An Exercise Physio-what? Do you mean a physiotherapist? Nope. How about a personal trainer? Nope. Hmm, so then what exactly is an Exercise Physiologist?
The team at Hunter MoveAbility have made it super easy to understand. Read below to find out:
- What an Exercise Physiologist actually does
- Why you might benefit from it
- How you can fund Exercise Physiology in your NDIS plan
What Is an Exercise Physiologist Under the NDIS?
An Exercise Physiologist is a tertiary qualified Allied Health professional with a Medicare provider number, trained within the health and medical sector. They specialise in exercise therapy and lifestyle interventions for people at risk of developing, or with existing, disabilities, chronic medical conditions and musculoskeletal injuries.
Under the NDIS, an Exercise Physiologist can help participants build capacity, improve independence, increase strength and movement, support daily living skills and work towards functional goals. In other words, it’s not about “getting fit” for the sake of it. It’s about using movement in a safe, evidence-based and goal-focused way to help you do more of the things that matter in everyday life.
That might look like:
- Getting in and out of a chair more safely
- Improving balance and reducing falls risk
- Building strength for transfers, walking or wheelchair use
- Improving stamina for school, work or community activities
- Managing pain or fatigue
- Supporting emotional wellbeing through safe movement
- Building confidence to participate in social, recreational or community activities
What Does an Exercise Physiologist Do?
Imagine a car you’re driving down the road when suddenly the brakes don’t work effectively and you hit another car.
BOOO!
Don’t worry, everyone walks away safely. Now what do you do? What is wrong with the car? What is happening? Why did my brakes stop? AAARRGGGHHH!!! Not an ideal situation, however you need to get the car back on the road and back to doing its purpose of transporting you to where you want to go, right?
- Step 1 – the car is taken to a mechanic, who identifies that parts need to be replaced to ensure the car is working
- Step 2 – the car needs to be put back into place by a panel beater and then testing needs to be done to ensure it works
- Step 3 – now, who is looking at the reason for the brakes losing their effectiveness? Who is ensuring this problem doesn’t occur again, or is at a reduced risk of occurring again?
Yep, you guessed it. The engineers are the ones that ensure the car is functioning at its best and most efficient capabilities. This is where Exercise Physiologists come into this system.
Trained Exercise Physiologists are the engineers for the human body, using individualised evidence-based and client-based programming. They are trained to look after the person as a whole and not just the injury or medical issue.
For NDIS participants, this means your Exercise Physiologist should be looking at your goals, your daily routines, your disability-related needs, your environment and what independence looks like for you. It is not a one-size-fits-all gym program. It is a personalised plan designed around your body, your supports and your NDIS goals.
How Can You Benefit From Exercise Physiology?
The research is clear in building capacity for increased independence at home, work, school or in the community.
Here are only three reasons (there are heaps more) Hunter MoveAbility believes funding for Exercise Physiology should be included in a participant’s plan:
- Exercise has been shown to improve function and make ADLs easier.
- Exercise has been shown to improve quality of life for participants.
- Exercise has been shown to improve function and help participants find and sustain employment.
And for NDIS participants, those benefits can be directly linked to the kinds of goals many participants already have in their plans, such as:
I want to be more independent at home
I want to access my community more safely
I want to improve my mobility and balance
I want to build my confidence
I want to manage my health and wellbeing
I want to participate in work, study, sport or social activities
I want to reduce the impact of my disability on everyday life
How Can I Have It Funded in My NDIS Plan?
Do you believe Exercise Physiology is the right therapy for you and will help you work towards your goals? Here are two budget areas where Exercise Physiology may be funded under your plan:
- Improved Daily Living Skills – 15_200_0126_1_3 OR 15_200_0128_1_3 OR 15_799_0126_1_3
- Improved Health & Wellbeing – 12_027_0126_3_3 OR 12_027_0128_3_3
A good Exercise Physiologist can also provide reports or progress updates that explain:
What your current functional capacity looks like
What barriers you are experiencing
What goals the program is working towards
What outcomes have been achieved
Why ongoing support may be needed
How the support relates to your disability and NDIS goals
These reports can be super helpful when you are preparing for a plan reassessment or wanting to explain why Exercise Physiology should be included in your NDIS plan.
How Much Can My Exercise Physiologist Charge Me?
To see the latest NDIS price for an Exercise Physiologist, go to our NDIS Price Search tool and type in “Exercise Physiology”.
If you are receiving supports in your home and the therapist needs to travel to you, they may also charge for travel time and distance. Make sure you discuss this with your therapist before you start your sessions.
Make sure you discuss this with your therapist before you start your sessions.
Good questions to ask include:
What is your hourly rate?
Do you charge travel?
Do you charge for reports or non-face-to-face time?
How often will we review my goals?
Can you provide progress reports for my NDIS review?
Do you understand NDIS plans and funding categories?
How Plan Hero Can Help You on This Journey
At Plan Hero, we don’t just pay your NDIS bills and call it a day. We’re here to help make your NDIS journey feel easier, clearer and a whole lot less stressful.
If you’re looking for a suitable NDIS Exercise Physiologist, we can help point you in the right direction and connect you with providers who may be a good fit for your needs and goals.
And with Plan Hero Plan Management by your side, your Exercise Physiologist can invoice us directly, and we’ll pay them on your behalf. That means your essential supports can keep running smoothly, without unnecessary delays, confusion or disruption.
