A tale of two allied health professions – when it comes to injury rehabilitation or chronic condition treatment/management/prevention, there are two health professions that are frequently mentioned and, to the layman, are commonly confused due to the homophonic nature of the prefix “Phys”. These are Exercise Physiology and Physiotherapy.
The treatment of injuries and chronic conditions requires expert assessment/reassessment, treatment programs and supervision in order to optimise a safe and sustainable return to any type of movement goal, whether it be something as simple as being pain-free or returning to a specific sport/movement. This area is where Exercise Physiology (EP) and physiotherapy (physio) are crucial. Understanding the difference between these professions can possess a significant influence in directing injury treatment or chronic condition management in a beneficial or deleterious manner.
Physiotherapy is by far one of the most popular first choices for allied health treatment. Physios have expert knowledge of human anatomy and the way it moves. Through a battery of physical assessments and diagnosis, physios utilise manual therapy (such as joint manipulation, muscle massages), stretches and gentle exercises to treat all manner of movement conditions. These can include chronic pain, neural symptoms (such as shooting pain, pins and needles), stiffness, sports injuries, neurological conditions, pre-surgery and post-surgery treatment. Physios assist with getting you back into any movement patterns as efficiently and as pain-free as possible. A physio’s governing body is the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA), whom regulates the high standards a physio must satisfy in order to practice physiotherapy.
Exercise physiology is gradually being recognised as a crucial line of treatment for injuries and chronic condition management. With expertise in clinical exercise interventions, EPs develop, prescribe, deliver and monitor clinical exercise treatment programs in order to treat and manage injuries and chronic conditions. These can include chronic pain, stiffness, diabetes, osteopenia/perosis, cardiac events, neurological conditions, pre-surgery and post-surgery treatment. EPs assist you with preventing/managing/treating chronic conditions and improving movement patterns/health and wellness. EPs must be registered with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), whom regulates the high standards an EP must satisfy in order to practice exercise physiology.
Together, Physios and EPs provide patients (we call you clients) with the most holistic care for any chronic condition or injury. In a nutshell, whilst one profession returns patients to pain-free movements, the other strengthens the patient for long-term sustainable pain-free movements.
Source: Allied Health Professions Australia and Healthdirect Australia
Title: A tale of two allied health professions
Read time: 10 mins