of their condition, preserve their health, prevent related complications and improve their quality of life. They help patients play an active role in preserving their health. 
 • Exercise therapists will often track sleep and eating habits as well as stress levels.

Exercise Therapy (Clinical Exercise Physiology) is considered to be metabolic rehabilitation as opposed to orthopaedic rehabilitation.

Question 12

What's the difference between a personal trainer and an exercise therapist?

Accepted Answer

Personal Trainer
Whom can they help? :
- Mainly deals with the seemingly healthy or apparently healthy population.

Qualifications and background :
- Is usually required to do a preparation course for an examination that must be passed before receiving a certification. A university degree is not required.

Scope of practice (what they do): 
 • They can conduct an exercise test to determine the general fitness level of a person 
 • Can prepare an exercise program for a client 
 • Can help guide clients on proper exercise technique and progression.

(For details on Exercise Therapist, please check answer for "the difference between physio and exercise therapist")

A single purpose company specializing in clinical exercise physiology

Free Online consultation

Online Exercise Therapy sessions

At home exercise therapy services