Exercise Physiology

Optimum health and wellbeing is key to achieving the best version of yourself. Our fully accredited Exercise Physiologists work with children, teenagers and adults to achieve their fitness and wellness goals.
Our fully accessible facilities in Allambie Heights, Erina, Canberra, Kingswood, Penshurst, Prairiewood and Ryde have been specifically designed to cater for people with cerebral palsy and similar conditions.

An Exercise Physiologist, or EP, is an Allied Health professional who has completed a minimum of 4 years of tertiary study and is accredited by Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA).

At CPA, our ESSA accredited EPs use evidence-based, targeted exercise intervention to manage health and fitness for children, teenagers and adults living with disability, chronic conditions and injuries. They also prescribe holistic exercise programs to support a continued healthy lifestyle, improve behaviour, and quality of life.

There are more than just physical benefits to an exercise program. Participating in weekly exercise may improve emotional, social and mental health.

The many benefits of regular exercise include:

  • Improved stamina and muscle strength
  • Improved fitness
  • Increased flexibility and mobility
  • Improved mood and general feelings of wellbeing
  • Reduced risk of health conditions such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes
  • Reduced anxiety, feelings of stress or risk of depression
  • Reduced pain
  • Improved sleep
  • Improved immune system to keep you healthy
  • Increased self-esteem

CPA accredited ESSA EPs can support you with:

  • Strength and fitness programs to help you achieve your goals
  • Maintaining your mobility and range of motion, for example to help you move around your home or community and complete daily activities more independently
  • Develop your skills for completing specific tasks such as kicking a ball or riding a bike
  • Learning about how to live a healthy lifestyle and manage your weight
  • Managing the impacts of your disability and prevention of other health conditions
  • Being independent in your exercise program within the community
  • Participating in other sport, recreation and leisure activities with your peers.

Our EPs provide individual and group support, and will work with you to design the right programs for your goals.

Our fully accessible gym and clinic facilities offer people living with cerebral palsy and similar conditions access to specialised equipment, in a practical and supportive exercise environment.

You can also access our exercise physiology services off site in community gyms, CPA hydrotherapy pool & public pools.

Play Video

One of CPA’s Exercise Physiologists, Alex Wilson outlines the benefits of exercise and how he’s delivering exercise classes and programs via Telepractice.

This service can be funded by your NDIS package

  • Capacity Building - Improved Health and Wellbeing (Category 12)
  • Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living (Category 15)

This service is available at

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Frequently asked questions

Infants 12 months or younger are eligible if they have the following:

  • Clinical history indicating risk for cerebral palsy


Risk factors include (but not limited to) prematurity, birth defects, genetic conditions, intrauterine growth restriction, hypoxia-ischaemia, seizures, neonatal stroke, infection

  • Abnormal neuroimaging-MRI or Cranial Ultrasound (CUS) indicative of possible motor impairment
  • Motor dysfunction

 

This might include abnormal General Movements, very low scores on standardised assessment (e.g. below 10th percentile on AIMS), poor head control after 3 months, hand asymmetry after 4 months, not able to take weight through feet after 5 months, not sitting at 9 months.

Priority will be given to infants who have not previously seen a neurologist.