Exercise Referral Support

ExerCare can help clients during or after any formal GP exercise referral scheme. For those who do not wish to do such a gym based scheme, we offer a Personal Trainer alternative. Self-referral to ExerCare is one of your exercise options to improve your health.

We provide the appropriate level of exercises for defined health conditions and benefits. (Please see the list of medical conditions below)

Below we reproduce the Register of Exercise Professional's guidelines which appear on their website and explain the formal GP Exercise Referral programme.

The Register of Exercise Professionals guidelines state:- What is an Exercise Referral?

An Exercise Referral is a specific and formalised programme whereby a medical professional refers a patient to a fitness programme often based within the community. It is not the same as a ‘recommendation’ to exercise. A formal agreement will exist between the referrer and the exercise project. Usually (though not exclusively) run by local authority leisure centres, they will typically ensure a 12 week supervised programme of physical activity tailored to suit the needs of the referrer and the referred client with a view to improving their state of health.

The principal of referral to exercise was established in the early 90s and since that time a raft of qualifications and competencies have been developed to ensure the safe and effective programming for clients with a range of medical conditions.

What level of instructor can work with referred clients?

The Exercise Referral Instructor (Level 3)

An exercise referral instructor’s role includes designing, monitoring, adapting and implementing exercise programmes for individual clients with a range of medical conditions.

Occupational Role

• Assess, monitor and manage risk to clients arising from exercise participation throughout the referral period;
• Analyse information relating to individual clients with regard to safe and effective programme design;
• Identify, agree and review short, medium and long term goals to ensure the effectiveness of exercise programmes;
• Promote a range of physical activity opportunities in accordance with the needs and health status of the clients;
• Tailor progressive exercise appropriate to the medical condition using results from the physical/exercise assessments, medical information, national guidelines and client goals and objectives;
• Develop and apply strategies to motivate clients to adhere to an exercise programme during the referral period;
• Keep up to date with health and fitness industry developments and exercise guidelines for medical conditions;
• Make the appropriate decisions relating to clients, where required, refer the client to a more appropriate professional.

• Occupational Competence

  Exercise Referral Instructors are aware of their professional role boundaries and are able to support clients with the following medical conditions:

  Respiratory Conditions

• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Musculoskeletal Conditions

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Joint replacement
• Simple mechanical back pain
• Osteoporosis

• Cardiovascular Conditions

• Hypertension
• Hypercholesterolaemia

• Psychological/Mental Health Conditions

• Depression
• Stress
• Anxiety

• Metabolic/Immunological Conditions

• Diabetes Type I and Type 2
• Obesity

• The Specialist Exercise Instructor (Level 4)

  The specialist exercise instructor is able to demonstrate that they have met the Level 4 National Occupational Standards in one or more medical areas. Specialist exercise professionals are working within the healthcare sector and are also providing an interface between clinically-led exercise and community-based exercise programmes by designing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating structured, individualised physical activity programmes for clients. Additionally, they have a range of appropriate knowledge and skills that are aligned with current evidence-based, best practice guidelines regarding the affects of exercise on the specific condition/s for which they are qualified to work.

  Specific medical areas covered by the specialist exercise instructors:

  • Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Falls Prevention
  • Low Back Pain
  • Stroke
  • Cancer
  • Accelerated Rehabilitation Exercise (military only)
  • Obesity and/or Diabetes
  • Mental Health
  • Chronic Respiratory Disease