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Exercise Physiologist
Exercise physiologists conduct controlled investigations of responses and adaptations to muscular activity utilizing human subjects or animals within a clinical setting, a research institute or an academic institution. Exercise physiologists describe and explain the functional changes that occur during exercise. For example they predict the heart rate with various kinds of exercise, and the chemical and physical changes responsible for that rate. They may conduct research on oxygen uptake, muscle fatigue, muscle hypertrophy, body composition, and other phenomena.
| Exercise physiologists are interested in: |
| • | How exercise influences weight loss among dieters |
| • | Training methods for athletes in different sports |
| • | How muscle cells generate force |
| • | How the heart moves blood through the body |
| • | How the body provides the necessary energy to perform specific tasks |
| • | The acute and/or chronic responses to particular forms of exercise |
| • | How one becomes physically fit for specific sports activities |
| • | The different components of fitness |
| • | How physical fitness relates to health (absence of disease)or to illness (such as cardiovascular disease) |
| • | The influence of exercise in managing body weight, body composition and fat distribution |
| • | The effect sport drinks have on hydration/rehydration |
| • | The effect regular exercise might have in preventing a loss of bone density |
Many exercise physiologists teach academic courses in exercise physiology, environmental physiology, or applied human physiology for students of medicine, physiology, physical education or other health related field. They may also work with patients in the areas of cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation. Other areas where an individual using applied exercise physiology may be employed are at community organizations, commerce and industry, rehabilitation programs, and/or at competitive sports programs.
Job Outlook
Opportunities for employment in exercise physiology has recently expanded, particularly in the area of commerce and industry. More and more corporations are recognizing the value of employee fitness programs and employ personnel trained in the areas of adult fitness.
Educational Requirements
The professional expertise, certification, training and education requirements for an exercise physiologist will vary depending on the employment setting. For an academic career in research and/or teaching, a PhD is required. Rarely will the training and experiences associated with a master's degree be considered adequate preparation. For positions in commercial or industrial settings, educational opportunities are best obtained through departments of physical education, exercise science, health science and nutrition. For positions in health-related settings, the most valuable educational opportunities are obtained through departments of health science, physical therapy, physical education, kinesiology or exercise science.
The undergraduate curriculum is influenced in part, by one's career choice. Preparation in general biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science is important if a research and teaching career is desired.
Educational Programs - Illinois
Illinois Benedictine College
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 829-6000
http://www.ben.edu/
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Northern Illinois University
Department of Physical Education
Anderson Hall 226
DeKalb, IL 60115-2854
(815) 753-0446
http://www.niu.edu/
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University of Illinois
830 Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 996-0998
http://www.uic.edu/
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American Society of Exercise Physiologists National Office
College of St. Scholastica
Department of Exercise Physiology
1200 Kenwood Avenue
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 723-6297
http://www.asep.org/
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