At CHIRP, our accredited Exercise Physiologist uses evidence based exercise interventions to improve your health and wellness through physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviours. Exercise physiology can also be useful to both prevent and treat chronic conditions and injuries.

The Exercise Physiologist can also provide strategies for maintaining motivation with exercise and improving your lifestyle, behaviour change and goal setting.

The Exercise Physiologist works closely with other services such as Diabetes Educators, Dieticians, Physiotherapists, GPs and other specialists to provide you with the optimum support and strategies to help you achieve your goal.

An Exercise physiologist can assist with:

• General fitness and wellbeing
• Acute injury rehabilitation
• Improving overall strength and balance
• Chronic pain, stress and fatigue management
• Weight management
• High blood pressure management
• Diabetes or pre-diabetes
• Heart disease

What can you expect?

During the initial consultation, you will discuss your medical history and current and previous exercise experience. You may be asked to perform simple exercises to see how your body responds to exercise. This will be used to establish what type of exercise program is best for you. It is best to wear comfortable clothing and secure shoes suitable for walking in.

After an individual assessment, you and the exercise physiologist will decide on the appropriate type of exercise program for you. This could be:

• Individualised home exercise program
• CHIRP group exercise classes
• Exercise groups in Castlemaine and surrounding areas

Subsequent consultations may be scheduled to modify your exercises, review your exercise plan and repeat the tests to track your progress.

Who is eligible?

People of any age and with any health concern. Individuals can be referred by a GP or health practitioner or can self-refer to this service.

What is the cost?

The cost of one-on-one consultation with the exercise physiologist is $10.00. For CHIRP group exercise programs and exercise groups in Mount Alexander Shire, there may be a small fee. This can be discussed with the exercise physiologist.

How to get more information?

For more information or to arrange an appointment, please phone CHIRP on (03) 5479 1000.