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Exercise Physiologists Occupation Detailed Description

Exercise Physiologists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Exercise Physiologists

The main tasks and work activities of Exercise Physiologists are to operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment, test patient heart or lung functioning, teach exercise or fitness techniques, demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use. In general, for the Exercise Physiologists, critical Thinking, speaking, instructing, active Listening and other 16 skills are required.
Exercise Physiologists Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related ExperienceA considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
ExampleMany of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Exercise Physiologists jobs.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
0.00%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
100.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Exercise Physiologists

  • Conduct stress tests, using electrocardiograph (EKG) machines.
  • Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment or performance of exercise routines.
  • Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.
  • Explain exercise program or physiological testing procedures to participants.
  • Interpret exercise program participant data to evaluate progress or identify needed program changes.
  • Measure amount of body fat, using such equipment as hydrostatic scale, skinfold calipers, or tape measures.
  • Measure oxygen consumption or lung functioning, using spirometers.
  • Perform routine laboratory tests of blood samples for cholesterol level or glucose tolerance.
  • Prescribe individualized exercise programs, specifying equipment, such as treadmill, exercise bicycle, ergometers, or perceptual goggles.
  • Provide clinical oversight of exercise for participants at all risk levels.
  • Recommend methods to increase lifestyle physical activity.
  • Teach courses or seminars related to exercise or diet for patients, athletes, or community groups.
  • Assess physical performance requirements to aid in the development of individualized recovery or rehabilitation exercise programs.
  • Calibrate exercise or testing equipment.
  • Educate athletes or coaches on techniques to improve athletic performance, such as heart rate monitoring, recovery techniques, hydration strategies, or training limits.
  • Evaluate staff performance in leading group exercise or conducting diagnostic tests.
  • Interview participants to obtain medical history or assess participant goals.
  • Mentor or train staff to lead group exercise.
  • Order or recommend diagnostic procedures, such as stress tests, drug screenings, or urinary tests.
  • Plan or conduct exercise physiology research projects.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersTranslating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
  • Test patient heart or lung functioning.
  • Teach exercise or fitness techniques.
  • Demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use.
  • Develop exercise or conditioning programs.
  • Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
  • Analyze quantitative data to determine effectiveness of treatments or therapies.
  • Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
  • Test biological specimens to gather information about patient conditions.
  • Prescribe treatments or therapies.
  • Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
  • Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.
  • Teach health management classes.
  • Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Advise athletes, coaches, or trainers on exercise regimens, nutrition, or equipment use.
  • Evaluate employee performance.
  • Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
  • Train caregivers or other non-medical personnel.
  • Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.

Skills and Abilities for Exercise Physiologists

  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Work tables or stations or accessories for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Arm crank ergometers
  • Electronic blood pressure unitse.g. Automated blood pressure measurement equipment
  • Automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddlese.g. Automated external defibrillators AED
  • Impedance meterse.g. Bioelectric impedance analyzers
  • Cholesterol monitors or meterse.g. Cholesterol analyzers
  • Stationary bicyclese.g. Cycle ergometers
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Mass spectrometerse.g. Dual energy x ray absorptiometers
  • Cardiac ultrasound or doppler or echo units or cardioscopese.g. Echocardiography systems
  • Electrocardiography EKG unitse.g. Electrocardiography EKG machines
  • Electromyography EMG units or accessoriese.g. Electromyographs EMG
  • Spirometers or its accessories or its suppliese.g. Electronic spirometers
  • Clock timerse.g. Electronic timing systems
  • Treadmillse.g. Exercise treadmills
  • Goniometerse.g. Goniometers
  • Cardiac output CO monitoring units or accessoriese.g. Heart rate monitors
  • Long term continuous electrocardiography EKG or holter monitoring systemse.g. Holter monitors
  • Grip strengthenere.g. Hydraulic hand dynamometers
  • Intravenous infusion pumps for general usee.g. Intravenous IV infusion pumps
  • Dynamometerse.g. Isokinetic dynamometers
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Therapy and CounselingKnowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • BiologyKnowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.