Physiotherapist Vs Exercise Physiologist: Whom to See & When?

As a vibrant commercial suburb in NSW, Miranda houses several parks, schools and facilities to make life easier without burning a hole in your wallet. The number of sports, medicine and diagnostic centres are particularly impressive as you’re sure to find at least one on every major street in this small neighbourhood hub of Sydney. So if your knee hurts like hell or you are combating chronic disease, you can be sure to find a good team of doctors, practitioners and professionals to help you through the way here. Look for a qualified exercise physiologist in Miranda or a certified physiotherapist to work through that torn ligament or inflamed arm or even cardiovascular ailments. But aren’t they all the same? Physiologist and physiotherapist?

As much as you think they may be, they are NOT. Though their work compliments each other, they essentially deal with different things and have a different, unique approach towards their treatment. So, listed below are some critical differences between the two and the conditions under which you can consult them:

Physiotherapist

Physiotherapy is sought-after when an individual’s regular movement and physical functioning are hampered, further disrupting their functionality. The cause of this hamper could be an injury, prolonged disability, or an illness. A physiotherapist is a trained and accredited professional who assesses the magnitude of the movement disruption, diagnoses the problem, and provides appropriate treatment, including clinical exercise, tissue mobilisation, modalities, muscle re-education, etc.

A physiotherapist and patient work as a team to tackle the functionality problem faced by the patient. They also ensure that the injury is not further aggravated during treatment. Meanwhile, the purpose of the treatment would be to achieve the maximum possible functionality of the affected part of the body. A physiotherapist can aid various rehabilitation processes concerning numerous conditions related to the neuromusculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, neurological system, respiratory system etc. And physiotherapy can be your best shot to get back to normal, painless movement after surgery, a chronic injury or disability due to specific ailments. 

At times physiotherapy can even save you from an invasive surgery like knee or hip replacement if the problem is diagnosed at the right time and corrective actions and exercises are imparted to the patient.

Exercise Physiologist

Like health-conscious individuals and athletes, a particular section of society may want to explore the full spectrum of human’s physical capabilities. The goal could be to achieve higher athletic performance, injury aversion, or simply improve and maintain their current physical abilities. Besides, individuals may also want to enhance their current movement and regain their original functionality after a chronic condition. So, an exercise physiologist assists an individual to actualise these goals. 

An exercise physiologist uses an array of evaluation tools, performs stress tests on an individual, and assesses their current fitness level. Based on the results and after evaluating the individual’s cardiovascular condition and body metabolism, an exercise physiologist designs a fitness program to improve the individual’s body mechanics, strength and endurance. 

The fitness program set by an exercise physiologist will comprise various exercises custom-designed for an individual to achieve a specified physical goal. But, an exercise physiologist is different from a regular gym trainer, as they are healthcare professionals who are certified by Exercise & Sports Science Australia. An accredited exercise physiologist has a deep understanding of the human body and how the body responds to specific exercises. Armed with this knowledge, these professionals can help an individual achieve elevated levels of sports performance and reduce the chance of injury. 

Now that you’re aware of the fundamental difference between an exercise physiologist and a physiotherapist, chances are you know better whom to consult for which condition. However, do also bear in mind that the next time you’re scouting between the best exercise physiologist in Miranda or a trained physiotherapist, it is best to consult your doctor first, as they can be your best guides. A preliminary examination of your condition by your doctor can tremendously aid you in your road to recovery.