👉Both use exercise to help the improve the health of their clients, although there is a large difference overall.
A personal training (PT) qualification can be acquired in less than 6 weeks of training and this allows for instruction to deliver fitness programs to persons of low risk only (i.e. no injuries or health conditions - "apparently healthy populations").
Exercise Physiology (EP) requires a minimum 4 years of university education. AEPs (accredited EPs) are allied health professionals who are trained in managing chronic health conditions and providing safe exercise inteventions.
Some of these conditions include:
✅Musculoskeletal conditions such as Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, post Orthopaedic Surgery;
✅Cardiorespiratory conditions such as post heart attack, heart disease, high blood pressure;
✅Neurological conditions such as Motor Neuron Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease.
✅Metabolic conditions such as Syndrome X, Diabetes, Dyslipidaemia and Obesity
Both AEPs and physios are university qualified and allied health professionals, though there are many differences.
👉Physiotherapy is the treatment of injury, disease and disorders through physical methods – such as exercise, massage, manipulation and other treatments.
👉AEPs specialise in exercise and movement for the prevention and management of chronic diseases, injuries and complex medical conditions. AEPs possess extensive knowledge, skills and experience in clinical exercise delivery and health-behaviour change counselling for people with chronic disease or injury. This is what differentiates AEPs from other allied health professionals
Everyone would benefit from seeing an AEP. Exercise can be used for both prevention and management of chronic illness, though it also has multiple immediate benefits. As AEPs are highly qualified to deliver exercise intervention, AEPs are well suited to design highly specific programs tailored to the individual.
Whether your goals are increasing fitness or muscle strength, improving endurance for an upcoming sports event, strengthening bone and promoting bone formation, reducing cholesterol, assisting with current or past cancer treatment, managing chronic pain, returning to exercise after a cardiac event, surgery or injury etc. AEPs are the people to see. Depending on your situation, sessions can also be partly claimed under Medicare, workers compensation or via private health insurance.