Exactly what
is an exercise physiologist?
Question:
Exactly what is an exercise physiologist?
What do you do?
Answer:
Exercise Physiology is a Science Degree called Exercise Science
Bachelors, Masters or PhD
Masters in my case.
Our educational background
consists of anatomy, physiology, biology and every other science
class you can imagine. Biomechanics was the toughest one...anatomy
and physiology along with physics. That paper had 23 pages
of math calculations!!!
Electives are in alternative medicine, aging process, childhood
issues, corporate wellness, and cardiac care.
Exercise physiologists work
a lot in cardiac rehab settings or as personal trainers. Some
will specialize in specific sports and work with the pros
side by side with physical therapists.
Some go on to help engineers design things that best fit the
human body. Car seats, auto plant assembly lines are examples.
My research and focus was on 1.) heart disease prevention,
2.) insulin resistance and 3.) metabolism changes via weight
training.
I like to give the science behind the recommendations and
the reasons WHY the recommendations are what they are. I like
to show the practical application of the research.
My archived tip (May 2003 exercise tip) Maintaining Metabolism
While Losing Weight was a summary of 80-100 studies.
I do a lot with exercise calories...how
many are burned for specific activities and fitting these
activities in to meet the American College of Sports Medicine
protocols. I use the METS lists with my clients to calculate
this, because it is a weight dependent calculation.
"Calculating Calories Burned on Treadmills" (and
how it changes using inclines) is a derivative of this.
This is my Feb 06 archived Exercise tip.
700 exercise calories burned
per week is the baseline/threshold for HDL cholesterol. ("Hero"
or good cholesterol). Every 100 calories burned per week above
and beyond this increases HDL by 0.4 points.
This is something I can figure out for you.
Something else I use a lot
with this degree is showing how insulin and glucose communicate
better via exercise. All my diabetics will know what GLUT
4 transporters are and how they kick "lazy/resistant"
insulin in the butt and make it do its job. This allows my
diabetics to not have high sugar readings if they move after
exercise, and many can decrease oral medicines and injectable
insulin needs.
Many Registered Dietitians
go on for a Masters in Exercise Physiology because they go
hand and hand in the weight management and health promotion
industry.
