Your Guide to Becoming an Exercise Physiologist

Have you ever been injured or suffered from a chronic disease? If you have, especially if you are an athlete, you might see an exercise physiologist to receive an exercise regimen designed specifically to improve your flexibility and cardiovascular health.

As an exercise physiologist, you'll have the rewarding satisfaction of helping athletes and other individuals recover from injuries and improve their performance over time.

Discover how to become an exercise physiologist, including educational requirements, necessary skills, and possible career paths.

What is an exercise physiologist?

Exercise physiologists work with injured or sick patients to create custom treatment and exercise plans to help them recover and reach their health goals. They may work with athletes to improve their performance and overall well-being. They also rehabilitate individuals after chronic illnesses or conditions, such as disabilities.

Not to be confused with fitness trainers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, or even fitness instructors, the primary role of an exercise physiologist is to help improve overall health by assisting patients in working on their body composition, cardiovascular health, and flexibility.

Salary and job outlook 

The average exercise physiologist's salary is ₹7,20,000 per year, according to AmbitionBox [1]. Exercise physiologist jobs in India may grow in the near future, with the Indian government promoting activity initiatives such as Khelo India and the Fit India Movement.

The demand for exercise physiologists is expected to rise as healthcare professionals increasingly emphasise exercise as preventive care against chronic disease and a way to improve the overall quality of life.

Educational requirements 

Exercise physiologists need at least a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology or a related field to enter practice. Appropriate degree programmes for exercise physiologists include science and health-related courses, such as kinesiology, physiology, physiotherapy, or exercise science.

Whilst it is not required for most positions, you can pursue a master's degree in exercise physiology, which may help you expand your career options within the field. 

Coursework 

As an aspiring exercise physiologist, you'll take coursework in biology, anatomy, kinesiology, and nutrition. More advanced coursework includes echocardiogram interpretation, biomechanics, cardiac rehabilitation, and psychophysiology, among others.

Certifications and training 

Whilst a certification may not be required to practise as an exercise physiologist, a certification could bolster your qualifications. You can also opt for an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certification through a recognised institution. To be eligible for this exam, you will also need a CPR/AED certification. Some other common certifications to consider include the following:

• ACSM Certified Personal Trainer

• Certified Fitness Trainer

• Certified Special Population Exercise Specialist

• Certified Mobility Specialist

Exercise physiology vs exercise science

While exercise physiology and exercise science are similar areas of study that focus on improving health and wellness with exercise, the two have their fair share of differences. Exercise science generally focuses on how the human body moves. It is a broad topic that includes movement analysis, nutrition, and sport psychology. Exercise physiology is a sub-discipline of exercise science that focuses more on how physical activity affects organs and bodily systems and the body's response to that activity.

Skills needed to become an exercise physiologist

Patient care is often a very vulnerable interaction. Exercise physiologists need to effectively care for patients while considering their emotional well-being, so possessing both technical and workplace skills is vital. 

Knowing how to assess and evaluate a patient’s condition is a crucial technical skill. Knowledge of exercise programmes, physiology, and human anatomy is also essential. Exercise physiologists spend a lot of time face-to-face with patients, so they must have communication skills, empathy, patience, problem-solving skills, and active listening.

Where they work

An exercise physiologist can work in various settings, including hospitals, corporate wellness programmes, school and college athletic offices, rehabilitation centres, and sports team staff. 

In clinical settings, primary care providers may refer their patients to exercise physiologists to create exercise regimens for their patients to follow. These regimens can focus on anything from torn ligament pain relief to improving blood pressure or losing weight.

Exercise physiologists work with athletes to improve their physical fitness and performance. They develop programmes to help athletes reduce injury and minimise recovery time in athletic settings. Thus, a sports equipment company's designer might consult with and hire exercise physiologists to assist in developing safe, effective products. 

Exercise physiologists can also work as cardiac rehabilitation specialists, creating exercise programmes to promote cardiovascular health. They might also find employment as physical trainers, coaches, referees, etc.

Possible career pathways for exercise physiologists

Aside from working as a certified exercise physiologist, studying exercise physiology can prepare you for many other careers. A bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology or exercise science can be a precursor to careers such as personal trainer, exercise specialist, movement analyst, sports science administrator, sports science researcher or professor, and much more.

Get started in health care today

An exercise physiologist is a professional who focuses on how physical activity affects a person’s overall health. They assess a person’s physical and emotional needs while helping them recover from injuries and strengthen their bodies.

To learn more about the science of exercise before committing to an exercise physiology bachelor's degree, you can find self-paced courses on Coursera that can help prepare you for a career in exercise physiology. Courses such as Introductory Human Physiology and Science of Exercise are good places to start for a foundation in the concepts studied by exercise physiologists.