What Does an Exercise Physiologist Do (And How Can They Help You)?
At Spectrum Health Co, we’re all about helping you move better, feel stronger, and live with less pain—no matter your age or health status. One of the key team members helping us do that is our Exercise Physiologist (EP).
But what exactly does an Exercise Physiologist do? And how is it different from a personal trainer or physio?
In this blog, we’ll explain the role of exercise physiology, who it’s for, and how it can support everything from chronic pain and neurological conditions to sports rehab and fall prevention.
🧠 What Is Exercise Physiology?
Exercise physiology is the science of how the body moves and responds to physical activity—especially in the context of injury, illness, or chronic health conditions. An Exercise Physiologist uses this knowledge to create safe, effective, and evidence-based movement plans tailored to your specific needs.
Unlike a standard workout program, an EP’s goal is to:
Improve functional movement
Manage or reduce pain
Support recovery from injury or illness
Enhance overall quality of life
EPs are university-qualified, nationally accredited professionals trained to work with a wide range of people—from elite athletes to those managing chronic disease or recovering from injury.
👥 Who Can Benefit from Seeing an Exercise Physiologist?
If you’re wondering whether an EP is right for you, here are just a few groups who benefit from this type of care:
🔹 People with Chronic Pain or Injuries
Chronic back pain, arthritis, tendon issues, or recurring injuries? EPs use movement as medicine—designing rehab programs that improve strength, stability, and movement efficiency while reducing pain.
🔹 Individuals with Chronic Health Conditions
Living with diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure? EPs create safe and specific programs to help manage these conditions through tailored physical activity and lifestyle support.
🔹 Neurological Conditions
For individuals with Parkinson’s disease, MS, or recovering from stroke, movement can improve mobility, reduce stiffness, and enhance independence. EPs are trained to safely guide you through this process.
🔹 Older Adults (Active Aging & Falls Prevention)
Balance issues? Fear of falling? Struggling with stiffness or fatigue? EPs are experts in active aging and use targeted exercises to improve strength, mobility, and reduce the risk of falls.
🔹 Athletes and Weekend Warriors
Whether you’re recovering from a sports injury or wanting to build strength and endurance to perform better, EPs support sports rehab and return-to-play strategies that reduce the risk of re-injury.
🦵 What to Expect: Functional, Individualised Support
At Spectrum Health Co, our Exercise Physiologist takes you through a thorough functional assessment, looking at:
How you move
Strength and mobility
Balance and coordination
Pain triggers
Lifestyle factors that might impact recovery or performance
From there, we develop a personalised plan that fits into your life. This might include:
Targeted rehab exercises
Strength and conditioning programs
Mobility and stretching routines
Cardiovascular or endurance training
Lifestyle guidance (sleep, stress, daily movement strategies)
It’s all about building confidence in movement and helping you reach your goals—whether that’s climbing stairs without pain, managing a long-term condition, or returning to sport.
🤝 How EPs Work With Our Team
At Spectrum Health Co, your EP works closely with our chiropractors, ensuring a truly integrated, team-based approach to your care. If you’ve been seeing one of our chiros for manual therapy or pain relief, an EP can step in to support the active rehab and strength-building phase of your recovery.
Together, we look at the full picture: how your body moves, what it needs, and how to help you feel better long term—not just short-term relief.
📣 Come in for an Assessment and Treatment Plan
Whether you're recovering from an injury, living with a chronic condition, or looking to move with more strength and confidence, our team is here to help.
👉 Book an assessment with our Exercise Physiologist today at Spectrum Health Co
We’ll create a customised plan that supports your health, movement, and lifestyle—no matter where you’re starting from.