Oral presentations and written reports are common tasks for exercise physiologists, especially while attending university, says Frank Cerny. He is the chair of a university physical therapy department.
"We stress communications," says Cerny. Being able to communicate properly to your colleagues, patients or students, he adds, is a real-life skill. Remember that exercise physiology is a people profession, so good communication skills are essential.
Here's a sample of the research description.
Dr. Jim Johnson recently wrapped up a six-month study that focused on exercise and weight loss and how they both affected blood pressure.
The study involved 133 participants, all over the age of 29, all sedentary and overweight.
To understand how both exercise and weight loss affected the participants' blood pressure, the participants were separated into three groups.
One group of people participated in a managed exercise program that they followed three or four days per week. The second group of people also participated in the same controlled exercise program. However, this group also followed a weight management program.
The third group did not follow any exercise or weight management program at all. They continued to follow their same diet and exercise patterns that they had prior to the start of the study.
All participants had their blood pressure checked in a clinic prior to the start of the study. Once the study started, participants were fitted with devices that monitored their blood pressure at certain times throughout the day. While their blood pressure was being monitored, participants were also asked to record the time of day, their posture, location, mood, activity and their current consumption of alcohol or caffeine.
After the six-month study was complete, some significant results were evident.
Both the exercise group and the weight management group had improved aerobic fitness levels. However, both groups also had lower blood level pressures. This was true both while the group participants were exercising and while they were at rest.
While both groups experienced lower levels of blood pressure, the group that followed the weight management program and who exercised noticed the lowest levels.
Therefore, research shows that people who exercise and follow a weight management plan will improve their fitness levels as well as lower their blood pressure.