The Professionalization of Exercise Physiology

Helps students and exercise physiologists think and reflect on the many issues, challenges, and thinking that the profession of exercise physiology embraces. This book includes chapters that introduce important ideas, concepts, and information pivotal to developing the profession as a healthcare profession.

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This book is written to inform and to help students and exercise physiologists think and reflect on the many issues, challenges, and visionary thinking that the profession embraces today. This book comes at a critical time in the professional development of exercise physiology. Today, more than ever before, exercise is recognized as medicine. Regular exercise helps to strengthen and/or rehabilitate the mind and body. However, too many individuals and even established professions are prescribing exercise without the credibility to do so. This is also true for students of exercise science and related degree programs, which is a major reason why the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) was founded in 1997. Understanding this point is critical to the credibility and professionalism in exercise physiology. Each chapter of this title introduces important ideas, concepts, and information pivotal to developing exercise physiology as a healthcare profession.
The content clarifies the issues, challenges, and visionary thinking of the ASEP leadership in dealing with the interplay of political, personal, and professional factors and how each influences the future of the profession. Hence, throughout the chapters, there is a strong and repeated reminder that exercise physiologists must rise to the occasion. The ASEP leadership represents the change that is taking place in the recognition and professional development of exercise physiology. They understand the profession is young, yet it is taking on a life of its own. Exercise physiology offers innumerable opportunities for a career not only in athletics, but also in health and wellness, fitness development, and physical and mental rehabilitation. The leaders understand research is important, but so is curriculum development.