Exercise Physiology in Aged Care
Australia may have an ageing population, but that doesn’t mean they are any less capable of enjoying movement!
Engaging in an active and healthy lifestyle is crucial for longevity and good health as we age, including helping to prevent or manage complex conditions, retain working memory, strengthen social relationships, and reduce the risk of falls. Despite its clear benefits, only 17.2% of Australians aged 65 and over are meeting their daily activity guidelines. Extensive effort has been made by the Australian Government and other official bodies to promote active ageing and reduce the strain on the aged care support sector.
Exercise and Sports Science Australia has advocated for the physical and mental wellbeing of senior Australians and have promoted the role of Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) in helping older people maintain their health and fitness (1).
How Can Exercise Help Older People?
There are so many benefits to remaining physically active as we age. Exercise promotes blood flow to all our body’s organs, including muscles, bones and brain. This is tremendously important for maintaining our muscle mass and bone mineral density, and for retaining our cognitive health.
Appropriate load bearing exercise has been proven to
Reduce musculoskeletal pain caused by inactivity or muscle wasting
Prevent and manage osteoporosis
Prevent age-related muscle loss
Reduce pain from osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis
Reduce the risk of falls
This is because exercise helps to lubricate our joints, stretch and contract our muscles, and increase blood flow to our bones to provide essential nutrients needed for remodeling. With this improved strength and confidence, we are less likely to have a debilitating fall that may cause disability or bedrest.
Preserving our heart health as we age is also essential. Gentle forms of heart strengthening exercises, such as brisk walking, swimming, cycling, and aqua aerobics, allow older people to enjoy the benefits of cardiovascular exercise safely.
Exercise and the Future of Aged Care
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Final Report of 2021 recognised that only 2% of Home Care Package funding for aged care support was spent on allied health services, including exercise physiology (2). Furthermore, it recognised the lack of access to suitable exercise facilities and services for those with high support needs. The report highlights how exercise physiology is urgently needed to ensure older citizens remain happy, healthy and more independent.
From this report, we hope there are pushes to involve allied health professionals more in the Aged Care space. At Integral Performance, we are dedicated to helping older citizens improve their health-related quality of life and addressing any concerns they may have for independence.
If you are interested in how we can help yourself or a loved one in improving their health and wellbeing, please do not hesitate to contact the clinic via email at enquiries@integralperformance.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our Contact Us page here.
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References:
(1) Exercise & Sports Science Australia. Exercise Physiology for Aged Care. Exercise & Sports Science Australia. June 1, 2023. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://www.essa.org.au/Web/Web/Resources/Articles/2021/exercsie-physiology-for-aged-care.aspx
(2) Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioners. A Summary of the Final Report. Royal Commissions. March 1, 2021. Accessed January 15, 2025. https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/system/files/2021-03/final-report-executive-summary.pdf
Exercise for Return to Work
At Integral Performance Exercise Physiology, we understand that injuries can significantly impact your ability to work productively, as well as your emotional wellbeing. We believe in helping you recover to your fullest potential and will work alongside your care team to see the best possible rehabilitation for your full return to work.
Have you Hurt Yourself at Work?
Did you know, musculoskeletal injuries occur for about 65% of all workers’ compensation claims, many of them occurring due to:
Slips, trips and falls
Hazardous manual tasks
Collision with another person, vehicle or other object
You may find that in your work you need to complete tasks that involve repetitive and sustained straining, pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, and awkward postures - all of which may expose you to muscle injury, falls, or chronic pain. Or, you may have completed a task that required high amounts of force, or were in an area where there was awkward terrain. You may even have been in a motor vehicle accident that has kept you from working to your fullest.
Workplace injuries don’t just hurt our bodies, they also hurt our mental wellbeing. Worrying about your future employment security, whether you will be able to enjoy activities you once loved, or whether your pain will go away, can be incredibly distressing.
Luckily, there are numerous strategies in which exercise physiologists are educated to help you not only return to full physical capacity, but to also feel psychologically ready for employment knowing full well you can actively manage your own rehabilitation for the long term.
How does Exercise Physiology Differ from Physiotherapy in Workplace Rehabilitation?
While we work in similar scopes of practice and are both extremely beneficial to your overall return to work, there are a few key differences between the roles of physiotherapists and the roles of exercise physiologists. Physiotherapists will assess, diagnose and manage your injury and pain with hands-on treatment and initial stage exercise prescription, in what is called the Acute Stage of injury rehabilitation. Exercise physiologists will prescribe clinical rehabilitative movement programs to restore your function, reduce the risk of re-injury, and prepare you for returning to work by considering the physical demands of your workplace and your personal circumstances. Furthermore, they can implement health education modalities to prevent and manage injury or illness, focusing on lifestyle behaviour interventions, educating patients on the role of pain in their rehabilitation, and by providing self-management strategies to ensure patients can remain independent after their rehabilitation is completed.
Both professions are trustworthy, working with you and each other to promote your recovery journey. It is just important to know the distinctions between what you can get out of each professional depending on what you need help with.
Let’s delve a little more into how exercise fits into your rehabilitation plan:
How does Exercise Physiology help with Return-to-Work Rehabilitation?
Exercise physiologists play a crucial role in your Return-to-Work care team. We work under the premise that you are the expert of your own body, your own injury, and your own work demands, so we may identify the areas we may need to focus on in our sessions together. In your initial appointment, we focus on asking you the questions that allow you to answer on these aspects of your life- it is important to know these concerns so our prescriptions are sustainable and align with your long term goals. We will also complete a detailed movement assessment which will guide our exercise prescription further.
These exercise programs can be home- or gym-based, depending on your preferences, and will usually include a combination of:
Strengthening weakened areas of the body
Stretching and mobility
Body awareness exercises that can aid in the management of bodily pain
Technique correction movements
Cardiovascular training (for those whose jobs require a high level of fitness)
Each program we prescribe will reflect your goals, your specific concerns of our injury, and the demands of your workplace, to prevent further injury and ensure you can hit the ground running when you return to work.
Along the way, your progress will be measured and evaluated. Not only does this help us advocate on your behalf, but also so you can see how well you’re doing in your recovery journey. We will consult with your rehabilitation coordinators, service providers, general practitioner, and workplace health and safety officer, to discuss your return-to-work options. By doing so, the process puts you at the centre of your rehabilitation journey and prioritises your recovery to create a safer work environment for when you return.
Who Do We See?
The Integral Performance team provides services to anyone seeking workers’ rehabilitation under
WorkCover QLD
CTP Insurance for MVAs (including NRMA, Suncorp, Allianz, and QBE)
Interstate WorkSafe providers
If you would like to enquire about our services, please do not hesitate to contact us here.
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NDIS - How does Exercise Physiology Fit In?
You may be wondering, “what actually is exercise physiology? How is it different from physiotherapy? How can it help me with my disability?”
There are so many benefits to being regularly physically active! But for some, exercise can be a sticky subject, and if they aren’t sure what exercise can help or harm them, they may want someone to help pave the way towards physical health, safely.
Exercise Physiology or Physiotherapy: What’s the Difference?
Exercise Physiology is a health science specialty dedicated to understanding all the processes of the body that work together during exercise and movement. Within this, exercise physiologists are educated on how different health conditions or disabilities change how our bodies respond to exercise, including the benefits and risks of certain activities. This education provides physiologists with a deep understanding on how exercise can help NDIS participants build their health, independence, and quality of life. Essentially, exercise physiology views movement as medicine!
While both physiotherapists and exercise physiologists are extremely beneficial within the disability sector, they have different (but similar) scopes of practice and provide different services to help their participants reach their goals. Physiotherapists work with NDIS participants to reduce pain, improve mobility and wellbeing through a combination of exercise and manual therapy, whereas exercise physiologists specialise in prescribing and administering individualised programs to improve participants’ strength, fitness, and health-related quality of life. This form of therapy is vital for helping NDIS participants manage the limitations or complications of their disabilities all whilst improving their independence long term. Exercise physiologists are also trained in working with people who experience cognitive, developmental or psychiatric disabilities, to foster mental wellbeing and emotional regulation.
How can Exercise Physiologists Help People with Disabilities?
Often, the hardest part of exercise are the barriers that prevent us from participating, rather than the exercise itself. For those with disabilities, it is so much more than the health conditions they experience that act as barriers - it is also how these impairments interact with other factors of their life to make these barriers much harder to break down. If someone doesn’t have the social, emotional, financial or physical support to access opportunities for physical activity, they are more likely to avoid it altogether (). But that’s the problem - avoiding activity reduces disabled people’s opportunities for social connection, and increases their risks of other health conditions! Physical activity is arguably just as (if not more) important in the disability space than in healthy populations to benefit their health (), wellbeing () and life expectancy ().
This is where exercise physiologists can come into the picture.
At Integral Performance Exercise Physiology, we understand that every individual's journey to health and well-being is unique, particularly for those living with disabilities. Our experienced exercise physiologists are dedicated to designing personalised exercise programs that cater specifically to your needs, abilities, and goals.
Australia’s governing body, Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), emphasises the importance of exercise for people with disabilities who “have similar needs when it comes to improving their health and preventing unnecessary chronic conditions… your disability should not be seen as a barrier for movement and physical activity.” It can help manage or treat chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease, improve stamina, and help those living with disability to connect with the community.
Our exercise physiologists are experienced in working with a large variety of people with different barriers to exercise and with differing needs and goals. We can provide gym-based, home-based, hydrotherapy and in-clinic services, taking into account not only the person’s disability, but the person as a whole. After all, no one is their disability, and everyone has their own personal goals and preferences. We want to help our clients feel empowered and inspired by what their bodies can do and the potential they have to achieve their goals, unlocking a more active and healthy self along the way.
If you would like to enquire more about how exercise therapies can help you or your NDIS participant, please do not hesitate to contact the clinic via phone (3062 4226) or email, at enquiries@integralperformance.com.au. Alternatively, you can contact us here.
We are a NDIS Registered Service Provider.
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Exercise for DVA Clients
Regular exercise is essential for all adults at all stages of life, fostering an improved physical health, mental wellbeing, and enriched social opportunity. Not to mention, being physically active will improve people’s health, fitness, and quality of life for the long term.
For those covered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, exercise physiology services are fully funded to receive individualised advice and support that considers their personal exercise needs. Exercise physiology is extremely beneficial for improving or managing:
Type 2 Diabetes
Cardiovascular diseases
Sedentary-related conditions e.g., obesity, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, etc.
Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
Cancer
Chronic musculoskeletal conditions
Not only is it important to maintain an active lifestyle for preventing or managing these health conditions, but it is also essential to ensure we remain independent, reduce the risk of falls, maintain strength, improve heart health and mobility, and continue to access the broader community.
How Does Integral Performance Help DVA Veterans?
We deliver specialised clincial program to manage chronic conditions, as well as to help with full post-hospital rehabilitation for treatment of injury or illness.
If you are a DVA member, you are entitled to access exercise physiology services if you have an approved clinical condition needing everyday management or post-hospital rehabilitation, and have either a:
Veteran Gold Card;
Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) Gold Card;
Veteran White Card and you’re accessing EP services to treat your specific condition
Exercise physiology services not only help treat your relevant health concerns but also serve as education sessions to provide you the active management strategies to independently maintain your health long term.
What Next?
To access exercise physiology services, please consult with your general practitioner, who can provide you with the appropriate assessment and referral.
Upon your first consultation, you will receive a specialised treatment plan detailing the type, number and frequency of required services.
For more information on your eligible DVA services, please visit the Department of Veterans affairs website here.
Let us know if you found this information helpful!
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Exercise Physiology for Medicare Clients
Has your GP told you that you have a chronic health condition? Are you looking for advice on how to implement exercise to help you feel your best?
Chronic diseases are those long-lasting health conditions that can negatively impact your life, including your ability to access social, financial or medical support. They can be complex and may require professional support to help manage. Some common chronic diseases include:
Arthritis
Asthma
Chronic low back pain
Cancer
Cardiovascular diseases
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
Chronic Kidney Disease
Dementia
Diabetes
Eating disorders
Endometriosis
Mental health conditions
Osteoporosis
And, there are many more than may be invisible to the eye. Some of the most underappreciated chronic illnesses include chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune conditions.
Why are Exercise Physiologists so Important?
As the Australian population ages, we are encountering an ever-increasing number of people struggling with chronic illness. It is crucial that we find options to actively prevent and manage them so that we remain healthy and uninhibited by our personal health circumstances.
Regular exercise is a fundamental component of primary and secondary health care for many chronic conditions. Physical activity improves our quality of life in so many ways, including allowing us to enjoy our hobbies, connect with our loved ones and the broader community, and improve energy levels. This is because our body makes specific adaptations to exercises, including improved endurance, muscular strength, metabolic health, balance, flexibility and mental clarity. But sometimes, having a health professional in our corner who understands how to tailor activity to make it safe, effective and enjoyable, can be the final step needed to unlocking our active lifestyle for the long term.
Exercise physiologists are university-educated health professionals who understand on a deep level the different processes that influence how the body responds to structured exercise, especially in the presence of a chronic health condition. Exercise physiologists will consider your health history, concerns, personal goals, and outside commitments to cater your rehabilitation programs to sustainably fit with your life.
How to Access Exercise Physiology Services Under Medicare
Luckily, under the Medicare Benefits Schedule Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan, anyone with a chronic condition and a medicare account can access up to 5 exercise physiology services and receive a rebate. The plan entitles you to five referral sessions to any allied health professional you require, to be satisfied within one calendar year.
At Integral Performance Exercise Physiology, all Medicare-referred clients can receive bulk-billed sessions which will provide you with the exercise rehabiltation and education to actively manage your health condition and help improve your overall wellbeing.
What You Need to Do:
If you have a chronic health condition and wish to see an exercise physiologist, please speak with your general practitioner to receive the appropriate referrals and recommendations. Upon receiving your referral, please ask your practitioner to either print off your referral for you to bring with you to your appointment, or to email the referral to referrals@integralperformance.com.au.
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Exercise Physiology and Private Health
Integral Performance Exercise Physiology was founded on the idea that movement can be medicine, and that quality healthcare is fundamental for good health. We have carried this philosophy with us into every aspect of our services, and none are more deserving than our privately paying clientele.
Clients with private health insurance can access tailored exercise and health education sessions suited to their goals, preferences and needs. Exercise physiologists administer a range of high-quality services, including fitness and exercise capacity testing, advanced technology movement assessments, one-on-one technique correction and coaching, body composition assessments, and individualised exercise programs. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge needed to empower your own health and fitness journey, all the while being a supporting presence to evaluate your progress. Whether you want your complete your first triathlon, have a gifted child with a passion for sports, or are recovering from an injury, we’re here to help.
With the assistance of our highly skilled exercise physiologists who are passionate about advocating for your goals, you will be provided with high quality support and coaching throughout the process. What’s more, depending on your private health insurance provider and your level of cover, you may be eligible for a rebate from your sessions.
How Do Our Exercise Physiology Sessions Work?
At Integral Performance, we endeavour to get to know you and your “why” during the initial consult. This can involve anywhere between 30-40 minutes of discussion to cover your goals, exercise and injury history, barriers to reaching your goals, sleep and nutrition habits, and overall commitments/capacity. Can we possibly figure out everything there is to know about you in 30-40 minutes? Definitely not. Rather, we like to build a relationship with you over multiple sessions together (even after the initial consult), gathering valuable information along the way.
From there, we will take you through an easy movement assessment to guide your initial exercise prescription. We will discuss with you your results and set a game plan to get started. The initial sessions usually lasts about 60 minutes.
Subsequent appointments allow for our exercise physiologists to discuss any feedback you have about your program thus far, and to fine-tune everything to fit your lifestyle in practice. Depending on your goals and availabilities, and on travel times for our practitioners, we may be able to meet you at your local gym to revise your program performance. What’s more, we provide your exercise program on an interactive software that allows you to post feedback, mental notes and questions that you can go over with your practitioner in your next session together.
Our goal is to guide you as you empower yourself through your individual health and wellbeing journey, whilst addressing any limiting factors so that you may continue to unlock your goals even after our time together.
Please contact us here if you would like to enquire about our services.