07/12/2025
It’s one I’m asked every day: “Aren’t Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists the same?” The reply is: we work alongside each other, but we have different roles. (ESSA, 2023)
🩺 Physiotherapists focus on diagnosing and treating acute injuries and conditions. For example, if you’ve just torn a ligament, strained a muscle, or are recovering from surgery, a Physio provides hands-on treatment, pain relief strategies, and helps restore movement in those early stages.
💪 Exercise Physiologists (EPs) specialise in the long-term care of your health through exercise. We create safe, customised exercise programs for individuals with chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, or ongoing pain. Our job is to assist you in becoming stronger, more functional, and decreasing future health issues.
Here’s the way to think about it:
➡️ A Physio assists you in recuperating from an injury.
➡️ An EP keeps you strong, manages conditions, and helps you thrive long term.
The reality is, both roles are important and often, we work in tandem. Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists together build a complete care pathway that supports you from injury recovery through to lifelong health and prevention.
✨ If you’re not sure who you should see, begin by asking yourself: “Am I recovering from an injury right now, or am I wanting to maintain my health and build resilience for the long term?” The answer will guide you and sometimes, the best solution may be seeing both.
💡 At Empowerment Physiology, we’re here to support you with tailored exercise programs designed to help you feel stronger, move better, and live healthier.
If you’d like guidance on where to start, send us a message today and let’s build your pathway to long-term health together.