Journal of Professional Exercise Physiology
ISSN 1550-963X
Vol 8 No 1 January 2010
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, MN 55811
Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care.
-- Author Unknown
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
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].
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
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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.
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,
Professionalism as a
subject must be taught.
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
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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!
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.
Everyone thinks of changing
the world, but no one thinks
of changing himself.
-- Leo Tolstoy
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
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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 say something 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.
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
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?”
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
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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
The fact is anyone can call him- or herself an
Teaching is about students!
Teaching is about creating
a hopeful experience, both
while in college and after
college.
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.
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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’s
leadership 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 physiologists as credible healthcare
professionals on behalf of their students.
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
If you don’t know where
you are going, any road
will get you there.
-- Anonymous
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.
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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!
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.
Help other people get what
they want – and you’ll get
what you want.
-- Mary Kay Ash
Why can’t medical 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
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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 will suffer, 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.
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
We make a living by what
we get. We make a life by
what we give.
-- Winston Churchill
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
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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 department to
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.
What we need is leadership.
It starts from within each of us.
We,
individually, decide to make a difference in what we are and what we do and how
both influence our students. If it is fear that is holding us back, then, we need to
deal with it. Our success is simply a matter of commitment and hard work. What
I know is this: Exercise physiology is a healthcare profession. After all, exercise
is medicine! And, to deliver the medicine in a prescriptive manner requires a
healthcare professional. That is why ASEP developed the first-ever Code of
Ethics for exercise physiologists (i.e., to hold them accountable to their clients,
patients, athletes and, in general, society).
The ASEP leaders developed
accreditation guidelines specifically for exercise physiology and for those who
understand that a profession begins with an agreed upon professional title, a
standardized curriculum, and standards of professional competence and practice.
Remember, if your heart is in it, the work is an act of love.
“You do not have to be perfect. You will make mistakes. You cannot
possibly know the ‘right’ way to do what you have never done. What is
important is that you begin.”
-- Peter Urs Bender [2]
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References
1. Jonsen, A. R., Braddock, C. H., and Edwards, K. A. (1998).
Professionalism: Ethical Topics in Medicine. University of Washington.
[Online]. http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/profes.html
2. Bender, P. U. (1997). Leadership From Within. Toronto, Canada: Stoddart
Publishing Company.
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