What is an AEP?
WHAT IS AN ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST?
AEPs are university qualified allied health professionals with the knowledge, skills and competencies to design, deliver and evaluate safe and effective exercise interventions for people with acute, sub-acute or chronic medical conditions, injuries or disabilities.
Pathology domains covered by the services of AEPs include cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, musculoskeletal, cancers, kidney, respiratory/pulmonary and mental health, and any other conditions for which there is evidence that exercise can improve clinical status and health outcomes.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?
» Regular physical activity is beneficial for your health. It can protect your joints, prevent falls and injuries, reduce your risk of disease such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
» You will also benefit from minimizing time spent sitting each day, and from breaking up long periods of sitting as often as possible.
WHAT ABOUT AEROBIC ACTIVITY?
» Australia’s Physical Activity & Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Adults recommend either 150 minutes per week of moderate activity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity, or a combination of both.
» Moderate activity is done at a pace where you can carry on a conversation but cannot “sing”. Examples include brisk walking, slow cycling, water aerobics, and general gardening.
» Vigorous activity is done at a pace where you cannot carry a conversation and may be out of breath. Examples including jogging/running, swimming laps, playing tennis and fast cycling.
» Try your best to perform your activity in “bouts” that are at least 10 minutes long.
WHAT ABOUT STRENGTH TRAINING?
» Australia’s Physical Activity & Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Adults also recommend that you do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week to increase bone strength and muscular fitness.
» Adults should perform 8-12 repetitions of activities that work your large muscle groups such as the legs, hips, abdomen, back, chest, shoulders and arms.
» These activities do not require going to a gym. You can use resistance bands, do body weight exercises (push-ups, sit-ups, lunges), carry heavy loads, or do heavy gardening or yard work.
WHAT ABOUT BALANCE / FLEXIBILTY TRAINING?
» Regular exercise to improve balance can help to prevent falls and flexibility activities can help you move more easily to maintain daily life activities such as putting on your own shoes and socks.
» Some examples include heel-to-toe walking, sideways leg raises, sit-to-stand transitions, heel and toe raises, and alternate knee lifts.
» These exercises can be done while you are waiting for the kettle to boil or even while talking on the phone.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SEE AN ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST?
The costs of AEP services vary between providers. Financial support is available for many people with chronic conditions and injuries, which allow for these services to be accessed at a relatively low cost, or in some cases, at no cost. Financial support may be available through the following:
» A Medicare Chronic Disease/GP Management Plan (CDM/GPMP) prepared by a medical General Practitioner can provide rebates for up to 5 sessions per year (10 for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person).
» Department of Veterans’ Affairs provides various subsidies for entitled clients through appropriate referral by a GP (requires a valid D904 referral form).
» Private Health Insurance providers offer various subsidies for individual and group-based AEP services which vary depending on the insurer and level of coverage.
» Other financial subsidies may be available to people with chronic disease, illness or injuries through local government funded initiatives, research programs, private companies, life insurers, WorkSafe organisations and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
If you’d like more information on any of the information above or would like a better understanding of how movement can be medicine for you, keep an eye out for more content like this or get in touch for a personalised plan of action today.
Source: http://exerciseismedicine.com.au