The Language of Exercise Physiology Professionalism

The Language of Professionalism in Exercise Physiology

Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MAM, FASEP, EPC

Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology

The College of St. Scholastica

Duluth, MN55811

Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care.

-- Author Unknown

Key Point.The words “profession” and “professional” come from the Latin word “profession,” which means a public declaration with the force of a promise [1].

MANY WILL BE PUZZLED by the title of this article. They will assume that it is another article about exercise physiologists doing research. This article aims to dispel that notion, by arguing that research is entirely something different from professionalism, and that the principles of professionalism are complementary with the reasons for doing research. Apparently, this potential synthesis of the research and professionalism is assumed by many to be impossible since exercise physiologists do not talk about or publish articles on the topic. Rather than trying to integrate the two or to make an effort to understand why professionalism and research are important, they continue down the research path as if it is the only road into the future.

Strangely enough, there isn’t even any research about professionalism, such as: why it is important, and what it means to the students of exercise physiology? Not one article or one presentation on the subject! That being the case, it follows inevitably that exercise physiologists are interested in one thing only and that is doing research and publishing scientific papers. Of course not just any exercise physiologist can enjoy the benefits of publishing. First, by default, 99% of those who publish exercise physiology research have a doctorate degree. Second, the majority of the doctorate prepared exercise physiologists work in a college or university department where there is an exercise physiology laboratory.

Hence, if you don’t have a doctorate degree and if you don’t work in an academic setting, you are not likely to engage in much research. That means, aside from the exercise physiology professors, the majority of the so-called exercise physiologists, who actually graduated with one of the 30 different undergraduate degree titles, will not be engaged in research and/or publishing scientific papers. Instead, they will graduate to find themselves working in a fitness facility or possibly in cardiac rehabilitation. Many will find that either job often pays less than what they need to financially survive and still pay on their huge monthly tuition loans. Meantime, the academic exercise physiologist is paid a good salary with benefits, especially medical, while even paid to attend meetings to build their resumes and egos.

Professionalism as a subject must be taught.

It is not uniformity we need, but understanding, not tolerance, but insight, not points of view, but points of connection, not appraisal, but empathy, the ability to feel the commonly unfelt, and when we begin to practice this virtue we instantly widen our world.

-- Marcus Bach

This rising cacophony of antagonistic circumstances leaves many parents and others confused and disheartened. Reasonable people conclude that something is wrong with this picture. The two extremes, neither of which offers much comfort, except to require by default if not encouraged by academic exercise physiologists, to go back to school for a master’s degree in exercise science where the graduate finds himself or herself in exactly the same mess, or complete half a dozen applications for physical therapy school. It is the teachers’ way of saving face, that is, what is left of it! By now, parents and, increasingly, graduates are getting the message that they have been taken to the farm and then some. After all, the point of attending college is to find a credible job afterwards. The undergraduate exercise science degree should not exist just for the academic exercise physiologists to have a class to teach between research projects.

Disillusioned by the failure of the so-called exercise physiology degrees, that is what the teachers often refer to them as, having failed once again to be truthful with their students, the students and their parents are slowly getting the message. Some choose to reject both the trustworthiness of the faculty and the value of athletics. Others decide to accept the valueless degree to avoid the sense of an immediate uneasiness about where they find themselves. But this, too, is potentially unsatisfying. So here is the central question of this article: In this modern era of education, academics, and career opportunities, is there still the possibility of a satisfying harmony between getting a college degree and credible career options? I answer with a resounding yes!

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
-- Leo Tolstoy

I will argue that the answer lies in the hands of the college teachers. Will they stay unchanged? Or, will they recognize that exercise physiologists are part of the healthcare community? As such, then, will they move to professionalize exercise physiology? Of course, if they choose to stay the same, nothing changes and the exercise science and related academic degrees should be recognized for what they are – a waste of time! That’s right, I said it, and I have said it numerous times before. I argue that this perspective not only makes sense, it is the only logical view on the subject. Otherwise, students will remain powerless without the tools to locate credible careers in the pubic sector. This conclusion is so bad that it should bring every teacher who is remotely involved in the hypocrisy to his or her knees, asking for help and insight into becoming something better.

Honestly, it is obvious to anyone with his or her eyes open, except for students who trust the adults, that exercise science is essentially the same as the physical education degree decades ago, except that then the graduate had the opportunity to teach in the public school system. As my wife often says, “Wake up and smile the roses.” That option isn’t open to the exercise science or kinesiology major, unless he or she decides to drop the major. Perhaps, in time students will get the message that just because they are interested in sports, athletics or fitness, none of it is a sufficient reason to major in exercise science or kinesiology. Of what value is the degree without a job? Frankly, it is tuition dollars down the drain. There are only a few credible exercise science jobs or so-called exercise scientist jobs in the public sector?

For example, if you were to ask an exercise physiologist with a doctorate degree, he or she would saysomething like this: “Exercise professionals often work in private fitness facilities and community organizations (YMCAs) and corporate wellness programs. Careers range from personal training and leading group exercise classes to managing a facility. Strength and conditioning specialists are hired by professional athletic teams or by intercollegiate athletic programs. Clinical exercise physiologists work in medically-supervised exercise programs for different diseases (e.g., heart, lung, cancer, obesity).” There, you have it in a nutshell. Think about it. There isn’t much of a future working in Bob’s Gym or the YMCA, especially when Mr. Six-Pack without a college degree can get the same job with a weekend warrior certification.

In general, most jobs in fitness facilities require a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology or a related area. Can you imagine, “most require a college degree?”

A nurse graduates from college, and is referred to as nurse. A physical therapist graduates from a physical therapy program to be referred to as a physical therapist. But, the exercise science major, the health and sports science major, and the kinesiology major finishes up college, often with a big tuition loan to be paid back, to be identified as an “exercise professional.” This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Anyone call him- or herself an exercise professional. You don’t need a college degree to be an exercise professional. In fact, the word “professional” is entirely misleading and inappropriately used. By the way, how much do you think fitness facilities and YMCAs pay their employees? Enough to raise a family, pay tuition loans, buy a house and a car and deal with the insurance and so forth. No, of course not, and that is why such jobs for the majority of graduating students are useless career options after college.

Similarly, do you believe that going to college is even necessary to be a personal trainer or to lead group exercises? No, and hardly anyone will survive financially trying to do so. The same is true for strength and conditioning. While a few good jobs exist, the likelihood of a large number of ex-athletes with an exercise science degree being employed by a sufficient number of athletic programs is very small. And, now we are down to the so-called clinical exercise physiologist job that doesn’t exist for the most part. Understandably, the latter statement would seem to be rather harsh but is it? First of all, there are few 100% clinical exercise physiology academic majors, meaning one of two things: With respect to the word “clinical,” most programs only appear academically sufficient to address the subject. And, the idea that something clinical exists separate from an accredited “exercise physiology” degree is an outdated and worn out view. It is little more than a hang over from the sports medicine days, which should have been put to rest decades ago.

It’s time to listen to your instincts. If your gut tells you it’s the right decision, then make a commitment to pursue your dream and give it everything you’re got.

-- Don Gabor

Teaching is about students! Teaching is about creating a hopeful experience, both while in college and after college.

The fact is anyone can call him- or herself an exercise physiologist. This is representative of the big mess that academic exercise physiologists haven’t just allowed to happen, but in fact have encouraged by their silence and lack of professionalism. Some would say they don’t get it. Members of the established professions are laughing at the doctorate exercise physiologists. And, in many ways, they should laugh because exercise physiologists don’t get professional development. They don’t get that exercise physiology is a healthcare profession.

Can you believe it, they are still thinking like they are big-time researchers and their students either don’t exist or they think that prescribing “exercise as medicine” requires a doctorate degree. Hello, wake up exercise physiologists!” What is needed to prescribe exercise is a credible degree in exercise physiology, not a doctorate degree, not even a master’s degree. The problem is that no one is listing. No, they aren’t thinking about “what is exercise physiology from a professional standpoint”or“who is an exercise physiologist from an accredited degree point of view.” Even now, after 12 years of work on behalf of the ASEP’sleadership to professionalize exercise physiology, the exercise physiology college teachers sit behind their desks or on their lab chairs still failing to show some backbone. Their behavior demonstrates to everyone the lack of understanding of the importance of bringing together exercise physiologistsas credible healthcare professionals on behalf of their students.

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.
-- Anonymous

Let me stop here to point out that I am not interested in putting down other exercise physiologists. I am interested in altruism: the selfless giving of oneself to others without expecting something in return. What I want is what every other professional wants, and that is to help the students who “think” they are majoring in exercise physiology throughout the United States. I want to help because I believe it is my moral obligation to do so. I believe it is important to becoming a healthcare professional.

In fact, the core of professionalism includes altruism. It also includes accountability, integrity, and service. These qualities apply to all professionals who strive to reach the highest standards of excellence in their practice. Perhaps, you haven’t thought about it before, several of the components of professionalism are altruism, accountability, duty, honor, integrity, and respect. Why then are academic exercise physiologists so slow to perform as a professional? Unfortunately, the answer resides in the simple fact that even among the most well-known healthcare professionals many are engaged in self-rewarding behavior. Too often they, too, aren’t that interested in putting the clients first.

Can you remember reading about the days of the devastating plagues when medical doctors would put themselves at risk of death to help their clients? No doubt you have heard of such stories, right? Well, it seems to me that the only professionals willing to do that today are members of the military. How many college teachers have stepped up to the plate to support ASEP? Do they even know that exercise physiologists need their own professional organization? If not, why is that? Is it because they don’t know anything about professionalism? If so, that is actually very hard to grasp. Is it because they have it too good, and they don’t want to threaten their circumstances? If so, it is a national embarrassment!

Help other people get what they want – and you’ll get what you want.
-- Mary Kay Ash

Please appreciate that this thinking isn’t specific to exercise physiologists. Do you know that there are medical doctors who aren’t willing to work in rural and low-income areas? Just as there is a surplus of medical doctors working in affluent areas, there is a surplus of academic exercise physiologists who are just as guilty of staying away from the battle of change. Most of them work in academic institutions while a small number work as supervisors in cardiac rehabilitation.

Why can’tmedical doctors, lawyers, social workers, bankers, and exercise physiologists learn to place the interests of their clients and students above their own interests? Where is their willingness to sacrifice whatever on behalf of those who need help? Professionalism is about altruism. Thus, any professional should understand that professionalism is about serving the client, whether it is the patient or the student. This is an unconditional caring. Just as there are physicians who consistently give up their weekends and sleep time to care for their patients, there are exercise physiologists who do the same. The majority however do not.

So what does this mean in regards to the language of exercise physiology professionalism? Remarkably, one shouldn’t have to explain what I have written. But, here’s the deal. Language is about picking up words and forming sentences. Like any language, learning to speak it takes time. Often, early on, it may seem entirely impossible to do but ultimately it happens. My only concern is that the college teachers will continue to hold back, proclaiming instead:“Why study professionalism? Doing research is the only thing important.” Talk about either arrogance or just plain stupidity. Consider this: If you don’t try, then, not only others will suffer but you willsuffer, too. Time lost is time gone, and exercise physiologists have lost too much of it for decades now. As a result, too many students have suffered for the exercise physiologist’s lack of either not knowing or caring about the language of professionalism. And yet, professionalism is a universal phenomenon in every field of work except exercise physiology.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
-- Winston Churchill

Must exercise physiologists remain trapped in the rat race of publishing? Must they pant through an endless list of oral presentations at meetings without bringing order to the bigger picture? Apparently so, given that they race about and pant with conviction that they are doing what every exercise physiologist should be doing. Yet, after 40 years as a college teacher, I keep asking myself “Is this it? Is it all about me and publishing? That is it!” However important research is to everything, it is not the only thing exercise physiologists need to talk about.

The pressing question today is, “When will there be a meeting about professional issues and challenges faced by exercise physiologists and their students?” When will we dash here and there desperately trying to make the next talk on the code of ethics for exercise physiologists? What will it take to set us free from this sports medicine bondage to the ever spiraling demands that are placed upon us? It is essential for us to be confronted by the reality of these questions if we are to escape from the superficiality of what we have become.

Never cease to pursue the opportunity to seek something different. Don’t be satisfied with what you’re doing. Always try to seek a way and a method to improve upon what you’re doing, even if it’s considered contrary to the traditions of an Industry.

-- Howard Marguleas

Since there is relatively little mysterious, or mystical, about the language of professionalism, an intriguing question to raise here is this: “Is the average person today willing to take the next step to advance exercise physiology?” You don’t need to work at a top tier research institution or be the chair of a departmentto have the power to influence the change process on behalf of exercise physiology. Instead, think of it this way: Just as a writer is always thinking about what the reader thinks of what he or she has written, shouldn’t exercise physiologists (especially college teachers) be constantly aware of what the students think and their issues and challenges after college? This isn’t to suggest that teachers don’t care about their students. Rather, it is about getting beyond the silence of failing to speak to the topic of professionalism and how it can help students get better salaries and jobs in the public sector. This in itself isn’t a new concept. Throughout history, in cultures across the globe, disciplines have evolved into professions. The language of professionalism is a central figure in the lives of professionals.