Specialty Area: Exercise Science
Description of Specialty: The specialists in this area develops individual exercise
programs for (1) healthy individual; (2) individuals at high risks for cardiovascular
disease; (3) individuals with known cardiovascular disease. In general, they treat
individual in category (2) and (3).
1. Diagnosis: Risks and Benefits of Exercise
Questions that should be asked:
- What are the health benefits of regular exercise?
- What is the risk of a serious medical complication occurring during exercise?
- Is regular exercise safe and beneficial for me?
2. Diagnosis: Pre-participation Health Screening:
Questions that should be asked:
- Am I a candidate for any type of screening or testing prior to starting an exercise
program?
- If so, what screening or tests do I need? (i.e. physical exam, exercise test)?
- Does a physician need to be involved in pre-exercise evaluation or can it be done by a
non-medical health professional?
- If I need an exercise test or other diagnostic test, what are the risks of performing
the test?
- What will an exercise test determine?
- Where do I go to perform an exercise test?
- Should my pre-exercise evaluation include other physical fitness testing?
3. Diagnosis: Exercise Prescription:
Questions that should be asked:
- Who will design an exercise program for me that will meet my personal goals and take
into consideration my health history?
- Do I need to exercise in a setting supervised by health care professionals?
- Should my exercise include just exercise for my heart or should I being doing other
forms of exercise as well?
- Are there any special precautions l need to take because of my health condition(s)?
4. Diagnosis: Changing Health Behaviors:
Questions that should be asked:
- In order to reduce my risk of cardiovascular disease, is starting an exercise program
enough or should I be making other lifestyle changes?
- Can you assist me with making necessary lifestyle changes?
- If not, can you refer me to an individual or program that can help me?
Sandi Scharf, Exercise Therapist B.S. in Nursing Cardiac Center BJC West St. Louis, MO