Exercise Physiology at TriStar Centennial Parthenon Pavilion
TriStar Centennial Parthenon Pavilion provides the service of an Exercise Physiologist as part of patients’ treatment and care.
What is Exercise Physiology?
Exercise Physiology focuses on the analysis, improvement, and maintenance of health and fitness, even during acute and chronic illness. As exercise habits have a direct correlation to overall quality of life, practitioners in the field of Exercise Physiology can play a substantial role in reversing the negative effects physical inactivity has on chronic disease and disability. To achieve this outcome, Exercise Physiologists specialize in assessing fitness levels and developing appropriate exercise prescriptions that accommodate the individual needs and goals of both generally healthy and clinical populations. At TriStar Centennial Parthenon Pavilion, the Exercise Physiologist and clinical staff strive to promote healthy and active lifestyles through the lifespan due to the profound benefits this can bring to all domains of wellness.
Exercise and Mental Health
Due to the abundance of physical benefit experienced through exercise, the positive effects of physical activity on mental health are often overlooked. Fortunately, a wealth of literature now exists providing significant evidence on the connection between physical and mental health. Research shows:
- Increased fitness is associated with decreased risk of clinical depression and anxiety
- Exercise activities can provide greater self-concept, self-esteem, and self-efficacy
- A link between regular physical activity with reduced risk of dementia/cognitive decline and neurological disease
- A single bout of aerobic exercise training can result in immediate benefit in memory, attention, and reaction time
Where is Exercise Physiology Offered?
TriStar Centennial Parthenon Pavilion employees a full-time Exercise Physiologist to work with patients during their hospitalization. While this position provides services to patients on all units through group and individual interventions, the role specifically focuses on treatment for patients admitted to the Memory Care Program to reduce the risk of falls and increase physical independence, both of which can help to prevent further cognitive decline.
What is an Exercise Physiologist?
This is a common question, as Exercise Physiology has only recently emerged as an integral part of healthcare. A Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) is a healthcare professional trained to work with patients with chronic diseases where exercise and physical activity has been shown to be of therapeutic benefit. Due to the growing prevalence of chronic disease and disability associated with nationwide trends in physical inactivity, the role of the Exercise Physiologist is in great demand, and the need for experienced practitioners is expected to rise by 13% in the next decade. An Exercise Physiologist typically has a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (but often higher) in the field of Exercise Physiology. Depending on the populations served, practitioners have the opportunity to earn various certifications in more specialized training from organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine.
Visit the American College of Sports Medicine for more detailed information on these specialty certifications: https://www.acsm.org/get-stay-certified/get-certified