AUTISTIC NICK HIRES AN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
Since towards the end of last year I have been without a PT. I hadn’t at that point been accepted onto the NDIS and alas I didn’t have any funding to move forward with the PT.
Once I had been accepted onto the NDIS and been allocated the appropriate funding I then sought out an exercise physiologist.
But what you might be asking yourself is what is an exercise physiologist?
Exercise Physiologist
Exercise Physiologists (EPs) specialise in exercise and movement for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and injuries.
What Is The Role Of An Exercise Physiologist?
EPs are able to provide support for people with:
Obesity
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Osteoporosis and arthritis
Mental health conditions
Cancer
Chronic pain and fatigue
Post-surgical rehabilitation (Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction, hip/knee replacement)
Neuromuscular exercise therapy (multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s)
Pulmonary disease.
Diabetes and obesity
Mental health issues (depression, anxiety)
Musculoskeletal injuries (pre/post-surgery rehab)
Neurological conditions (stroke, Parkinson’s, MS)
Aging (balance, falls risk, prevention of muscle and bone loss)
Cardiovascular (heart attack, arrhythmias, Hypertension, CVD)
Pulmonary (Cystic fibrosis, asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Paediatrics (Cerebral palsy, ADHD)
Cancer (delivery of exercise during treatment to aid therapy effectiveness and after treatment to regain function, strength, bone mass, fitness)
Exercise Physiologist Can:
• Accelerate recovery from pain and injury (such as lower back and knee pain)
• Manage and improve a health or medical condition (such as cancer, diabetes or arthritis)
• Reduce the risk of developing a health or medical condition (such as heart disease)
• Improve bone, joint and muscle health (especially important as you age)
• Improve balance and coordination (to reduce the likelihood of falls)
• Improve your heart and lung health, and decrease your blood pressure
• Decrease your weight and body fat levels (to improve all aspects of your health)
• Improve your mental wellbeing (reduce stress, depression or anxiety)
• Pregnancy conditioning (pre and post-natal health and fitness)
• Improve your sports performance/sports specific conditioning
• Improve your core stability and posture
Exercise Physiologists Are Able To:
• Educate clients on health, conditions, injuries, what to do and what to avoid
• Conduct assessments to recognise individuals’ abilities, health, fitness, goals, areas to rehabilitate
• Identify other areas of concern and refer on to other allied health professionals when necessary
• Treat each client individually- focusing on needs, interests, motivators (can use motivational interviewing and health coaching techniques)
• Prescribe individualised exercise programs to treat conditions and avoid further complications
• Provide a rebate if the client is covered for Exercise Physiology by their health fund
• Provide Team Care Arrangement services with a referral from GP
• See clients claiming through ICWA, NDIS and others.
Exercise physiologists are unable to:
• Diagnose conditions and injuries, though they can refer on to physiotherapists, cardiologists and GPs
I have hired my Exercise Physiologist to aid me in becoming fitter and healthier through a series of workouts and dietary advice and guidance.
So, I find a list of NDIS providers in my area and made contact with them to enquire if they had an accredited Exercise Physiologist support worker who would be available to work with me twice a week for an hour at a time.
I am currently engaging the services of someone from one of the NDIS providers. I’m using the services of AVIVO https://www.avivo.org.au/ here in WA (Western Australia). To find your NDIS providers in your state click on the links below.
NDIS PROVIDERS IN YOUR STATE (AUSTRALIA)
ACT Providers
ACT registered providers by name (PDF 2.6MB)
ACT registered providers by group (PDF 4.3MB)
NSW Providers
NSW registered providers by name (PDF 9.5MB)
NSW registered providers by group (PDF 16.2MB)
NT Providers
NT registered providers by name (PDF 1.5MB)
NT registered providers by group (PDF 2.2MB)
QLD Providers
QLD registered providers by name (PDF 10MB)
QLD registered providers by group (PDF 9.3MB)
SA Providers
SA registered providers by name (PDF 6.3MB)
SA registered providers by group (PDF 9.2MB)
TAS Providers
TAS registered providers by name (PDF 3MB)
TAS registered providers by group (PDF 4MB)
VIC Providers
VIC registered providers by name (PDF 12.6MB)
VIC registered providers by group (PDF 11.5MB)
WA Providers
WA registered providers by name (PDF 2.4MB)
WA registered providers by group (PDF 3.2MB)
We work out here in Grand Ocean Park on Mondays at 8am -9am (yes, it is an ungodly hour) and Wednesdays 11.30am -12.30pm (a much better time in my opinion!).
He has put together a circuit workout for me which suits me as I get bored if the exercises aren’t changing and I can get a sweat on.
For our warm up we run around the park twice and then I run on the spot, then we do squats, triceps dips and push ups, I also lunge twice and do a run at the end of that, I also skip and we are getting into boxing too!
GRAND OCEAN PARK
I know after reading all of that I need a lie down!!
Carry On The Conversation
As always, I can also be found on Twitter:@https://twitter.com/AutisticNickAU and on the Autistic Nick Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/AutisticNickAU/
Thank you for reading and I will see you next time for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
Autistic Nick 