Archive for October, 2006

Definition of a Credo

Monday, October 30th, 2006

According to The American Heritage Dictionary, “credo” stands for belief. You want to start thinking about your credo by thinking about what you and your company believe in. To help you out, let’s take a look at the ASEP definition of Exercise Physiology (i.e., it is the identification of physiological mechanisms underlying physical activity, the comprehensive delivery of treatment services concerned with the analysis, improvement, and maintenance of health and fitness, rehabilitation of heart disease and other chronic diseases and/or disabilities, and the professional guidance and counsel of athletes and others interested in athletics, sports training, and human adaptability to acute and chronic exercise).

What is the ASEP definition of an Exercise Physiologist: An Exercise Physiologist is a person who has an academic degree in exercise physiology, or who is certified by ASEP to practice exercise physiology , or who has a doctorate degree with an academic degree or emphasis in exercise physiology from an accredited college or university.

Okay, what is the ASEP vision? First, to be recognized as the leading professional organization of American scholars and practitioners in the study and application of exercise physiology to fitness, health promotion, rehabilitation, and sports training. Second, the Society is dedicated to unifying all exercise physiologists in the United States and worldwide to promote and support the study, practice, teaching, research, and development of the exercise physiology profession. Third, through proactive and creative leadership, the Society empowers its members to serve the public good by making an academically sound difference in the application of exercise physiology concepts and insights.

Imagine, a professiona organization with a vision. That’s right! The ASEP leaders (and members) have a vision. That’s special. They have other things, too. They have goals and objectives. Why? To benefit students, and to help all exercise physiologists.

1. To provide a powerful, unified forum and opportunity for exercise physiologists to present and discuss current research in exercise physiology.
2. To promote and encourage the exchange of ideas and information regarding all phases of exercise physiology.
3. To promote the advancement of teaching and research in exercise physiology within the academic environment.
4. To encourage and implement undergraduate and graduate education programs to meet the diverse interests and career opportunities in exercise physiology, regardless of age, gender, race or disability.
5. To promote the growth and application of the highest quality research and professional application of exercise physiology in health promotion, disease prevention, rehabilitation, and sport fitness and training.
6. To promote the development and exchange of scientific information between ASEP and other professional organizations with an interest in exercise physiology.
7. To set the agenda, determine the direction, and make the decisions about the future of the exercise physiology profession.
8. To be a dynamic and action-oriented clearinghouse for questions regarding the exercise physiology profession.
9. To increase visibility and enhance the image of the exercise physiology profession.
10. To represent exercise physiologists whose professional work is mainly clinical, and to help ensure that federal agencies and legislators understand their work and needs of the clinical professional.
11. To participate in the development and implementation of public policies and procedures concerned with exercise physiology.
12. To make a commitment to quality and integrity in exercise physiology through adherence to the Society’s Code of Ethics.
13. To facilitate and promote positive public policy and professional, ethical behavior by providing ongoing peer review and quality assurance programs via the accreditation of the exercise physiology (science) academic programs.
15. To expand federal and private funding of exercise physiology research and training.

Exercise Physiologist’s Credo

I do not choose to be a trainer, instructor, technician, or a common exercise practitioner. It is my right to be uncommon – my right to be a professional exercise physiologist. I seek professionalism and credibility – not the easy road. I do not wish to be certified by non-exercise physiology organizations that have nothing to do with the professional development of exercise physiology. I want to belong to the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. I want to be a member of the professional team of exercise physiologists as healthcare professionals. I understand the importance of a professional code of ethics, accreditation, board certification for exercise physiology prepared candidates, and standards of professional practice. I refuse to give away exercise physiology to non-exercise physiologists. I will not trade my education or dignity for a non-exercise physiology major. I will never cower before any other person or profession nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage and right to stand apart from non-exercise physiologists. I am proud of my membership with the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. I am proud to be a healthcare professional. I understand the importance of thinking and acting with integrity and credibility. All this is what it means to be an exercise physiologist.

Official Credo of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists

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Truth Will Set You Free

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

No doubt you have heard or read the statement, “The truth will set you free.” But, have you read John C. Maxwell’s version? I read it recently in his book, Thinking for a Change. On page 130, he wrote the following: “The truth will set you free — but first it will make you angry!” Aside from the fact that it caught my attention with the first reading of the statement, after reading it several more times I immediately made the connection with the “change” that is characterized by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.

To be rather bold with my thinking, which shouldn’t be all that new to anyone who has read my articles on this blog or on the PEPonline electronic journal, I believe that the truth is simply too difficult for many exercise physiologists. It is as Maxwell said, “…truth too strong a medicine to digest…” slows the freedom that undergirds the truth itself.

Truth is seldom an easy pill to take. It will, however, set us free from our narrow historical perspective, but only after it has made us angry! In other words, the truth is the right path even though we may not feel good about it. The ASEP organizational members and its leaders, collectively, are doing what is necessary for the future growth and security of the evolving profession of exercise physiology. Hence, in short, exercise physiologists, particularly, the gatekeepers, must get with the program by getting comfortable with the truth.

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When Will EPs Get It?

Sunday, October 1st, 2006

Recently, I’ve been reading the William Greider’s book, Who Will Tell The People: The Betrayal of American Democracy. I was taken by the similarities between “the betrayal of democracy” and “the betrayal of a college education.” No one wants to believe that people in America are purposely manipulating what we think is democracy. This is exactly how I feel about a college education. It should have integrity, and it should never be manipulated to benefit a select group of people. Unfortunately, for the American public and students at large, betrayal is fully operationalized in many academic institutions. Even today, after nearly a decade of personal study of American exercise science, it is difficult to believe it continues.

My difficulty stems not from the role of those with an agenda to maintain status quo, but rather the fact that all others simply allow it to happen. Everyone knows what is going on! Ever heard of the American College of Sports Medicine? This isn’t a new question. It is all about politics.

Given the disturbing fact that, although the ASEP leaders tried to work with the leaders of ACSM on numerous occasions, they were always demanding. A climate of “do it our way or not at all” was always demoralizing to ASEP leaders. The things we had hoped for and still wish to believe could happen are stagnant in a reality that favors the politics of sports medicine.

This dissonance between what is and what could be is discomforting. As a result, many exercise physiologists turn away from seriously considering the American Society of Exercise Physiologists and its efforts to professionalize exercise physiologists. ASEP is no longer a new organization. It was founded in 1997. So, to argue “whatever” about it no longer makes sense. To be reluctant to join makes no sense either. To argue that it is understandable not to be a member of ASEP, given its vision and/or mission statements, is not only a waste of time but is contempt for exercise physiology.

The issue that is difficult for me is the politics. Hard to grasp, yet understandable to a degree. Thus, the things that continue to confuse me are the dysfunctions in organizational politics. The dysfunctions are continually dismissed as normal reactions to keeping everything the same. But, of course, behind the politics is a shared belielf to keep ASEP from emerging as an important organization.

Students are caught in the drama. They are actually being manipulated to function as sports medicine would have them to do. Why? There are many reasons. One reason is the power decision to keep exercise physiology as a research discipline. After all, many of the research presentations at the annual sports medicine meeting are presented by exercise physiologists.

The doctorate prepared exercise physiologists ought to respond as other professionals have in regards to the best interest of their profession. Far too few have done so, however. They tend to their own self-interest and, in so doing, the failure to address the issues and concerns of exercise physiology, they have managed to fail in shaping the future of their students.

In place of a meaningful approach to the professional development of exercise physiology, the political community of sports medicine and exercise science has embraced a permissive culture of false beliefs about exercise physiology. The students are missing from the processes of academic and professional development. Disconnected from the larger healthcare community, students suffer from the lack of planning and career development. The result is confusion and, at times, a genuine sense of despair.

Helping students understand this reflexive pattern of power realities should help them learn the importance of self-development. The results, as everyone knows, when this happens are 90% positive. Until then, what will it take for exercise physiologists to get with the program?

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