Veterans Allied Health Services

The Benefits of Exercise Physiology Services for Veterans:

Exercise physiology is the science of how the body moves and how exercise affects health and wellbeing. Exercise physiologists design and deliver exercise programs that are safe, effective, and tailored to the individual needs of a veteran. Exercise physiologists also provide education to empower veterans to own and improve their health conditions. 

Our exercise physiology services for veterans assist with:

• Improving physical health: Exercise physiology helps veterans improve their cardiovascular health, muscular strength and flexibility, and body composition. The side effects of this is a reduced risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Exercise physiology also helps to improve veterans' balance and coordination, which reduces the risk of falls. Specific exercises are also used to relieve pain levels in the neck, shoulder, back, hip, knee, and ankle pain. Everything in the human. body is connected, keep in mind that pain in a joint might actually be caused from a dysfunctional joint somewhere else in the body.

• Surgery preparation: Our exercise physiologists assist veterans who have been injured and need surgery to recover their strength, mobility, and overall function. This helps with the return to normal activities sooner, maintaining independence, and improving overall quality of life. If the surgery is planned ahead of time, engagement in a “prehab program” is ideal. These programs prepare the body for the surgery, help the surgeon perform the procedure easier, and make the rehab process much smoother and quicker. For example, our exercise physiologist might work with a veteran who is about to have knee replacement surgery. The exercise physiology approach would be to firstly assess the entire body, not just the knee. Very frequently we see the root cause of knee replacements to be caused from a separate body part (eg: foot, ankle or hip) which isn’t functioning correctly. The poor knee then spends years compensating for this and suffers extra wear and tear, causing the joint to end up needing to be replaced. Fixing the root cause of the issue is commonly overlooked by other professions. Whilst adhering to the root cause, our exercise physiologist would also include exercises to strengthen the supporting musculature around the knee to aid in the prehab and/or rehab of the surgical intervention. For knee surgery we also apply the GLA:D approach. If a rehab program was not performed, whilst this isn’t ideal, our exercise physiologists can still be of assistance to help regain mobility, strength, and function to the area.

• Managing pain: Our exercise physiologists prescribe exercise to manage pain caused from injuries, chronic conditions, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Exercise also helps to improve sleep, which can further reduce pain.

• Improving mental health: Exercise improves mood, reduces anxiety, and boosts self-esteem. This is especially helpful for veterans who are struggling with mental health problems such as PTSD. For example: a veteran with PTSD may be prescribed a program of aerobic exercise (such as strength training or high intensity interval training) to help reduce anxiety and improve sleep.

• Increase physical activity and fitness. Exercise physiologists help veterans perform safe and effective physical activity to suit the individual needs and goals. This improves physical fitness, reduces risk of chronic diseases, and improves overall health and well-being. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with a veteran to develop an exercise program that includes walking, strength training, and balance exercises. These forms of exercise need to be carried out in a safe manner, and this is where an exercise physiologist’s expertise would be advantageous.

• Promoting weight loss: Exercise can be targeted to promote weight loss or maintain a healthy body composition. This is important for overall health and also helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. For example: A veteran who is overweight or obese may be prescribed a program of strength training and aerobic exercise to help lose weight and improve cardiovascular health.

• Improving sleep: Exercise can be used to improve sleep quality. This is important for overall health and can also help to reduce pain and fatigue.

• Reducing stress: Exercise reduces stress and anxiety. This is especially helpful for veterans who are struggling with PTSD.

• Provide education and support about the benefits of exercise and how to incorporate it into daily life. Exercise physiologists provide veterans with education and support about the benefits of exercise and how to incorporate it into their daily lives. For example, an exercise physiologist might teach a veteran about the benefits of exercise, then work together to create an exercise program that is right for them - taking into account their health history, barriers, and goals. Continued motivation and support would be provided throughout the treatment period to encourage healthy aging and empower the client to know how to make healthier lifestyle choices about their physical activity.

• Improve balance and prevent falls. Our exercise physiologists teach veterans exercises that improve balance and coordination, which reduces the risk of falls. This is especially important for veterans who are at an increased risk of falls. For example, an exercise physiologist might teach a veteran how to safely perform strengthening and stretching exercises in a standing position, which can help improve balance and coordination. Our exercise physiologist would also find the different body positions where their balance is at its worst and work on preventing these positions from occurring, or strengthening the body in this position to prevent the loss of balance.

• Manage chronic diseases. Exercise physiologists work with veterans who have chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis to develop exercise programs that can help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. For example, our exercise physiologist might work with a veteran who has heart disease to develop an exercise program to lower blood pressure. This may include aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling or swimming to strengthen the heart and improve cardiovascular health. Strength training helps to build muscle mass for people of all ages, which reduces the amount of stress on your heart, increases the metabolism which can help you achieve healthy weight, and reduces the amount of body fat around your waist, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

• Adaptable and accomodating. Our exercise physiologists are flexible (not just through our body 😉, but also our approach to care), adaptable and accomodating in their approach to helping veterans exercise. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with a veteran who has difficulty walking, to develop an exercise program that includes chair exercises and warm-water therapy. These types of exercises could be the short-term goal with the longer-term goal to be to return to standing exercises, over time and when appropriate.

• Patient and encouraging. Sometimes veterans need more time and encouragement with their exercise program. Our exercise physiologists are patient and encouraging which helps veterans achieve their goals over a timeframe that is suitable to their individual circumstance. For example, an exercise physiologist might work with a veteran who is hesitant to start exercising again following an incident. The exercise physiologist would help set realistic goals and provide support and encourage small, weekly increases in physical activity levels. The long game is what is important here - not necessarily a “quick fix” approach which won’t have long lasting benefit.

• Improving overall quality of life: Physical activity improves overall quality of life. This includes physical, mental, and social well-being.

Exercise prescription provided by one of our exercise physiologists will promote an overall enhanced quality of life. When you think of improving overall lifestyle, think of exercise physiology.

For more information, or to speak with one of our friendly team members, you can contact us by clicking on the phone number or calling 1300 AH TEAM (that’s 1300 24 8326). 

For information on more specific topics, you can check out our blog page.

The Benefits of Nutrition and Dietetics Services for Veterans:

Dietetics is the science of food and how it affects healthy aging. Dietitians design and deliver personalised nutrition plans that are safe, effective, and tailored to the individual needs and goals of veterans. Dietitians also provide education and support to help veterans make healthy food choices to fuel their body.

The Allied Health Team offers nutrition and dietetic services for veterans. These services offer a number of health benefits, including:

• Assess nutritional needs. Our dietitians help veterans assess their nutritional needs to identify any areas where there may be a risk of malnutrition. Our dietitians create a personalised meal plan for the individual needs of the veteran. For example: A veteran has been experiencing weight loss and fatigue. When assessing the nutritional needs our dietitian may find there is not enough protein and iron, and would create a meal plan that includes foods rich in these nutrients.

• Improved health and well-being. Our dietitians help veterans develop a healthy eating plan to meet the individual needs and preferences. This can help improve overall health and well-being, and can also help to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

• Make sure enough fluids are being consumed. This is essential for good health and we’ve noticed over the past 13 years with the veterans we’ve been helping that this is the most common overlooked health benefit. Fluids help to keep the body hydrated, regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, prevent constipation, and flush out toxins. There is no exact measurement of how much we should be consuming each day, as each persons requirements are unique, but 2L would be a good starting point. Our dietitians and exercise physiologists educate veterans on how to make sure enough fluids are being consumed. Good tip: start each day by having a glass of water and brushing your teeth.

• Manage chronic conditions. Our dietitians help veterans manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure by providing personalised dietary advice. For example: A veteran who has diabetes is helped by our dietitian to create a meal plan that is low in sugar and carbohydrates. This may also include involving loved ones and providing education on how to read food labels and make healthy choices at the grocery store.

• Weight loss or weight gain. If a veteran is overweight or underweight, a dietitian can help develop a plan to reach a healthy weight. This may involve changes to diet as well exercise.

• Choose foods that are high in nutrients and low in calories for weight loss or healthy weight management. Our dietitians can help veterans choose foods that are packed with nutrients but low in calories, which promotes weight loss, or maintaining a healthy weight. This includes helping to create a healthy meal plan that fits a budget and lifestyle. An example of this is when a veteran is trying to lose weight and our dietitian helps choose foods that are high in nutrients but low in calories. Our dietitian would also provide enjoyable recipes and meal ideas.

• Plan and prepare meals that are both healthy and enjoyable. Our dietetic services help veterans plan and prepare meals that are both healthy and enjoyable, which means they’ll be more likely to used long-term. This includes providing recipes and meal ideas that fit the dietary needs and preferences of a veteran. For example: a veteran who lives alone and has difficulty cooking would be assisted by our dietitian who would help plan and prepare meals that are both healthy and enjoyable. Our dietitian would also provide recipes and meal ideas that can be prepared quickly and easily.

• Improved digestion and absorption of nutrients. Some veterans have digestive problems which affect the ability to absorb nutrients from food. Our dietitians help identify these problems and develop a plan to improve digestion and absorption.

• Improved mental health. There is a growing body of evidence that shows diet plays a role in mental health. Our dietitians help veterans make changes to their diet to improve mood, reduce stress, and improve sleep.

• Nutritional support for illness or injury. If a veteran is recovering from an illness or injury, our dietitians help to develop a plan to get the nutrients needed to heal. This may involve providing supplements or modifying the diet.

• Management of food allergies or intolerances. If a veteran has food allergies or intolerances, our dietitians assist by developing a plan to avoid these foods and ensure the nutrients are being absorbed from other foods.

For more information about how we can help you improve your health through a personalised nutrition plan speak with one of our friendly team members by clicking on the phone number or calling 1300 AH TEAM (that’s 1300 24 8326). 

For information on more specific topics, you can check out our blog page.

Referral Form

If you know which services you would like help with and are ready to take action, give us a call on 1300 AH TEAM or complete our online referral form.