Exercise physiology fundamentals and applications

Exercise Physiology: learning about it, involving oneself in it or obtaining gainful employment from it is becoming a part and parcel of most people's life. With improvements in technology, our lifestyles have become sedentary. Such lifestyles also put us at greater risk for diseases. This work will be concerned with a general idea of exercise physiology with information for all who want to involve themselves with it.

Simply put, exercise physiology (EP) is the identification of physiological mechanisms that underlie any physical activity. (Amundsen, 1981) and hypertension should be closely monitored. While maintaining a regimented lifestyle with optimal levels of physical activity can be helpful, over-exercising can be detrimental. Exercise physiology therefore, also involves professional guidance and counseling.

In 1997, the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) was founded. (CSS.edu, Professionalization of Exercise Physiology Online, 2003) few universities have ASEP accredited bachelors and masters degree programs in exercise science. Some of these (from many) universities are: Slippery Rock University (PA), Wright State University (OH), University of New Mexico-Albuquerque (NM), Marquette University (WI) and Bloomsberg University (PA). Some of the universities require American Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR certification before graduation. (CSS.edu, Directory of Academic Programs, 2003)

With exercise rising to the levels of a fad, one might suppose that the current job prospects for exercise physiologists seem very good. (HumanKinetics.com, 2003) Also, in the current market, most clients are those with disposable incomes. Also, exercise physiology has the advantage of providing its practitioner with a diverse set of skills -- one or more of which might be used as a career path. These might include jobs as athletic trainers -- especially with skills of emergency care. EPs can be coaches of sports teams. Research and higher degrees are choices in tenure track faculty of teaching positions. With the growing trends in personal fitness, yoga and Pilates, personal trainers are also in demands. Pain management and physical therapy careers involve the assessment, design and administration of rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and reduce or rehabilitate an injury. Sports managers are in charge of the day-to-day running of teams or organizations.