17/12/2020
The two professions operate within broad scopes and have the ability to work with a large diversity of people, so not only is the profession itself an important consideration, but the individual professional as well. Many within each profession are very well qualified and experienced in niche areas, so be sure to ask about the specific interests and experience of the practitioner you’re considering visiting.
Both Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists (EP’s) are university trained health professionals having undergone a minimum 4 year undergraduate degree, or a related undergraduate degree plus a Master’s program.
Physio’s specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions across many different fields including musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, vestibular and neurological and are highly skilled manual therapy practitioners, utilising techniques ranging from soft tissue work to joint mobilisations, manipulations and more.
EP’s can assess aspects of function and performance related to the cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal systems and utilise a graded exercise approach to the prevention and management of injury and chronic disease, however diagnosis is not within their scope of practice. Both practitioners utilise exercise as a means of treatment along with lifestyle and behaviour modification. Long-term exercise programs and management of chronic disease in particular tend to fall more to the field of Exercise Physiology than Physiotherapy, however there are specialists in both professions as noted earlier.
Both professions apply evidence-based interventions and are recognised by Medicare and numerous health funds. They both require continued professional development and up-skilling in order to maintain professional registration.
- Matt
