→ Improve Quality of Life
What is Exercise Physiology?
Exercise Physiology is the physiology of physical exercise and movement. People that have been affected by an injury, disability or other factors may struggle to reach their physical potential. Exercise physiology aims to help all people reach their physical potential, no matter their challenges.
Everyone can benefit from exercise physiology; however, exercise physiologists specialise in providing clinical exercise programs for people with various health-related challenges.
At All Abilities, our passionate exercise physiologists help people living with all kinds of physical injuries, and mental and physical disabilities to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
Contact UsThe Importance of Exercise Physiology
The aim of an exercise physiologist is to improve the overall fitness and wellbeing of their patient. This is based around offering various services which are tailored to the individual, such as:
- Specified exercise programs
- Exercise counselling
- Physical rehabilitation
- Education of health
- Injury prevention
- And more
There are many reasons why certain types of exercise may not be right for certain people. Exercise physiologists ensure that everyone can get the most out of their workout despite the mental or physical disabilities that may be present in their lives.
Having a mental or physical disability should never be a reason to neglect a healthy and active lifestyle. At All Abilities, we can help show you a variety of different ways in which exercise physiology can positively impact your life.
How can Exercise Physiology help with my disability?
Our experienced exercise physiologists will aim to help you rebuild your strength and mobility through personalised exercise programs. We will look towards improving your balance, endurance and more importantly, your confidence in physical activity. This will be alongside helping you to carry out daily tasks that you may find difficult due to your illness or disability.
Our exercise physiologists are passionate about neurological rehabilitation and helping you regain independence at home and in a community setting. We believe this is a major factor in assisting you to feel more self-assured and part of society.
We are immensely proud when our participants are able to perform the activities that are important to them, once again or for the first time. Additionally, we can help with chronic pain management, assisting you to carry out tasks that cause discomfort in a positive and understanding way.
Whether it is an intellectual disability or a mental health condition, our exercise physiologists can provide fitness counselling and programs to help you improve your relationship with exercise.
How can you use our Exercise Physiology Services?
Most of our services can be offered in person or via our telerehab sessions. We are also happy to provide mobile exercise physiology services in which we come to you, wherever you feel most comfortable.
Visit the NDIS and Capacity Building Supports page to learn more about how the NDIS aims to empower millions of Australians through capacity building.
If you are looking for help with funding for our services and want to learn more about the NDIS, then visit the NDIS website. You can also learn more about your eligibility and capacity building supports.
→ Expertise in Neurological Conditions
The support you need
Neurological conditions are complex and having a supportive network is incredibly beneficial. Physical activity has wide-reaching potential for people living with neurological conditions. Our allied health practitioners are experienced in the evaluation and treatment of conditions that affect the nervous system.
Additionally, a neurologic clinical specialist (NCS) is a physical therapist who has advanced training in neurological therapy. These specialists develop a plan of care using a variety of treatment techniques to help restore function and help you move better with a neurological condition, such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke.
We work with you to develop a plan of care tailored to help restore function and improve your capacity to complete activities that are important to you.
Mental health
Awareness and consideration for mental health have increased in recent years. There is now a greater understanding of the interplay of social, physical, and personal factors regarding overall health.
Mental health conditions can affect everyday functioning, independence, and quality of life. Contemporary management for people living with mental health conditions often incorporates a comprehensive approach including social support, assistance in domestic tasks, pharmacology and lifestyle interventions. Physical activity and exercise are now recognised as evidence-based, fundamental components of treatment for a range of mental health conditions. As understanding and awareness improve, as does the effectiveness and scope for improvement of outcomes for people living with mental health conditions.
Creating a supportive network of formal and informal supports encourages the collaboration and empowerment of people to be independent and to contribute to the community. Understanding everyone’s individual journey facilitates tailoring our care to your experiences, strengths, and goals for the future.
Endurance and Physical Capacity Building
Common Physical Capacity Building themes for people living with neurological conditions may include:
- Improving your overall functional independence
- Addressing beliefs and motivations regarding physical activity
- Challenging and improving balance
- Improving mobility and your ability to perform activities of daily living (known as ADL’s)
- Managing your energy levels and fatigue
- Maintaining muscle mass and improving muscular strength
- Improving endurance to perform ADL
- Maintaining muscle mass and muscular strength
The benefits of physical activity and living an active lifestyle are broad-reaching. We understand that the activities we complete regularly become habits and routines. Utilising opportunities to be an active participant in life has the potential to improve different aspects of health including enjoyment, energy levels, endurance, quality of sleep and physical capacity. We are dedicated and committed to improving your endurance and physical capacity.
We work with you to make shared decisions, answer questions, and provide education on how to utilise opportunities to be active, appropriate for all abilities.
Moreover, factors such as strength and balance are often affected in neurological conditions and we are here to discuss your experience, help you consider your needs and develop a plan for long-term management of your condition.
Balance training
There are several factors that may impact your ability to maintain balance. These range from strength, mobility and coordination to fatigue and interaction of medication. A common way of minimising the risk of falls is to avoid risky behaviours and activities. This method has limitations because if we don’t ever challenge our ability to balance, then we miss opportunities to improve it!
Practicing balance-challenging activities in a safe, supervised, and supportive environment can help improve your confidence and independence. Restoring function and improving capacity can be done through games, guided activities, and community-based sessions, to improve your capacity and wellbeing.
How does Exercise Physiology differ from Physiotherapy?
This leads us into understanding the difference between exercise physiology and physiotherapy. These two professions can often have overlapping elements; however, one of the main variations between them is at what stage of the illness or disability these services are used.
Physiotherapy tends to be used, more often, for short-term injuries. Exercise physiology works for people suffering long-term, chronic conditions or disabilities. This is why we offer exercise physiology to our participants.
We understand that disabilities and chronic conditions can often make exercise feel daunting or even impossible. This is why our enthusiastic physiologists work with you to find the best ways to safely improve your wellbeing and fitness.
Ready to get started?
Find a professional Exercise Physiologist near you!
Use the map below to see if our professional and caring Exercise Physiologists are available near you! Please contact us for all enquiries and one of our friendly team members will be able to assist you.