If you’re looking for a versatile, rewarding healthcare career that’s in demand, consider earning an exercise physiology degree. Clinical exercise physiology uses movement and exercise as a form of treatment and rehabilitation for injuries, chronic illnesses, disabilities and other health conditions. With continuing advancements in the field and the ongoing frequency of chronic diseases, there’s really no limit to what you can do with an exercise physiology degree. This is a rich and fulfilling field that allows you to apply practical knowledge to help patients heal and recover.
What is Clinical Exercise Physiology?
Within clinical exercise physiology, the goal is to use exercise as an intervention. Earning an exercise physiology degree means that you are a highly-qualified healthcare professional who can treat patients in a way that helps them heal and manage chronic illness or serious injury.
Clinical exercise physiology combines the principles of exercise science, physiology and medicine to create safe, effective treatment plans for patients facing a wide range of health concerns such as diabetes, respiratory disorders, heart disease, and more.
Benefits of Pursuing a Degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology
If you have a natural curiosity about human health and love to help people, earning a degree in clinical exercise physiology could mark the beginning of an exciting and gratifying professional journey. You might be wondering, “what can I do with an exercise physiology degree?” The good news is, there’s plenty that you can do with an exercise physiology degree because this is a field that’s growing and has plenty of avenues to explore.
Understanding your own health and safety
Many people choose to earn an exercise physiology degree because they want to understand more about their own wellness. This degree program requires a deep understanding of human anatomy, physiology and how the body responds to exercise. Acquiring this kind of specialized knowledge means that students will in turn know more about their own health. This is especially helpful because it only benefits patients to have a clinician who truly understands their needs.
Pursuing further education
Earning a master’s degree is quite the achievement. Because there’s limitless potential when it comes to what you can do with an exercise physiology degree, this is a degree program worth considering. Over the course of your studies, you’ll learn the best practices in using exercise science to help patients recover, manage their illnesses and live healthier lives. Aside from the personal satisfaction and sense of achievement that comes with completing your master’s program, an exercise physiology degree opens up a lot of career opportunities for ambitious students.
Career Opportunities for Exercise Physiology Graduates
Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Exercise physiologists apply their knowledge and skills to create personalized fitness and exercise programs for their patients. These programs help their patients improve their health outlook by targeting heart function, flexibility and body composition. This profession requires expertise in the medical aspects of exercise, such as taking a patient’s medical history and physical limitations into consideration when designing care plans. Clinical exercise physiologists may also take on roles in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation, stress testing technicians, diabetes education and ECG interpreters/technicians. Lastly, clinical exercise physiologists can gain more knowledge in pacemakers or other medical devices and can enter the medical device industry as sales reps, interrogators or technicians.
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Strength and conditioning coaches help athletes level up their skills and endurance, helping them achieve peak performance. These coaches are especially vital in high-intensity activities like football, mixed martial arts, track and field, basketball and many others. An expertise in human anatomy and physiology is an essential skill in this career, because improper instruction can cost a team and an athlete dearly.
Employee/Corporate Wellness Specialists
Employee/corporate wellness specialists are responsible for designing and implementing wellness programs within an organization to promote improved employee health and productivity and reduced health expenses. Employee/corporate wellness specialists conduct health assessments on employees and design programs aimed at addressing stress management, disease risk factors, nutrition, and exercise. They can also coordinate events, challenges, and fitness activities within the organization to promote employee buy-in.
What Will I Learn as a Clinical Exercise Physiology Student?
Human Anatomy
Having a solid comprehension of human anatomy is your primary foundation, laying the groundwork to what you can do with an exercise physiology degree. This course entails learning the human body, inside and out, with a focus on the skeletal, muscular, nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Physiology
Similar to human anatomy, a solid grasp on physiology is important for anyone who wants to earn an exercise physiology degree. Physiology explores how biological systems like cells, tissues and organs work together to maintain bodily function. In these courses, students will learn how the human body’s major systems are structured. Additionally, courses cover different physiological processes like metabolism, energy production and cellular function.
Biomechanics
Biomechanics examines how parts of the human body produce and control movement. This is another course that is central to what you can do with an exercise physiology degree. By combining biology, physics, and mechanics, biomechanics analyzes how movement and exercise can improve performance, prevent injury and improve rehabilitation.
Kinesiology
In kinesiology, human movement is front and center. This coursework combines learnings from physiology, biomechanics, psychology and sociology to provide practical instruction on the mechanics of movement and the social factors that impact physical performance. Students learn about how exercise and movement contribute to health, improved quality of life and better wellness.
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Programs
This course is a direct application of what you can do with an exercise physiology degree. Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is a specialized program that teaches students how to help patients recover from heart-related conditions like heart disease or heart attacks. Students also learn about preventing heart conditions from getting worse, lowering risk factors and creating plans that improve quality of life.
Strength and Conditioning and Coaching Strategies
It may be surprising that a sports coach could earn an exercise physiology degree, but this program provides excellent practical experience for aspiring leaders. In addition to communication skill-building, a deep understanding of human anatomy and biomechanics is important for any successful sports coach.
There are so many possibilities when it comes to what you can do with an exercise physiology degree. Tiffin University’s affordable and flexible learning options, expert guidance from faculty and staff, and hands-on instruction combine to provide the best possible foundation for a gratifying, long-range career in exercise physiology. Click below or complete the form to learn more about what it takes to earn a masters degree in clinical exercise physiology, and what makes Tiffin University an extraordinary place to get an education.