What to Expect at Your First Appointment With an Exercise Physiologist

Starting with an exercise physiologist can feel like a big step, whether you have been referred by your GP, you are recovering from surgery or injury, or you are managing a long-term condition. The nerves are normal, and they usually disappear within the first ten minutes of the appointment.

Here is what actually happens at that first session, so you know what you are walking into.

What an Exercise Physiologist Does

An exercise physiologist is a university-qualified allied health professional who prescribes exercise as treatment. That includes programs for:

• Chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and asthma
• Rehabilitation after injury or surgery
• Pain management
• Improving how you move day to day
• Building strength and mobility

Unlike a personal trainer, an exercise physiologist uses clinical assessment and reasoning to design a program around your health, not just your fitness goals.

What Happens at Your First Appointment

An initial session usually runs 45 to 60 minutes and has five parts.

1. Discussion and health history

The appointment starts with a conversation about your medical conditions, medications, past injuries or surgeries, pain levels, daily habits and current activity. This is what makes the plan safe and realistic, so it is worth answering fully rather than briefly.

2. Goal setting

Next you set goals together, and they can be practical rather than clinical: reducing pain, building strength or flexibility, returning to sport, improving balance, or managing the symptoms of a long-term condition. The goals become the spine of the plan.

3. Physical assessment

You may go through some baseline testing, which can include posture, range of motion, strength and endurance, gait (walking) analysis, balance tests and cardiovascular measures. These results give the physiologist something to measure progress against.

4. A first taste of the program

Depending on your condition and how you are feeling, you may try some low-impact exercises in the first session: stretches, light strength work, balance practice, gentle aerobic exercise or mobility drills. Your technique is the focus, so the exercises are safe and the results follow.

5. Education and next steps

You should leave understanding why each exercise is there. That includes guidance on progressing safely, what to do at home, how to manage pain and what to work on between sessions, along with your plan and appointment schedule.

What to Bring

• Comfortable clothing and supportive footwear
• Any medical reports, referrals or scans
• A list of your medications
• A water bottle
• Details of any funding you are using, such as NDIS, a GP chronic condition management plan, WorkCover or private health cover

FAQs

Do I need a referral?
It depends on how you are paying. For a Medicare rebate under a GP chronic condition management plan, you need a referral from your GP. That plan has its own rules, including how many allied health sessions it covers, and the guide to GP chronic condition management plans sets them out. WorkCover and DVA claims also require a referral or approval from the scheme. Private clients can generally book directly, though some private health funds ask for a referral before paying benefits, so check your fund. NDIS participants can use plan funding to engage a provider whose services are in their plan.

How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your condition, goals and progress. Your physiologist will discuss it at the first appointment and review it as you go.

Is it safe if I have a chronic condition or ongoing pain?
Yes, that is the specialty. Exercise physiologists are trained to work with chronic conditions and pain, and programs are tailored to what is safe for you.

Bring Your Questions

A first appointment is the start of a plan built around your body and your goals, not a generic workout. Bring your questions, wear something you can move in, and give the program a few weeks before you judge it. Most people find the hardest part was making the booking.

Sources: Exercise and Sports Science Australia, register of accredited exercise physiologists.