Role of the Certified Exercise Professional within the Healthcare Continuum

by Dalan Zydel, MS, CSPS, and Mark Young, MS, TSAC-F
Personal Training Quarterly September 2025
Vol 12, Issue 1

Share:

This article explores the various functions of exercise professionals within the healthcare system.

Paywall block issue

This article is not configured properly for members or paid content.
isMemberOnly: {{isMemberOnly}} | isPaidContent: {{isPaidContent}}
spc: One or more parts of the product SPC is missing.

Read the full article

View the video

Login to view more


{{discountDesc}} Valid thru {{discountEnds}}

This {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}} is available with a NSCA membership

This {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}} can be purchased for {{prices}}
Price includes membership pricing and promotions

Purchase this {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}}. Price range: {{prices}}
Price range includes membership pricing and promotions

Become a Member Add to Cart Login

This article originally appeared in Personal Training Quarterly (PTQ)—a quarterly publication for NSCA Members designed specifically for the personal trainer. Discover easy-to-read, research-based articles that take your training knowledge further with Nutrition, Programming, and Personal Business Development columns in each quarterly, electronic issue. Read more articles from PTQ »


 

Share:

REFERENCES

  1. AbdulRaheem, Y. Unveiling the significance and challenges of integrating prevention levels in healthcare practice. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health 14, 2023.
  2. Ades, PA. A lifestyle program of exercise and weight loss is effective in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes mellitus: Why are programs not more available? Preventative Medicine 80: 50-52, 2015.
  3. Bray, NW, O'Brien, MW, Wong, MY, Sui, W, Voss, ML, Turnbull, N, et al. The importance of collaboration between medical and exercise professionals in addressing patient physical inactivity. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism 48(1): 88-90, 2023.
  4. Burkett, B. Exercise professionals - Could they be the forgotten public health resource in the war against obesity? Journal of Sports Medicine and Doping Studies 2(5): 2012.
  5. Craft, LL, and Perna, FM. The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed. Primary Care Companion 6(3): 104-111, 2004.
  6. Centers for Disease Control. Fast facts: Health and economic costs of chronic conditions. Retrieved November 2024 from https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts­stats/?CDC _AA ref_ Val=https://www.cdc.gov/chron icd isease/about/costs/index.htm.
  7. Farberman, RK, McKillop, M, Lieberman, DA, Delgado, D, Thomas, C, Cunnigham, J, et al. The impact of chronic underfunding in America's healthcare system: Trends, risks, and recommendations, 2020. Trust for America's Health. Retrieved November 2024 from https://www.tfah.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/TFAH2020PublicHealthFunding.pdf.
  8. Ge, SX, Li, G, and Ryan, AS. Effects of weight loss and aerobic exercise training on adipose tissue zinc a2-glycoprotein and associated genes in obesity. Cells 12(19): 2023.
  9. Hulett, NA, Scalzo, RL, and Reusch, JEB. Glucose uptake by skeletal muscle within the contexts of type 2 diabetes and exercise: an integrated approach. Nutrients 14(3): 647, 2022.
  10. James, EL, Ewald, BD, Johnson, NA, Stacey, FG, Brown, WJ, Holliday, EG, et al. Referral for expert physical activity counseling: A pragmatic RCT. American Journal of Preventative Medicine 53(4): 490-499, 2017.
  11. Katherine Herrmann, L, and Blackstone, S. The role of exercise professionals and health coaches related to healthy people 2030 physical activity general objectives. The International Journal of Health 12: 2022.
  12. De Lyon, ATC, Neville, RD, and Armour, KM. The role of fitness professionals in public health: A review of the literature. Quest 69(3): 313-330, 2017.
  13. Merz, KE, and Thurmond, DC. Role of skeletal muscle in insulin resistance and glucose uptake. Comprehensive Physiology 10(3): 785-809, 2020.
  14. Mikkelsen, MK, Juhl, CB, Lund, CM, Jarden, M, Vinther, A, and Nielsen, DL. The effect of exercise-based interventions on health­related quality of life and physical function in older patients with cancer receiving medical antineoplastic treatments: A systematic review. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity 17(1): 2020.
  15. Mikkelsen, MK, Lund, CM, Vinther, A, Tolver, A, Johansen, JS, Chen, I, et al. Effects of a 12-week multi modal exercise intervention among older patients with advanced cancer: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Oncologist 27(1): 67-78, 2022.
  16. Nitschke, E, Gottesman, K, Hamlett P, Mattar, L, Robinson, J, Tovar, A, et al. Impact of nutrition and physical activity interventions provided by nutrition and exercise practitioners for the adult general population: A systematic review and meta­analysis. Nutrients 14(9): 1729, 2022.
  17. Nystoriak, MA, and Bhatnagar, A. Cardiovascular effects and benefits of exercise. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 5, 2018.
  18. O'Brien MW, Bray NW, Kivell MJ, and Fowles JR. A scoping review of exercise referral schemes involving qualified exercise professionals in primary health care. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism 46(9): 1007-1018, 2021.
  19. O'Brien, MW, Shields, CA, Oh, Pl, and Fowles, JR. Health care provider confidence and exercise prescription practices of exercise is medicine Canada workshop attendees. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism 42(4): 384-390, 2017.
  20. Rama, A. Policy research perspectives: National health expenditures, 2021: Decline in pandemic-related government spending results in 8-percentage point decrease in total spending growth. 2021. American Medical Association. Retrieved 2024 from https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/prp-annual­spending-2021.pdf.
  21. Smock, C, and Alemagno, S. Understanding health care provider barriers to hospital affiliated medical fitness center facility referral: A questionnaire survey and semi structured interviews. BMC Health Services Research 17(1): 2017.
  22. Warburton, DER, Nicol, CW, and Bredin, SSD. Health benefits of physical activity: The evidence. Canadian Medical Association Journal 174(6): 801-809, 2006.

Photo of Dalan Zydel, CSPS
About the author

Dalan Zydel, CSPS

Contact Dalan Zydel

Contact Dalan Zydel

Your first name is required.
Your last name is required.
Your email is required.
Your message is required.
Your reCaptcha is required.

Your email was successfully sent to Dalan Zydel

Dalan Zydel is a Physiologist and Whole Health Clinical Education Coordinator at Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Hospital System, PA. He holds the Certifi ...

View full biography
About the author

Mark Young, TSAC-F

Contact Mark Young

Contact Mark Young

Your first name is required.
Your last name is required.
Your email is required.
Your message is required.
Your reCaptcha is required.

Your email was successfully sent to Mark Young

Mark Young is a Physiologist out of the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs under the Whole Health Division. Young received his Bachelor's degree in Exercise ...

View full biography

has been added to your shopping cart!

Continue Shopping Checkout Now

Dash

By using our chat you consent to your data collected by us and our chat provider, BettyBot.ai


Full Page Experience Privacy Policy