Exercise Physiology
Bendigo Community Health Services’ Exercise Physiologists provide programs to help improve and maintain strength, flexibility, balance, fitness and overall wellbeing.
What’s an exercise physiologist?
Exercise physiologists are allied health professionals who specialise in the delivery of exercise, lifestyle and behaviour modification programs for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and injuries.
Our Exercise Physiologists support people with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, asthma, chronic pain, cancer, heart disease, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and impaired balance, plus provide rehabilitation following injury.
Regular exercise can:
- Reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes by almost 60 per cent.
- Reduce the risk of obesity, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, stroke and heart disease.
- Prevent certain cancers.
- Improve recovery from cancer.
- Improve breathing for those with lung disease.
- Combat depression and reduce stress.
- Prevent and alleviate lower back pain.
- Manage pain and increase movement for people with osteoarthritis.
- Reduce your blood pressure and decrease total cholesterol.
- Improve balance and reduce the risk of falls.
Our experienced Exercise Physiologists are accredited with Exercise and Sports Science Australia. They meet professional development and practice requirements and hold certificates in First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
“I receive excellent care and attention; they are always on time and have a caring nature.”
– Exercise Physiology client
Services and Costs
Our accredited Exercise Physiologists will work with you to understand your goals and plan to reach them. We will look at your medical history, current and pre-existing injuries. We may recommend working one-on-one with us, joining our small exercise groups or doing an exercise program at home. Exercise physiology uses physical activity to help people with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, depression, cancer and COPD. These strategies help prevent and manage injuries and limit the impact of age on strength, coordination, flexibility, balance, mobility, independence and overall wellbeing.
Our Exercise Physiology service is funded under State and Commonwealth funding and are available to eligible participants. Our staff will discuss your eligibility with you before booking you in for an appointment.
Cost
First consultation: From $18.
Reviews: From $13.
If you are not eligible for funded services our Exercise Physiologists will discuss what this means for you in relation to accessing our physical activity programs.
For more information please fill in the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
Our Falls and Balance Exercise Groups support you to improve mobility and balance to reduce the risk of falling. Our group sessions involve a chair-based warm up and circuit-based exercises completed in a safe and supportive space with the help of our exercise physiologists.
An initial assessment with our Exercise Physiologist is required prior to commencing group sessions.
Benefits of the Falls and Balance Exercise Group:
- Reduce your risk of falls.
- Improve your balance and mobility.
- Help you remain independent.
- Improve your confidence.
- Improve your muscular strength.
Cost
$10 per session with the purchase of a 10-session card.
$20 per casual session.
You may be able to claim a rebate on fees if you have extras private health insurance. Please discuss with your insurer.
For more information please fill in the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
Our Strength and Conditioning Groups support you to maintain strength, coordination, flexibility, mobility, fitness and overall wellbeing. We will do an initial assessment and then provide you with a personalised exercise program to complete in a safe and supportive space with the help of our exercise physiologists.
An initial assessment with our Exercise Physiologist is required prior to commencing group sessions.
Benefits of the Strength and Conditioning Exercise Groups:
- Improve your muscular strength and endurance.
- Reduce your risk factors for chronic conditions.
- Enhance your quality of life and maintain independence.
- Support mental health, wellbeing and improve your sleep.
- Improve your balance and mobility.
Cost
$10 per session with the purchase of a 10-session card.
$20 per casual session.
You may be able to claim a rebate on fees if you have extras private health insurance. Please discuss with your insurer.
For more information please fill in the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
We offer ‘Group Allied Health Services’ for people with Type 2 Diabetes’ referrals under Medicare. This referral entitles people to a one-on-one assessment and eight group exercise sessions with an Exercise Physiologist each year, which is claimed through Medicare.
After an initial assessment you will get a personalised strength exercise program to complete in a safe and supportive space with the help of our exercise physiologists.
Benefits of the Type 2 Diabetes Exercise group:
- Help stabilise blood glucose levels long term.
- Improve your body’s response to insulin which can lower your blood glucose levels for up to 24 hours.
- Increase muscle strength and muscle size resulting in increased insulin sensitivity.
- Increase uptake of blood glucose.
Cost
No fee (Medicare funded) with a referral from your GP.
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan must be in place.
MBS item numbers: 81110 and 81115.
To access the Medicare referral form click here
For more information please fill in the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
If you have a self or plan managed NDIS plan our accredited Exercise Physiologists can provide support under the following categories:
- Capacity building – Improved Daily Living
- Capacity building – Improved Health and Wellbeing
Our team can help you build physical capacity to stay more independent and join in on the things you enjoy at home, school, work or around your community. You can access our services at a Bendigo Community Health Services site, in your home or another appropriate location (for example, community setting).
To use your NDIS plan to access our services you will need to provide us with the following details, all of which can be found on your NDIS plan:
- Your NDIS participant number
- Your current NDIS plan’s start and end date
- Your date of birth
- The details of your supports listed in the NDIS plan for both Capacity Building and Core
- Details of the NDIS funding method: Self managed or plan managed
- Copy of your NDIS plan goals.
For more information please fill in the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
We provide Exercise Physiology services through the following:
- My Aged Care
- NDIS
- Medicare
- WorkCover
We welcome DVA clients, DVA Health Cards (Gold and White) are accepted as payment upon a GP referral.
Referrals
A referral is required so we can get a better understanding of your health background.
If you have a significant medical condition, you will need a medical clearance from your GP before starting group exercise sessions.
Referrals can be emailed to or faxed to (03) 5441 4200.
Contacts and Locations
Our exercise physiology service currently operates one-on-one and group sessions from a dedicated gym at 501A Napier Street, White Hills.
Some one-on-one consults take place at the BCHS Kangaroo Flat site, 19 Helm Street, Kangaroo Flat.
For more information, call the Bendigo Community Health Services exercise physiology team on (03) 5406 1200.
For more information please fill in the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.
Program support
This service is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services. Visit www.health.gov.au and www.health.vic.gov.au for more information on these agencies.
Although funding for this exercise physiology service has been provided by the Australian Government, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Australian Government.
