Exercise Physiology Adelaide
Work with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist to build strength, improve fitness, reduce pain, and manage health conditions—through a plan tailored to your body, goals, and medical history.
Book an appointment with Inertia Exercise Physiology in Adelaide.
What is Exercise Physiology?
Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) are university-qualified allied health professionals who specialise in prescribing exercise for people with injuries, pain, and chronic or complex health conditions or people in the general population looking to get healthier fitter and stronger.
At Inertia Health Group, our exercise physiology team works closely with our multidisciplinary practitioners—including Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, and Remedial Therapists—so your care is coordinated and aligned with your goals.
What Conditions Can Exercise Physiology Help With?
People often see an Exercise Physiologist when they:
- have a medical condition (diagnosed or with emerging risk factors)
- are recovering from an injury or surgery
- need a safe plan to build strength, confidence, and capacity
- want to safely build capacity for work, sport, or daily activities
- want guidance, education, and coaching to support lifestyle change
Exercise physiology interventions are exercise-based, tailored programs designed to help prevent or manage acute, sub-acute, or chronic injury and disease, and to restore optimal physical function, health, and wellbeing. At Inertia in Adelaide, we commonly support patients in three key areas:
Chronic Disease Management
Chronic disease management care may occur following diagnosis of conditions such as:
- Cardiovascular disease management
- Cardiac rehabilitation (post-surgery or pre-surgery support)
- Pulmonary / lung & respiratory management
- Metabolic disease
- Weight loss and body composition support
- Neurological Injury and rehabilitation
- Long-standing musculoskeletal conditions (including arthritis, osteoporosis/osteopenia, and persistent pain/injury)
- Depression and other mental health conditions
- Cancer care and rebuilding capacity through treatment/recovery
Your Exercise Physiologist will work with you to develop and implement an appropriate program based on your current
level, then progressively build you toward your goals and capacity.
Accredited Exercise Physiologists may also assist with:
- Functional capacity assessments
- Lifestyle modification advice and coaching
- Exercise prescriptions to improve strength and function pre- and post-surgery
- Workplace assessments and capacity building programs
Acute & Sub-Acute Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
- 1-on-1, or
- in a small group setting (depending on suitability and preference)
- post-operative rehabilitation support through exercise-based progression
- graded loading programs for return to activity and sport
- work-hardening programs to prepare for re-entry to the workforce (in collaboration with your treating team)
Maximising Human Potential (Performance & Work Capacity)
For people who are ready to move beyond basic rehab, we provide structured programming to improve performance safely and sustainably, including:
- end-stage programs to support return to sport
- end-stage work hardening programming
- strength and endurance programming for weekend warriors and athletes aiming to perform at their peak
Why Choose Inertia for Exercise Physiology in Adelaide
- Our Exercise Physiologists bring over 20 years of combined experience to our community.
- Our expert Exercise Physiologists design fully personalised programs tailored to your goals, fitness level, and medical history — because no two people are the same.
- We stay current with the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence so you can be confident you're always receiving the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatment available.
- Our Adelaide clinic is equipped with modern technology and designed to be a comfortable, motivating space for every step of your wellness journey.
- Conveniently located in Adelaide, our state-of-the-art clinic is designed to be a welcoming, motivating space for every step of your wellness journey.
- We have helped thousands of patients live healthier, happier, and more active lives.
Nathan Jelf
AES, AEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Nathan holds a Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiology degree from Flinders University. He has had experience is a wide variety of sectors in both public and private health sector. Nathan has had experience working in Aged care with Southern Cross Care, as well as across general rehabilitation, musculoskeletal and neurological injury in private practice.
Tahlia Dnistrjanski
AES, AEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Tahlia has studied her Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology University of South Australia graduating with Honours. She has experience working in gyms with strong skills in exercise delivery, coaching, and individualised program design. She also gained broad clinical experience across multiple placements, working with a wide range of health conditions. Tahlia is also currently completing her Clinical Pilates Instructors course, extending her knowledge and management well beyond the gym.
Teresa Battista
AES, AEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Teresa graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology Degree (Honours) in 2019. As an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP), Teresa has an in-depth understanding of how to use exercise management to prevent disease onset and treat a range of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal conditions, as well as cancer and mental health.
What to Expect on Your Exercise Physiology Appointment
Patient Journey
A typical session with an Inertia Exercise Physiologist in Adelaide includes:
Initial Exercise Physiology Consultation
Your Exercise Physiologist will assess relevant measures based on your needs and goals to establish a baseline for comparison and progress tracking. Depending on why you’re attending, measures may include:
- body composition (height, weight, etc)
- aerobic capacity
- range of motion (ROM)
- flexibility
- muscular strength and power utilising Kinvent technology when required
- balance
Exercise Program Prescription
Based on your assessment, we prescribe a tailored program to support your condition and goals. Your plan may be:
- home-based exercise plan
- gym-based, or
- clinic-based (or a combination)
Your program is designed to improve the factors most relevant to your presentation and align with evidence-based
guidelines for the relevant condition, injury, or health risk. For best results, we recommend working one-on-one with
your EP in the early phase of your plan to get you moving in the right direction early and building your independence
from there.
Exercise Physiology Program Review
We regularly review your program to reassess goals, adherence, symptoms, and progress. This includes:
- reviewing effectiveness and adjusting intensity/approach
- re-assessing baseline measures to compare against your initial results
- identifying barriers (pain flare-ups, motivation, time, fatigue, confidence) and building a practical strategy to overcome them
Program Reporting
We provide progress updates and reports to relevant referring practitioners (where appropriate), including your:
- Physiotherapist
- Podiatrist
- General Practitioner (GP)
- Treating specialist
Clinic Gallery
FAQs for Exercise Physiology Adelaide
Do I need a referral to see an Exercise Physiologist?
In many cases, no referral is required to book an appointment with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. However, if you’re planning to claim rebates or funding (for example, through NDIS, DVA, Medicare, private health, or a workplace/insurance scheme), you may need supporting documentation or a referral depending on the pathway. If you’re unsure, contact our team and we’ll guide you.
What is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)?
An Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) is an allied health professional qualified to deliver clinical exercise interventions for people with injuries and a wide range of acute, sub-acute, and chronic medical conditions. Your program is tailored to your goals, capacity, medical history, and any relevant precautions.
What happens in the first appointment?
Your initial consultation typically includes:
- discussion of your history, symptoms, goals, and current activity levels
- baseline measures (as relevant), such as strength, balance, ROM, aerobic capacity, and body composition metrics
- the beginning of your individualised exercise plan (home-, gym-, or clinic-based
- education and guidance to help you exercise safely and consistently
How often will I need to come in?
Frequency depends on your goals, condition, experience, and confidence. Some people attend short-term to learn a plan and progress independently, while others benefit from ongoing supervision and structured progression. Your Exercise Physiologist will recommend a schedule that matches your needs.
Can exercise physiology help with chronic conditions?
Yes. Exercise physiology commonly supports people managing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, arthritis, osteoporosis/osteopenia, diabetes risk factors, respiratory conditions, neurological conditions, cancer care, mental health challenges, and a range of musculoskeletal conditions. Programs are designed to be safe, progressive, and aligned with clinical guidelines.
Do you offer NDIS Exercise Physiology?
Yes. Inertia provides NDIS Exercise Physiology. If you have NDIS funding that includes relevant supports, we can deliver exercise physiology interventions aimed at improving function, strength, capacity, and independence—based on your goals and plan needs.</p>
<p>To help you get started, it’s useful to have
To help you get started, it’s useful to have:
- your NDIS plan details (including dates and funding type), and
- any relevant reports or guidance from your support coordinator, GP, or treating team (if available).
If you’re not sure whether your plan covers exercise physiology, contact us and we can help clarify what information is needed to proceed.
Do you provide DVA Exercise Physiology?
Yes. Inertia provides DVA Exercise Physiology for eligible clients. If you have a DVA pathway for allied health services, we can provide exercise physiology support for rehabilitation, chronic condition management, and improving physical function and capacity.
If you’re unsure what you need to bring or how DVA approvals/referrals work for your situation, contact our reception team and we’ll advise what’s required before your first appointment.
Can you help with return-to-work or work hardening programs for RTWSA?
Yes. We can create structured work conditioning / work hardening programs, often in collaboration with your GP, treating specialists, physiotherapists, and other relevant providers. Programs are designed to progressively rebuild strength, endurance, and functional capacity relevant to your job demands. We work with GPs, specialists, and other allied health providers to provide exercise physiology services for those on RTWSA programs
Do you offer post-operative rehabilitation support?
Yes. Exercise physiology can be an important part of post-operative rehabilitation to rebuild strength, mobility, and confidence after surgery. We can also collaborate with your surgeon and physiotherapist (where appropriate) to ensure the program matches your recovery stage and restrictions.
Is exercise physiology only for athletes?
No. While we can support performance and return-to-sport goals, most people we see are focused on everyday outcomes—like reducing pain, improving energy, building strength, managing a condition, and staying independent.
Will you communicate with my GP/physio/specialist?
Yes—where appropriate. We can provide program updates and reports to your referring practitioners (e.g., GP, physiotherapist, podiatrist, or specialist) to keep your care aligned and coordinated.
What should I bring to my appointment?
If available, bring:
- any relevant imaging/reports (e.g., scans, specialist letters)
- a list of medications and key medical history
- any referral paperwork (if you’re using a funding/rebate pathway such as NDIS or DVA)
- comfortable clothing and suitable footwear for exercise
What Our Client's Say
Book an Appointment Near You Today
Our Accredited Exercise Physiologists work with NDIS, DVA, Medicare (eligible referrals), and RTWSA funding pathways, so bring your plan details, referral paperwork, or claim information along to your first visit. Not sure which pathway applies to you? Give our friendly reception team a call on (08) 8960 5702 and they’ll talk you through what to bring before you book.