CTP Exercise Physiology

Exercise physiologists design graded programs for strength, endurance, and function — especially when you are stepping back to work, sport, or heavy physical roles.

We document progress and clinical need so approvals for continued sessions stay on track.

Who benefits from exercise physiology

Exercise physiology is not for everyone after an accident, but for the right person at the right time it makes a real difference. It is most useful when you have moved past the acute pain phase but are not yet strong or conditioned enough to return to full activity.

• People with chronic or persistent pain who need a structured, gradual approach to rebuilding physical capacity.
• Those who have become deconditioned — lost fitness, muscle mass, or endurance — because they have been unable to exercise since the accident.
• Workers returning to physically demanding jobs (construction, warehousing, trades, nursing) who need to build specific strength and stamina before going back to full duties.
• Post-surgical rehabilitation — after orthopaedic procedures like knee reconstructions, shoulder repairs, or spinal surgery where a progressive loading program is needed.

What to expect in your first session

Your first exercise physiology session is an assessment, not a workout. The EP needs to understand where you are physically before designing a program that is safe and effective.

The session typically takes 45 to 60 minutes. It begins with a conversation about your injuries, your accident, what treatment you have had so far, and what your goals are — whether that is getting back to work, returning to sport, or simply being able to move through daily life without pain.

From there, the EP runs a series of physical tests. These might include grip strength, upper and lower limb strength measurements, cardiovascular fitness (such as a walk test), range of motion, balance, and functional movement screens like squatting, lifting, or reaching. If you have a physically demanding job, the EP may include work-specific tasks to establish a baseline.

By the end of the session, you will have a clear picture of your current capacity, your goals, and a preliminary plan for how to get there. The EP will explain the program structure, expected timeframes, and what you need to do between sessions.

What a program looks like

An exercise physiology program starts with a detailed physical assessment — strength testing, cardiovascular fitness, functional movement screening, and an understanding of what your job, sport, or daily life demands.

From there, the EP sets specific, measurable goals with you. These might include lifting a certain weight, walking a set distance, or completing a work-simulation task. Your program is designed around these goals and progresses as your capacity improves.

Sessions are supervised and typically run for 45 to 60 minutes. The EP monitors your form, adjusts load and intensity, and tracks objective measures of progress. You will also receive a home or gym program to follow between sessions.

Programs are typically reviewed every few weeks so goals can be updated and the treatment plan adjusted if needed.

Program examples

Every program is different, but here are two common scenarios that illustrate how exercise physiology works in practice.

• Graded return to activity — for someone who has been largely sedentary since the accident. The program starts with low-intensity movement (walking, bodyweight exercises, gentle stretching) and progressively increases load, duration, and complexity over weeks. The goal is to rebuild general fitness and confidence in movement, working towards activities like gym sessions, recreational sport, or active hobbies.
• Workplace rehabilitation — for someone returning to a physically demanding role. The EP designs a program that mimics the physical demands of the job: lifting, carrying, overhead work, sustained standing, or repetitive tasks. Strength and endurance are built progressively until the person can safely perform their full duties. This often runs alongside a return-to-work plan coordinated with the treating doctor and employer.

Typical session structure and duration

A standard supervised session runs for 45 to 60 minutes. Most people attend one to two sessions per week, depending on their stage of recovery and the intensity of their program.

A typical session follows a structured format: a brief check-in to discuss how you have been since the last session, a warm-up, the main exercise block (strength, cardiovascular, functional tasks), and a cool-down. The EP records your performance each session — weights lifted, distances walked, repetitions completed — so progress is tracked objectively over time.

Between supervised sessions, you follow a prescribed home or gym program. This keeps your recovery moving forward and helps build the habit of regular exercise, which is important for long-term outcomes.

The total length of a program depends on your injuries and goals. A straightforward return-to-activity program might run for 6 to 8 weeks. More complex cases — chronic pain, significant deconditioning, or demanding physical roles — may need 3 to 6 months of supervised sessions.

How exercise physiology differs from physiotherapy

People often ask why they need an EP when they are already seeing a physio. The two disciplines overlap but serve different purposes at different stages of recovery.

Physiotherapy focuses on the acute and sub-acute phase — reducing pain, restoring joint range of motion, and addressing specific tissue injuries. Treatment involves hands-on manual therapy, targeted exercises for injured structures, and pain management strategies. Physio is about getting you moving again safely after the initial injury.

Exercise physiology picks up where physio leaves off. Once your pain is manageable and your range of motion has improved, the focus shifts to rebuilding overall physical capacity — strength, cardiovascular fitness, endurance, and the ability to perform complex functional tasks. EP programs are more gym-based, longer in duration, and progressively loaded to build real-world capacity.

Think of it this way: physio gets you moving again; EP gets you strong and fit enough to do your job, play with your kids, or return to sport. In many cases, people transition from physio to EP as they recover, rather than seeing both at the same time. Your treating team coordinates this transition so there is no gap in care.

Approval and funding

Exercise physiology under CTP requires insurer pre-approval in most cases. Your CTP doctor provides the referral, and the EP prepares a treatment plan that outlines the clinical rationale, proposed number of sessions, goals, and expected timeframes.

Progress reports are submitted to the insurer at regular intervals. These include objective data — strength measurements, functional test scores, and capacity improvements — which makes it straightforward to demonstrate that treatment is producing results.

If an insurer queries the need for EP, having clear clinical documentation from both your doctor and EP makes a significant difference. We coordinate this across your treating team to keep things consistent.