Exercise Physiology | Activate Exercise Physiology

What is Exercise Physiology and Why Do You Need It? | Activate Exercise Physiology

Rory Scott • February 17, 2021

Exercise Physiology studies how the body responds and adapts to exercise and physical activity. It is a complex and fascinating field that has important implications for our health and well-being.

The body's response to exercise

When we exercise, our bodies undergo a number of physiological changes. The cardiovascular system works harder to pump blood throughout the body, the respiratory system works harder to deliver oxygen to the muscles, and the muscular system works harder to contract and produce movement.

These changes are necessary to meet the increased demands of exercise.

The benefits of exercise

Regular exercise has many benefits for our health, including:

Reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer
Improves cardiovascular health and fitness
Strengthens bones and muscles
Reduces weight and body fat
Improves mental health and well-being
Increases energy levels
Improves sleep quality
Increases community participation

The role of exercise physiologists

Exercise physiologists are health professionals who specialise in the science of exercise. They work with people of all ages and fitness levels to help them improve their health and fitness. Exercise physiologists can:

Design exercise programs that are safe and effective for individual needs
Provide education and tailor an exercise plan based on your unique goals
Track progress and make adjustments to exercise programs as needed
Provide guidance on exercising with a disability, preventing injuries, and enhancing overall health and well-being

Why you need an exercise physiologist

If you want to improve your health and fitness, working with an exercise physiologist is a great way to get started. They can help you design an exercise program that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.

An exercise physiologist can be an essential part of a multidisciplinary health care team, especially for individuals aiming to improve their health and fitness through exercise, manage chronic diseases, rehabilitate from injuries, or those with disabilities. Their expertise complements that of other health professionals, ensuring a comprehensive approach to health and well-being.

Conclusion

Exercise physiology is a fascinating and important field that has the potential to improve our health and well-being in many ways. If you are interested in learning more about exercise physiology or finding an exercise physiologist, please visit the Activate Allied Health website.

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Understanding Tendinopathy Tendinopathy is a condition affecting tendons, often caused by overuse, repetitive strain, or age-related degeneration. It can present as either acute inflammation or chronic tendon degeneration. Common areas affected include the Achilles tendon, gluteal tendon, rotator cuff, patellar tendon, and the elbow, commonly known as tennis or golfer’s elbow. These conditions can lead to discomfort, pain, and movement limitations. What Causes Tendinopathy? Tendinopathy is primarily caused by overload, repetitive motions, or sudden increases in activity intensity, which can lead to changes in tendon tissue. There are several risk factors associated with tendinopathy that can be divided into modifiable and non-modifiable categories. Modifiable Risk Factors Strength Flexibility Biomechanics Metabolic disorders such as diabetes or arthritis Weight Hormonal influences Sleep and stress Non-Modifiable Risk Factors Age-related degeneration Gender Genetics Structural characteristics Previous injuries Drug exposure It is important to recognise the interplay between modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. A holistic approach focused on managing modifiable factors can help reduce risk and support tendon health. How Is Tendinopathy Diagnosed? Tendinopathy is diagnosed through a combination of clinical assessment and physical examination. A clinical assessment may include: Understanding an individual’s history Reviewing individual signs and symptoms Exercise Physiologists will typically begin with a physical examination, including: Evaluating pain, tenderness, and movement restrictions Inquiring about activity levels, including recent increases in physical load Assessing the presence of other health conditions Typical clinical presentations include: Localised pain Discomfort following a sudden increase in activity Pain aggravated by continuous load, though it may temporarily improve during movement A proportional relationship between load and pain Pain and stiffness in the mornings While imaging may reveal structural changes such as degeneration, it cannot definitively differentiate between a tendon tear and severe tendinopathy. Imaging should not be used as the sole diagnostic tool and is primarily helpful for ruling out other conditions or identifying referred pain from different areas. How Does Exercise Influence Tendinopathy? Exercise is one of the most effective tools for treating and strengthening tendons affected by tendinopathy. Loading the tendon and surrounding muscles through exercise can help with immediate pain reduction and strengthen the muscle-tendon unit. Properly structured exercise programs help to: Stimulate tendon repair Enhance tendon quality and strength Restore overall function What Is the Best Way to Manage Tendinopathy? There are three essential interventions for managing tendinopathy: Implementing an individualised exercise plan to gradually progress exposure to load for better tolerance and function Managing load outside the rehabilitation program Understanding pain, managing risk factors, and learning how to manage exercise load When managing tendinopathy through an exercise rehabilitation program, it is important to consider an individual’s response to physical stress. This is measured through load tolerance. Load tolerance refers to the amount of pain-free force an individual can produce or absorb for a specific movement over a specified period of time while still maintaining control of the movement. Adequate load tolerance includes: Acceptable pain during activity Pain that settles within a day What Is Acceptable Pain? Training within a pain range of 0–4 out of 10 is considered acceptable. Pain rated 5 out of 10 or higher may be problematic. Exercise Recommendations For any exercise rehabilitation program, it is important to gradually and progressively load the tendon and muscle while remaining within acceptable load tolerance parameters. Load response should continue to be monitored throughout the program. Example Exercise Loading Progressions for Patellar Tendinopathy Knee extension Leg press (double then single) Split squat Step up Walking lunges Higher step for step up Jumping and hopping Split jumps Maximal forward hop References Goom, T.S., Malliaras, P., Reiman, M.P. and Purdam, C.R., 2016. Proximal hamstring tendinopathy: clinical aspects of assessment and management. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 46(6), pp.483–493. Malliaras, P. and O’Neill, S., 2017. Potential risk factors leading to tendinopathy. Apunts. Medicina de l’Esport, 52(194), pp.71–77. Malliaras, P., Cook, J., Purdam, C. and Rio, E., 2015. Patellar tendinopathy: clinical diagnosis, load management, and advice for challenging case presentations. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 45(11), pp.887–898. Malliaras, P., 2024. Mastering Lower Limb Tendinopathy 5th edition ONLINE.