What Do Exercise Physiologists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Exercise Physiologists assess, plan, or implement fitness programs that include exercise or physical activities such as those designed to improve cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, or flexibility. They also develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.

Other tasks include:

• Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.
• Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.
• Explain exercise program or physiological testing procedures to participants.
• Provide emergency or other appropriate medical care to participants with symptoms or signs of physical distress.
• Provide clinical oversight of exercise for participants at all risk levels.
• Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment or performance of exercise routines.

We asked Exercise Physiologists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Exercise Physiologists develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements. They explain exercise program or physiological testing procedures to participants.

• Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.
• Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.
• Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment or performance of exercise routines.
• Provide clinical oversight of exercise for participants at all risk levels.
• Recommend methods to increase lifestyle physical activity.

We asked some Exercise Physiologists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	70% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	37% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	96% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	39% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	46% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Exercise Physiologists also measure amount of body fat, using such equipment as hydrostatic scale, skinfold calipers, or tape measures. They may also measure oxygen consumption or lung functioning, using spirometers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Exercise Physiologists Interview participants to obtain medical history or assess participant goals. They might also Assess physical performance requirements to aid in the development of individualized recovery or rehabilitation exercise programs.

In addition, they Conduct stress tests, using electrocardiograph (EKG) machines.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Teach group exercise for low-, medium-, or high-risk clients to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning.

To some Exercise Physiologists, it is also their responsibility to Teach behavior modification classes related to topics such as stress management or weight control.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Exercise Physiologist, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/exercise-physiologists.htm

http://www.asep.org/

http://www.acsm.org/

http://www.coaes.org/home.html