HOW AN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST CAN HELP YOU UNDER YOUR NDIS PLAN

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can sometimes be a little confusing to navigate for those who can access the benefits. Here at the Biomechanics, we are an accredited NDIS provider and can support you with our Exercise Physiology services. Our services can assist in creating resilience, improvements to your condition and improved ability to complete daily activities.

How can an Exercise Physiologist assist?

As an Exercise Physiologist we are qualified to provide evidence based exercise prescription for those with chronic health conditions that are covered through the NDIS system. We have completed study with specific relation to musculoskeletal, metabolic, neurological and cardiovascular conditions.

• We can provide safe movement across a wide range of conditions to assist with physical impairments, mental health and skill acquisition. Our Exercise Physiology team can provide structured exercise to assist with the management of a variety of conditions including:
• Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, Down Syndrome;
• Cerebral Palsy, Acquired Brain Injuries, Stroke Rehabilitation;
• Auto-immune conditions – Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease;
• Mental health conditions – Bipolar, Depression and Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Schizophrenia.

It is important for those living with chronic health conditions to strive towards reaching personal goals to improve self-efficacy, mood and overall mental health. Fletcher & Banasik (2001) outlined that “regular physical exercise can prevent or improve many chronic health conditions”. They further go on to report that exercise self-efficacy is an important predictor of the adherence and maintenance of exercise/activity behaviours (Fletcher & Banasik, 2001). Exercise has also been seen to have significant affects on our mental health. Individuals who exercised had a 43.2% fewer days off work for mental health reasons than those who did not exercise, regardless of the type of exercise undertaken (Chekroud et al., 2018).

Patient Centred Care

We will focus on developing meaningful goals for each individual client and assist with improving skills of daily living. Each of our clients is important to us and we ensure that we work together to attain goals that are important to them. Creating structure and routine around exercise can assist with adherence to an exercise program and thus build individuals confidence that they can increase their physical levels independently.

It is important to treat each individual as a human being before labelling them as their condition or a particular set of circumstances. Acknowledging the person in front of us and truly understanding them assists with creating the individualised care they need (Godfery, Young & Shannon et al, 2018). This is extremely important amongst our NDIS community, as we like to promote individuality and expression of their personality.

Exercise sessions will focus on:

• Individual goals;
• Current ability;
• Flexibility to cater for any external changes;
• Creating resilient and robust mindsets and bodies;
• And most of all – FUN.

Funding streams

Access and funding to Exercise Physiology services can be found under the capacity building section with relation to:

-       Improved daily living skills;

-       Improved health and wellbeing

READ MORE HERE ON HOW TO USE YOUR NDIS PLAN

References:

• Chekroud, S., Gueorguieva, R., Zheutlin, A., Paulus, M., Krumholz, H., Krystal, J., & Chekroud, A. (2018). Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1·2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), 739-746. doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(18)30227-x
• Fletcher, J., & Banasik, J. (2001). Exercise self-efficacy. Clinical Excellence For Nurse Practitioners, 5(3), 134-143. doi: 10.1054/xc.2001.24203
• Godfrey, M., Young, J., Shannon, R., et al (2018). Health Services and Delivery Research, No. 6.23, Chapter 4 (Person-centred care: meaning and practice).
• Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library.

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