FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What happens during an initial Exercise Physiology consultation?
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What happens during a follow-up Exercise Physiology consultation?
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What is the free catch-up and what happens during this time?
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Do I need to see an Exercise Physiology if I am feeling healthy or have a healthy pregnancy?
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What if I do not have any equipment at home and/or do not have access to a gym?
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What is the difference between the free catch and an initial Exercise Physiology session?
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Are rebates available for Exercise Physiology consultations?
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Do I need a referral from my doctor to see an Exercise Physiologist?
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I'm having trouble with the online consultation, where can I get some help?
What is an Exercise Physiologist?
An Exercise Physiologist (EP) is a University qualified health professional who has extensively studied anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biomechanics and exercise prescription for 4 years. A graduate Exercise Physiologist may then go on to become accredited by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) which rigorously verifies that the university degree undertaken by an EP aligns to their standards. To remain accredited an EP must undertake continued development every year to ensure knowledge and skills are maintained, up to date and enhanced. At Triskwell, all our Exercise Physiologists are accredited by ESSA and undertake professional development every year to remain up to date with the current research.
Why choose an Exercise Physiologist to help me?
Throughout their degree, a student Exercise Physiologist is required to undertake 500 hours of placement, of which 360 hours are undertaken with clients presenting with various health conditions. An Exercise Physiologist has studied and researched the most up to date evidence-based exercise prescriptions, allowing them to individualise programs to suit clients with a variety of conditions. These skills are further applied and developed during clinical placements.
During consultations, an Exercise Physiologist will record a detailed medical history, injury history, information about general wellbeing, and conduct physical assessments. Based on these findings, a personalised exercise program will be prescribed to you to help you achieve your goals and manage your condition. Exercises can be modified according to your current physical and mental health, potential setbacks, or progressed as required.
What conditions can an Exercise Physiologist help me with?
As an Exercise Physiologist, we believe in using exercise as medicine to help manage many conditions, including but not limited to:
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women's health (fibromyalgia, endometriosis, adenomyosis, chronic pelvic pain, postpartum recovery, etc)
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mental health (depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc)
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cardiovascular (hypertension, heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, etc)
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musculoskeletal (muscle strain, joint sprain, joint pain, rehabilitation post-surgery, general muscular strengthening, etc)
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neurological (stroke, complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, etc)
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metabolic (high triglycerides, high cholesterol, diabetes (type I and II), metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, etc)
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cancer (any cancer whether actively undergoing treatment, post-treatment or in remission)
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respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, etc)
Do you offer face-to-face consultations?
No, we do not offer face-to-face consultations as we believe that your geographical location should not negatively impact on your ability to access Exercise Physiology services. We only offer online consultations that can be accessed from anywhere in Australia.
What happens during an initial Exercise Physiology consultation?
An Exercise Physiologist will design an individualised plan that is tailored to your needs, goals and any limitations.
The initial consultation consists of a more detailed recording of your previous medical history, injuries, surgeries, current medications and general wellbeing
Your Exercise Physiologist will then take you through physical assessments including range of motion at main joints in the body, flexibility and strength, and record data so that later re-assessments can identify progress achieved.
Finally, the initial consultation will be concluded by designing a home program that will have been designed based on assessments conducted. You will be given a handout with pictures and instructions for all exercises and access to an online app so that you can watch demonstration of exercises.
What happens during a follow-up Exercise Physiology session?
During a follow-up consultation, an Exercise Physiologist will firstly discuss your goals (done during your first follow-up consultation only) and review the exercises and activities prescribed in the home program in order to ensure that no pain, flare-ups or discomfort was experienced when doing exercises.
This is also the time to inform your Exercise Physiologist of any changes in your mental or physical health status, medications, flare-ups you might have experienced or other health related issues you have been experiencing since your last session.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding any of the exercises, some of them may be modified to better suit you and your goals. Additional exercises may be added to the program, number of repetitions or sets may be increased or decreased to suit goals and current abilities. An Exercise Physiologist will also accommodate exercises to how you are currently feeling on the day of the session.
What is the free catch-up and what happens during this time?
The free catch-up is a service offered after you have had an initial or follow-up Exercise Physiology consultation with us. About a week after your last scheduled appointment, your Exercise Physiologist will call or email you to check on you, see how you have been going with your exercise program and assess whether any changes need to be made.
This service is FREE of charge to you as we believe in continuity of care and would like to offer you this opportunity to ask questions if you have any.
How often do I need to see an Exercise Physiologist?
This can be determined during the initial consultation, many factors are taken into consideration to determine the appropriate frequency of sessions including finances, availability, goals, rehabilitation, progress, etc. Some people may want to see an Exercise Physiologist every 2-4 weeks to help them get started and progress or regress the prescribed exercises to optimise rehabilitation and achieve goals. Others may want more frequent sessions as part of an ongoing health and wellbeing routine.
Do I need to see an Exercise Physiology if I am feeling healthy or have a healthy pregnancy?
It is up to you. An Exercise Physiologist can help you to achieve your goals and get you started onto your health journey. Seeing an Exercise Physiologist is a great way to ensure that the exercise program will be tailored to your needs and abilities and also that you have good technique during the exercises in order to prevent injury risks. It is also a good way to ensure that you are doing exercises that are pregnancy safe and adapted to each trimester.
Do I need to be fit?
No, an Exercise Physiologist is able to adapt exercises to your current level of fitness and range of motion, flexibility, balance, and muscular strength so that you can achieve the goals you have set out and manage your condition or rehabilitate an injury effectively.
What if I do not have any equipment at home and/or do not have access to a gym?
During the initial consultation, your Exercise Physiologist will ask questions about equipment you may have or wish to use in order to prescribe exercises that can easily be performed in your preferred location. No equipment or purchase of equipment is required to undertake an Exercise Physiology session.
What should I wear to an Exercise Physiology session?
Wear something that is comfortable for you and in which you can freely move during exercise and assessments. It doesn’t need to be activewear as long as you feel comfortable.
How do I book a consultation with an Exercise Physiologist or free catch up?
To book an initial or follow-up consultation, click here or on the "book an appointment" button below. This will take you to an external link where you will be able to select a date and time that is convenient for you to speak to an Exercise Physiologist. From the menu select "Initial Online Exercise Physiology Consultation" or "Follow-up Online Exercise Physiology Consultation" and select the length of consultation you would like and date and time convenient to you.
To book a free catch up click here or on the "book an appointment" button below. This will take you to an external link. From the menu select "Free catch up", select a date and time convenient to you and fill in your details.
What is the difference between the free catch up and an initial Exercise Physiology consultation?
Both the free catch up and initial Exercise Physiology consultation are conducted by a University trained Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
An initial Exercise Physiology consultation is a paid service, where rebates are available. This consultation last for 60 minutes (allow up to 75 minutes) and is designed to gather a detailed physical and medical history as well as give you a tailored exercise program you can do anywhere you wish to to help you manage your health.
The free catch up is a service free of charge to you which you can book about a week after an initial or follow-up Exercise Physiology session. This allows you to receive an email or call from an Exercise Physiologist to check on your progress with your exercise program and make adjustments if needed or ask any questions you have.
Are my records kept confidential?
As accredited Exercise Physiologist under our code of conduct, we are bound to keep records confidential, stored in a safe and secured place and free from unauthorised access.
What payment options are available?
When booking an online initial or follow-up Exercise Physiology you will be asked to pay in order to confirm your booking. If you are unable to do this please get in touch with us and we can organise an alternate payment method. Our online payment system are secure and we do not hold any credit or debit card payment details.
Are rebates available for Exercise Physiology consultations?
We are recognised provider with many private health insurance providers. After each paid consultation, we will provide you with an invoice that you may be able to send to your private health insurance body.
At this stage, we are however unable to provide rebates through Medicare.
Do I need a referral from my doctor to see an Exercise Physiologist?
No, you don't. You can simply book an appointment with us online. Rebates are available through most private health insurers. We will provide you with an invoice at the end of the session for claiming purposes.
I'm having trouble with the online consultation, where can I get help?
You will be able to communicate with your Exercise Physiologist by email, phone call or direct messaging during the online consultation. If you are having any trouble seeing, hearing or connecting with your Exercise Physiologist please let us know as soon as possible. Alternatively you can find a troubleshoot guide to help you by clicking here.