Job Activities and Employment in Exercise Science

1. Job Activities and Employment in Exercise Science KNR 164

2. Are You Suited For a Career in ES? • ES is a diverse field with many potential career opportunities which seem to be continually expanding • a goal of this class is to begin exploring possibilities so you can determine the best fit for your interests, skills, and abilities • begin by asking some questions…

3. Are You Suited For a Career in ES? • interest in helping others • focus on financial success • interest in administrative duties and management • interest in continued education • work ethic • communication skills Do my attitudes, values, and goals match those of a professional? no consider another type of work don’t know talk with faculty or experienced professional yes continue…

4. Are You Suited For a Career in ES? • Do I really enjoy and am I really interested in physical activity? • self-test (Figure 13.7)...see next slide • score of 22-30 indicates interest is appropriate • score of 16-21 indicates interest may be appropriate • score of <16 indicates might want to reconsider

6. Are You Suited For a Career in ES? • Do my attitudes, interests, and talents match those essential in a specific ES profession? • job compatibility activity (see next slide)

7. Job Compatibility Activity List Job Title: _____________________

8. Job Compatibility Activity List Job Title: University Professor – Sport Psych.

9. Job Compatibility Activity List Job Title: University Professor – Sport Psych.

10. Are You Suited For a Career in ES? Do my attitudes, interests, and talents match those essential in a specific ES profession? • class and particularly observation assignment designed to help you identify level of compatibility • continue to look for match throughout program no consider alternative profession don’t know seek out volunteer opportunities to help make your decision yes continue…

11. Are You Suited For a Career in ES? • consider career requirements (be proactive!) • maximize your preparation options through ES major coursework, cognate hours, and internship experiences • consider getting a minor or dual major Am I in a professional program that will prepare me for my chosen career? no enroll in more appropriate curriculum don’t know talk with faculty member in ES yes continue…

12. Are You Suited For a Career in ES? How committed am I to preparing myself to be the best professional possible? • excellence in academic work • early identification with the professional field • becoming engaged in college/university life • participation in volunteer services • attending graduate school Not very select an alternative career don’t know select an alternative career very You are on the right track!

14. Tips on Choosing a Career (Brown) • Develop a career plan, including interests and areas of expertise. • Talk to other professionals in the area, attend conferences, go to association meetings, and network with colleagues (e.g., Join Exercise Science Club – see next slide). • Consider all of your career options early in your educational process. • Make sure you prepare yourself with the correct academic courses. • Be flexible and ready to accept new challenges: ES is growing rapidly, and many new and exciting opportunities are available.

15. Exercise Science Club at ISU • Formally (Leaders in Fitness Education Club) • “ES club is a campus-based organization promoting social and professional opportunities for ES majors. Members plan and participate in an annual two-day trip to Chicago to tour potential ES internship sites. They also organize an annual Walk for L.I.F.E. on the ISU quad for students, faculty, and staff. This event promotes fitness and healthy lifestyles. The club regularly schedules speakers, fund-raisers, and CPR training sessions for its members.” • see bulletin board in Horton for details (current officers, schedules, etc.)

17. Possible Employment for ES students Examples from Brown (2001)

18. Sample Salaries for ES-related Careers Note: Large variability in salary based on location, training, experience, etc.

19. Organization of ES Opportunities Professional Opportunities (Brown) Health and Fitness Teaching and Higher Education Health Rehabilitation Fitness Specialties Professional Opportunities (Hoffman & Harris) Health and Fitness Teaching and Coaching Therapeutic Exercise Other

20. Health and Fitness Opportunities • increasing knowledge linking a physically active lifestyle with many health benefits • e.g., Healthy People 2010 • as such, this area is a promising career path • qualified professionals are needed to adequately assess the needs of a diverse population and effectively plan, implement, and manage health and wellness strategies

21. Health and Fitness Opportunities • Other trends to consider… • multidimensional model of wellness

22. Health and Fitness Opportunities • Other trends to consider… • multidimensional model of wellness • health-care reforms focus on prevention • demographic considerations • aging population • issues with youth populations • increasing racial/ethnic diversity Investment  employment opportunities  diverse employment goals  Self-esteem Strength, flexibility, lung function, heart health, balance, etc...  all-cause mortality

23. Health and fitness settings Professional Opportunities (Hoffman & Harris) Health and Fitness Teaching and Coaching Therapeutic Exercise Other Worksite settings Clinical settings Community settings Commercial settings Started as distinct, but becoming more similar

24. Health and Fitness Settings • 1. worksite settings (aka worksite health promotion) • large increase in offerings recently • popular given links with reduced health-care costs, increased productivity and morale, decreases absenteeism, and improved corporate image • Healthy People 2010: • 75% of companies should have a program of some kind • 88% of workforce should participate • increasingly becoming wellness-based programs to both support healthy lifestyles and help change lifestyles • many programs being “contracted out” Fast & Morrow, 2009 e.g. State Farm & Workout Company Perceived barrier – workforce not interested!

25. Health and Fitness Settings • 2. commercial settings • category contains a diversity of business types • programming and personnel vary in quality • typical objective is to generate a profit • sales based facilities (memberships – 4 seasons, golds, wo co, etc...) • retention-based facilities (? – long term interest of members? • for-profit nature requires innovative programs • See workout company in town – • Paresi school • “functional fitness” – balls and pulleys

26. Health and Fitness Settings • 3. clinical settings • E.g.: hospitals, outpatient care, physical therapy clinics • one of the largest growth areas • objective is to keep subscribers of health insurance programs healthy and avoid expensive medical procedures in the future • Prevention, rather than cure, is being offered • programs often cater to specific populations • employees will have more contact with medical professionals and will often work with clients with diagnosed medical problems

27. Health and Fitness Settings • 4. community settings • typical facilities associated with… • local branches of non-profits (e.g., YMCA, YWCA) • park and recreation departments • Summer leagues, PCSL, etc • community health departments and agencies (e.g., AHA) • other (e.g., universities, apartment complexes, churches) • diverse programming to meet community’s needs • typically fewer resources available

28. Health and Fitness Professions • example Job Descriptions (Hoffman, 2009)

31. Health and Fitness Professions • example Job Descriptions (Hoffman, 2009) • Highlight on Personal Training (Practical Application 5.3)

33. Health and Fitness Professions • example Job Descriptions (Hoffman, 2009) • Highlight on Personal Training (Practical Application 5.3) • sample ES job description

35. Health and Fitness Professions • brief list of health and fitness associations • AAHPERD • American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) • American Public Health Association • IDEA Health and Fitness Association • National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) • National Wellness Institute, Inc

36. Organization of ES Opportunities Professional Opportunities (Brown) Health and Fitness Teaching and Higher Education Health Rehabilitation Fitness Specialties Professional Opportunities (Hoffman & Harris) Health and Fitness Teaching and Coaching Therapeutic Exercise Other

37. Therapeutic Exercise Opportunities • specialized category of professionals who work with individuals who have special needs or who have higher health risks (e.g., people who have neurologic, orthopedic, muscular, and cardio-respiratory deficiencies, as well as seriously de-conditioned or disabled individuals) • involves the systematic and scientific application of exercise and movement experiences in order to develop or restore muscular and joint functioning (strength, endurance, flexibility), neuromuscular coordination, cardiovascular efficiency, metabolic function, and other health and performance factors • In other words, the focus is on designing and implementing movement experiences for the purpose of restoring or improving motor function to a level that enables people to reach personal or career goals unencumbered by physical limitations

38. Considering this kind of career? • Do you • enjoy contact with people? • Have good communication skills? • Have good problem solving skills?

39. Rehabilitative Therapeutic Exercise • Exercise therapy for the rehabilitation of… • neuromuscular injuries • athletic injuries (“prehabilitation”) • post-surgical trauma (e.g. “a leg to stand on”) • cardiopulmonary dysfunctions • older populations (e.g. regaining that lost through aging) • psychological disorders (anxiety, depression, etc) • processes and treatments used to restore skills and functions previously acquired, but that have been lost due to injury, disease, or behavioral patterns

40. Habilitative Therapeutic Exercise • processes and treatments leading to the acquisition of skills and functions considered normal for an individual of a certain demographic classification, bringing the client to a level of functioning not previously obtained • Exercise therapy for the habilitation of… • specialized groups (boot camps, preseason training, firefighter academies, etc) • obese populations (SPA, bulimia) • people toward general fitness • children with developmental problems (e.g. DCD) • General fitness Obvious crossover with health and fitness jobs here

41. Therapeutic Exercise Settings • Inpatient facilities (rehab hospitals, nursing homes...long term care knowledge needed) • Outpatient clinics (no overnights, often home visits) • Sport team (AT clinics) • Private practice (expensive, but many seek this)

44. Therapeutic Exercise Professions • Athletic Trainer • allied health-care professional who addresses the prevention, evaluation, management, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and other conditions suffered by athletes and other physically active individuals • work in both athletic and clinical settings (high schools, colleges, sport teams, hospitals, sports med clinics, industrial rehab clinics) • certification required, as well as licensure in most states

45. Therapeutic Exercise Professions • Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist (Clinical Exercise Physiologist) • health-care professional that assesses cardiovascular functioning and, working under a physician’s direction, designs, implements, and monitors cardiovascular conditioning programs for a wide range of patients (diseased, at-risk, healthy) • track within clinical exercise physiology • work primarily in hospitals, but also in specialty clinics, health and fitness centers, and urgent care facilitates • typically requires certification • Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist • Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Director

46. Therapeutic Exercise Professions • Occupational Therapist • health-care professional who assists people with physical, emotional, and/or mental disabilities to restore and maintain independency in daily living and work • use a variety of techniques and modalities (e.g., assistive devices, physical activity to retrain motor and cognitive skills, modify environment to remove functional barriers) • many aspects and treatments mirror those used in PT • primary work settings include hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, orthopedic clinics • typically requires specialized degree, certification, and licensure

47. Therapeutic Exercise Professions • Physical Therapist • health-care professional providing rehabilitative care to a diverse population of patients with a wide range of injuries, illnesses, and diseases • help people improve strength and mobility, reduce pain, and prevent or limit permanent disability using a wide variety of techniques and therapeutic modalities • work primarily in private offices, clinics, and hospitals • requires a masters or doctoral degree, licensure, and possibly certification (specialties) • often specialize once in the workforce - many different certifications (see Table 15.6)

49. Therapeutic Exercise Professions • Strength and Conditioning Specialist • professionals who design and implement strength and conditioning programs to maximize physical performance and reduce the frequency of injury primarily in athletes • programs and techniques used based on demands inherent to specific sports and the specific needs of athletes • mostly habilitative in focus • primarily employed by university athletic departments, professional sport teams, and increasingly in high schools • certification typically required along with an appropriate degree and internship or graduate assistant experience

50. Organization of ES Opportunities Professional Opportunities (Brown) Health and Fitness Teaching and Higher Education Health Rehabilitation Fitness Specialties Professional Opportunities (Hoffman & Harris) Health and Fitness Teaching and Coaching Therapeutic Exercise Other