The Role of Clinical Accredited Exercise Physiologist in Helping People with Disabilities Exercise

Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good physical and mental health, but for people with disabilities, getting enough exercise can be a challenge. Whether it’s due to physical limitations, lack of accessibility, or other barriers, many people with disabilities struggle to find ways to stay active. This is where clinically accredited exercise physiologists (AEP) can play a crucial role.

AEP is a field that focuses on using exercise as a means of improving health and preventing or managing chronic conditions. Therefore, AEP must register with Exercise Sports Science Australia (ESSA) and provide evidence of fulfilling their accreditation requirements, such as continuing professional development, first aid & CPR, to meet the standards required to maintain accreditation. This continuing professional development makes an AEP an expert in designing exercise programs that are safe, effective, and tailored to each patient’s individual needs.

For people with disabilities, exercise can have numerous benefits. It can help to improve cardiovascular health, increase strength and flexibility, reduce the risk of secondary health conditions, and boost mental health and well-being. However, many challenges can make it difficult for people with disabilities to exercise.

Some common barriers include a lack of accessible facilities and equipment, fear of injury or exacerbating existing conditions, and lack of knowledge or guidance on exercising safely and effectively. But, again, this is where an AEP can help.

An AEP has the knowledge and skills to design exercise programs that are tailored to the disability of that individual. In addition, they will provide guidance on using adaptive equipment and techniques to make exercise more accessible and educate patients on how to exercise safely and avoid injury.

Suppose you currently receive support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Workers Compensation, Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), or Medicare. In that case, it’s essential to know that you have access to an AEP. To find an accredited exercise physiologist in your area, visit the Exercise Sports Science Australia website at www.essa.org.au/find-aep/. With their guidance, you can work towards achieving your fitness goals.

If you currently have an EP and want to verify their registration, go to the link below www.essa.org.au/Public/Verify-Accreditation.aspx

Specific Conditions that can Benefit from Working with AEP

Spinal cord injury: is a traumatic event that results in damage to the spinal cord, which can lead to various degrees of motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. Individuals with spinal cord injuries often experience decreased mobility, muscle strength, and sensation below the level of damage, which can lead to secondary complications such as cardiovascular deconditioning, muscle wasting, and joint contractures. Interventions like functional electrical stimulation, body-weight-supported treadmill training, and resistance training have improved cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, muscle mass, bone density, joint mobility, and spasticity in individuals with spinal cord injuries. A great place that specializes in neurorehabilitation is, NeuroMoves (Spinal Cord Injuries Australia based in Melbourne and Sydney) can design exercise programs that are tailored to the specific needs and abilities of individuals with spinal cord injuries, taking into consideration the level and severity of the damage, neurological impairments, and secondary complications. NeuroMoves: www.scia.org.au/clinical-site/melbourne/  (Hicks, et al., 2011)

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of chronic neurological disorders characterized by motor function and posture abnormalities resulting from brain injury or malformation during fetal development or early childhood. Individuals with cerebral palsy may experience reduced muscle strength, impaired flexibility, and decreased coordination, which can limit their ability to perform activities of daily living. Regular exercise that includes weight training with a good stretching program and balance exercises have been shown to improve muscle strength, flexibility, coordination, and functional performance in all stages of CP. You can’t put a price on experience when it comes to exercise design. Clinical exercise physiologists will design exercise programs that are tailored to the specific needs of your loved one, and they will love doing them, also. (Valadão. P., 2021).

Multiple sclerosis (MS): is defined as an immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterized by demyelination and inflammation of the central nervous system, resulting in a range of motor, sensory, and cognitive symptoms. Studies have indicated several possible causes; however, the exact primary nature of MS is unknown. Individuals with multiple sclerosis often experience reduced muscle strength, impaired balance and coordination, and decreased flexibility, which can negatively impact their ability to perform activities of daily living. However, a patient’s aerobic capacity, increased strength, and flexibility can be improved with regular exercise. Plus, have a positive effect on managing fatigue and mood. Go to the bottom of this page to find an AEP that can design exercise programs tailored to your specific needs and ability (Nancy E Mayo, 2013).

Amputation: this is a surgical procedure involving removing a limb or part of a limb. Following amputation, individuals may experience the mobility, balance, and coordination challenges due to changes in body mechanics and sensory feedback. Depending on the reason for the amputation, this may lead to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Using a specialized  AEP in orthopedic rehabilitation who is proficient in prosthetic training, resistance training, and balance exercises will help any individual looking to improve their cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and balance.

Parkinson’s disease (PD): is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain, which can result in motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Unfortunately, those motor symptoms can affect posture and balance, which leads to an increased risk of falls. This is where exercise interventions like cycling, resistance training, and balance exercises have been shown to improve motor symptoms, balance, and gait in individuals with early-stage onset of PD. Using an AEP specializing in neurorehabilitation can design exercise programs tailored to the specific needs of people in the early stages of PD. AEPs also work in corporation with other allied health professionals post deep brain stimulation surgery to help patients optimize their physical function and improve their quality of life (Pei-Ling Wu, 2017).

Down syndrome (DS): is a genetic condition that affects physical and cognitive development. Individuals with DS often have decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), joint laxity, and ligamentous laxity, which can contribute to mobility, balance, and coordination challenges. This may increase the risk of cardiac abnormalities, such as atrioventricular septal defects, which can impact cardiovascular health. However, exercises that include strength training for posture, dancing or boxing for aerobic exercise, and balance exercises have been shown to improve cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and mental health (Ginny Paleg, 2018).

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS): is a complex genetic disorder that affects multiple body systems and is characterized by hyperphagia, obesity, developmental delays, and hypotonia. Individuals with PWS often struggle with weight control, decreased mobility, and muscle weakness due to decreased physical activity levels and hormonal imbalances. Exercise interventions have been proven to be very popular for improved muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, and body composition. This is where using an AEP  can be very beneficial when designing exercise programs that incorporate aerobic exercises that de-load joints, resistance training that works within the individual’s range of motion, and functional movements to improve activities of daily living. Adaptive equipment, such as handcycles or standing frames, balance boards, and decline boards, can also be incorporated to address specific mobility or balance impairments. By optimizing the physical function of individuals with PWS through exercise, exercise physiologists can help reduce the risk of secondary complications, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and improve overall health and quality of life (Woods et al., 2018)

Conclusion

Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good physical and mental health, but for people with disabilities, it can be challenging due to physical limitations, lack of accessibility, or other barriers. Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) can play a crucial role in helping people with disabilities achieve their fitness goals. AEPs are experts in designing exercise programs that are safe, effective, and tailored to the individual needs of each patient, including those with conditions such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, amputation, and Parkinson’s disease. Individuals can improve their overall health, independence, and quality of life with their guidance. If you currently receive support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Workers Compensation, Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), or Medicare, it’s essential to know that you have access to an AEP. By visiting the Exercise Sports Science Australia website, you can find an accredited exercise physiologist in your area and work towards achieving your fitness goals.

References

Carrie Patterson, S. G. (2013). Swimming for Individuals With Severe Multiple Impairments. PALAESTRA, 27(1), 30-35.

Ginny Paleg, M. R. (2018). Interventions to improve sensory and motor outcomes for young children with central hypotonia: A systematic review. Journal of Paediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, 57-70.

GREEN, R. K. (2015). Exercise in Individuals with Down Syndrome: A Brief Review. International Journal of Exercise Science, 192-201.

Hicks, A. L., Martin Ginis, K. A., Pelletier, C. A., Ditor, D. S., Foulon, B., & Wolfe, D. L. (2011). The effects of exercise training on physical capacity, strength, body composition and functional performance among adults with spinal cord injury: a systematic review. International Spinal Cord Society, 1103–1127.

Nancy E Mayo, M. B. (2013). The role of exercise in modifying outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis: a randomized trial. BMC Neurology, 1-11. doi:10.1186/1471-2377-13-69

Pei-Ling Wu, M. L.-T. (2017). Effectiveness of physical activity on patients with depression and Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 1-14.

Reham Saeed Alsakhawi, M. A. (2019). Effect of Core Stability Exercises and Treadmill Training on Balance in Children with Down Syndrome: Randomized Controlled Trial. Advance Therapy, 2364–2373. doi:doi.org/10.6084/

Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa, M. D.-G. (2020). Evidences from Clinical Trials in Down Syndrome: Diet, Exercise and Body Composition. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 1-16. doi:doi:10.3390/ijerph17124294

Valadão. P., P. H. (2021). Exercise intervention protocol in children and young adults with cerebral palsy: the effects of strength, flexibility, and gait training on physical performance, neuromuscular mechanisms, and cardiometabolic risk factors. BMC Sports Science, Medicine, and Rehabilitation, 1-19.

Woods, S. G., Knehans, A., Hoffman, L., Turner, P., Arnold, S., Dionne, C., & Baldwin, J. (2018). The associations between diet and physical activity with body composition and walking a timed distance in adults with Prader–Willi syndrome. Food & Nutrition Research, 62, 1-11. doi:10.29219/fnr.v62.1343