Exercise Physiologists and Scientists
Assess, plan, implement and design exercise-based interventions to improve health, fitness and wellbeing and to prevent, treat and manage disease and injury and restore optimal physical function and wellness.
A Thursday of clients and a coach
You are an exercise physiologist at a community clinic, running sessions in the gym room and taking calls between clients. It is 10am. You have a full morning of one-on-one sessions, and the local football club has asked to speak with you about one of their players. The morning is going to be tight.
Choose what you would do. Then see what happens. There are often good reasons for each choice.
I'm sorry, I haven't done any of my home exercises this fortnight. I know you'll be disappointed. I just kept putting it off. I feel like I'm wasting your time.
Tell her it's fine and move on to today's session without discussing what got in the way
She relaxes, but nothing changes. Next fortnight you have the same conversation, and she feels worse. Kindness without curiosity does not help much.
Remind her that her results depend on doing the exercises at home
Her shoulders drop. She apologises again and comes less often, because turning up now feels like being told off.
Thank her for being honest, ask what got in the way and make the plan smaller
She says her mornings are chaotic. You settle on two short exercises tied to making her tea. She does them all week and comes back lighter.
Our best midfielder strained his hamstring two weeks ago. We have the final on Saturday. He says he's fine. I need him back. Can you just clear him to play?
Test him properly, explain what you find, and give the coach a clear, honest answer
The testing shows he is not ready for full match intensity. Yusuf is not happy, but he respects the answer. The player is left out, and the coach finds another solution.
Clear him to play at reduced minutes so that everyone gets something
He plays 20 minutes and re-injures the muscle in the first half. A compromise that ignores the test is still a clearance, and the season is over for him.
Assess him properly, tell the player first and agree what he can safely do
The player hears the findings directly and decides himself to sit this one out. Yusuf accepts that, and you plan a return for the following week.
I referred a patient to you last week with a heart condition. Can you let me know how the first session went? I want to be sure the exercise is suitable before I refer more.
Send a clear, brief summary of the session and how the client responded
Dr Gill replies with a thank you and a small adjustment. The patient benefits from the two of you working together. Clear communication keeps clients safe.
Reply that it went well and you will send a full report later in the month
Dr Gill waits for the report, and in the meantime the patient asks the doctor a question you could have answered. The delay causes mild confusion.
Tell her you cannot share information without checking, and leave it there
You have not done anything wrong, but you did not check consent or follow it up either. The referral pathway slows, and the doctor refers fewer patients.
How it went
By evening, the gym room is quiet and the notes are in. Exercise physiology means understanding bodies and understanding people, and being willing to say not yet when someone else wants a yes. Could you see yourself helping someone through a long recovery?
This is a simplified, fictional situation to help you explore. It is not professional instruction or a test of your ability.
Case study: The client who stopped coming
A fictional case set in a community health clinic with a small gym room, and a local football club.
The situation
Hamid was an exercise physiologist at a community clinic. One of his clients, Barry, had a long-term heart condition and had been doing well for two months. Then he missed two sessions in a row. When Hamid rang, Barry said he was fine and just busy. Hamid had many other clients that week, and Barry's referral from his doctor said the program ran for another few weeks. It would have been easy to let the sessions lapse and record Barry as having dropped out.
What they did
Hamid rang again, and this time listened. Barry admitted that he'd felt worse during one session and had been scared to come back. Hamid did not push. He explained what he'd been watching for in the sessions, and what had been a normal response. He offered to start with a lighter session and to talk to Barry's doctor, with his permission, about how he'd felt. Barry agreed to try one more session with a friend sitting nearby.
How it turned out
Barry returned, and the doctor adjusted something about his plan. He finished the program and kept walking with his friend afterwards. Hamid said the most useful moment was the second phone call, when he asked what was really going on.
What would you do?
- Why do you think Barry said he was just busy?
- What would you say to someone who is scared of exercising?
- How might involving a doctor help a client feel safer?