1. Summary
2. What is Exercise Science?
3. What Jobs can you expect to get with an Exercise Science degree?
4. What does an Exercise Scientist do?
5. Is Exercise Science a growing industry?
6. What is the difference between a Sports Scientist and an Exercise Scientist?
7. What is the difference between a Physiotherapist and an Exercise Scientist?
8. Best Universities to study Exercise Science in the World? 
9. Conclusion

Summary

Exercise science is a popular subject to study at college or university. It can lead to numerous career paths depending on your areas of interest. Is exercise science the right degree for you? If you aren’t sure, no problem! This article gives further insight into what exercise science is as well as relevant career information to help you decide.

What is Exercise Science?

When it comes to your health and physical longevity, exercise is the most important aspect. Benefits of exercise include improved bone mineral density and muscle strength, reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, improved brain health, improved immune response, and weight management to name a few.   Exercise science is a sub-field of kinesiology which is essentially the gross study of human movement and athletics in everyday life. Exercise science focuses on how the human body responds and adapts to exercise and the mechanisms that are at play. 

While there are multiple layers to this, it is the science behind movement and how movement pertains to fitness, exercise, and overall health. It utilises a scientific approach to how the human body interacts to help clients live healthier lives. Current coursework within this degree includes areas of anatomy, biomechanics, sports psychology, motor development, nutrition, and exercise physiology. These courses build upon one another and are integrated to impact the health and fitness space (1).

What modules will you take towards an Exercise Science Degree?

As students progress within the Exercise Science degree, they take a variety of modules geared towards the body and body systems along with additional courses that you can apply. Some of these include anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and physics. These science modules will lay the foundation for understanding the complexity of the human body and how it functions. Additional modules outside of the basic sciences geared towards the exercise science degree may include kinesiology courses like biomechanics, exercise physiology, as well as strength and conditioning. Undergraduates are also required to learn about ethics, research methods, and data science.

Undergraduates often undertake a placement as part of their degree requirements. Positions can range from working with elite sports teams to placements within a medical facility to working as a research assistant. Undergraduates will be encouraged to find a position within their field of interest and often placement can lead to an offer of internship or employment with the placement provider. Placements can also be useful to rule out areas that undergraduates are interested in but may be unsure of suitability. 

What jobs can you expect to get with an Exercise Science Degree?

The field of exercise science involves the application of elements of kinesiology as well as physiology to develop exercise programs to improve individuals’ health and fitness. This can be done through careers in fitness facilities as well as medical and research opportunities

Exercise scientist is a broad term used to describe individuals working across many sectors with an undergraduate degree in related fields. As such, depending on specialty, salaries vary quite substantially. In the UK, salaries range from £20,000 to £60,000 (3); in the US the median salary for an exercise scientist is $51,350 (6); and in Australia, the salary for an exercise scientist is between $47, 525 and $75,873 (4).

Fitness Facilities

Graduates from an accredited exercise science program undergo the qualifications to prepare for careers in various health and fitness facilities. Personal titles within these facilities may include but are not limited to personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, wellness coach, group fitness instructor, and exercise physiologist where each facility may specialise in a different client demographic.

Medical Opportunities

An exercise science degree can also be used as a stepping stone for an advanced degree (Master’s or Doctorate) for those interested in obtaining jobs in healthcare or research. After obtaining an advanced degree, some careers in healthcare may require an additional licensing exam to practice in the area of speciality. Some of these careers include physiotherapist, physician assistant, physiotherapy assistant, and occupational therapist. In the UK, those with a Master’s or Doctorate can apply for positions within the National Health Service (NHS) which usually require additional training to meet the stringent NHS standards of practice. 

Additional Opportunities 

Exercise science is a broad category that encompasses a multitude of career opportunities. As a result, one may pursue additional paths using an exercise science degree with titles such as exercise physiologist, sports physiologist, cardiac rehabilitation specialist, and nutrition and exercise specialist to name a few. Depending on individual interests and skill sets, it is possible to pursue careers in medical sciences including biomedical research, cardiology, respiratory physiology, oncology, and gerontology amongst others.

What does an Exercise Scientist do?

An exercise scientist helps people improve their fitness, sporting performance and general health. They use a combination of biomechanics, physiology, psychology and performance to obtain a needs analysis to develop an appropriate program for a client. (5). Exercise scientists can work in numerous settings including hospitals, fitness/corporate centres, collegiate and professional sports teams as well as conducting research in universities. They can work together as part of a multidisciplinary team helping to improve fitness and performance alongside S&C coaches, sports therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists, and neurologists.

Is Exercise Science a growing industry?

In the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, exercise science and the careers related to this field are growing. A growth of 13% in employment opportunities for exercise science will be seen from 2016-2026. For example, employment opportunities for exercise physiologists are expected to grow by 9% from 2021 to 2031 in the US (6). In Australia, physical sciences careers are expected to grow by 3.5% from 2021-2026 (7). As for the UK, employment in sport and exercise science roles is expected to rise by 2.3% from 2022 to 2027 (8). One of the best ways to decide if this degree is for you is to gain experience in many careers that an exercise science degree can offer. This can be done through volunteering or with an internship opportunity. 

What is the difference between a Sports Scientist and an Exercise Scientist?

A sports scientist and an exercise scientist sound very similar although there is a difference between the two. Exercise scientists work with individuals to increase fitness and overall health using exercise or training, whereas sports scientists work to understand and improve sport performance. 

What is the difference between a Physiotherapist and an Exercise Scientist?

A physiotherapist is a clinician who helps clients rehabilitate after injury. This includes hands-on techniques coupled with therapeutic exercise to reduce pain and improve overall function. To become a physiotherapist, education requirements include a bachelor’s degree in exercise science or sports therapy or completing additional modules mostly focused on the sciences. Following that,  graduate school requires either two ( typically outside of the U.S.)  to three years ( typically in the U.S.) before taking a licensure exam which is needed to practice.

As mentioned earlier, an exercise scientist uses exercise or training to understand physiological changes within the human body. An exercise scientist can obtain a job after a bachelor’s degree at university. Typically graduate school is not required, however, there are options for advanced degrees within exercise science that may help separate graduates from other applicants for a specific role. 

Best Universities to study Exercise Science in the world? 

Exercise science can be studied from anywhere around the world both remotely and in person. Here is a breakdown of the top 10 global ranking of universities to study Exercise Science (10);

1. Deakin University (Australia) 
2. Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (Norway)
3. University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
4. Verona University (Italy) 
5. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands) 
6. Loughborough University (UK)
7. Victoria University (Australia)
8. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway)
9. University of Southern Denmark (Denmark)
10. Curtin University (Australia)

However, table rankings should be used in conjunction with other factors such as locality, tuition fees, living costs, and faculty expertise. Unless specialising at Master’s or Doctorate level, attaining a first-class bachelor’s degree at any university will be weighed on merit alongside extracurricular activity and additional accreditations. Work experience will greatly enhance any prospects as this demonstrates the ability to go above and beyond the minimum required to achieve a degree.

Conclusion

Exercise science is the study of human movement as it pertains to exercise, fitness and health. A degree in exercise science can lead to a multitude of careers depending on where your interests lie. These include but are not limited to personal training, wellness coaching, corporate fitness or using the degree as a stepping stone to an advanced degree in the medical field such as physiotherapy,  occupational therapy, or biomedical research. The trajectory for employment for careers utilising an exercise science degree shows promise with a rise in growth.  Exercise science can be studied at most universities around the world with options both in person and online. 

The post Exercise science: What exactly is it? appeared first on Science for Sport.

Your weekly research review

By Dr. Jordan August
Last updated: March 2nd, 2023
4 min read

Original study

Walker, S., Trezise, J., Haff, G.G. et al. Increased fascicle length but not patellar tendon stiffness after accentuated eccentric-load strength training in already-trained men. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 2371–2382 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04462-x
Click here for abstract

Background & Objective

Eccentric strength training has been thought to provide many benefits to an athlete, such as increases in strength and power output, as well as increased muscle fascicle length and tendon stiffness. As a result, eccentric training has been a staple in many injury prevention programmes. The purpose of this study was to compare traditional strength training to accentuated eccentric strength training on muscle-tendon properties.

What They Did

Twenty-eight men were divided into three groups and participated in a 10-week strength-training programme twice per week. The traditional strength group (TRAD) used the same external load for both eccentric and concentric phases throughout the programme, whereas the accentuated eccentric loading group (AEL) performed strength training with an additional load during the eccentric phase of each repetition (eccentric load = concentric load + 40%). The control group (CON) continued with their normal strength training without supervision. The first training session consisted of 3 sets x 6-RM loads and the second consisted of 10-RM loads, within the bilateral leg press, unilateral knee extension, and bilateral knee flexion exercises. Preand post-training included the determination of fascicle length of the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM), in addition to patellar tendon stiffness.

What They Found

⇒ Significant training-induced increases occurred in maximum unilateral concentric, eccentric, and isometric torques in the AEL group.

⇒ The TRAD group showed significant increases in maximum concentric and isometric torque.⇒ No changes for any measure were observed in the CON group.

⇒ Only the AEL group showed significant increases in fascicle length after the training period (VL: ~14% increase, VM: ~19% increase).

⇒ No significant changes were observed for patellar tendon stiffness in either exercise group.

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Practical Takeaways

⇒ Physical therapists and S&C coaches should prescribe higher load eccentric exercises like the Nordic hamstring and reverse Nordic hamstring exercises due to their ability to evoke greater fascicle lengths and target a greater cross-sectional area which is important for injury prevention.

⇒  In order to produce changes in tendon properties in the trained population, eccentric loading may not be sufficient enough and other contraction types including concentric and isometric training should be incorporated.

⇒  Placing focus on the training load which is the cumulative amount of exercise and can be measured by duration and intensity may yield more of an impact on muscle-tendon properties rather than training volume and work.

Reviewer’s Comments

“In my experience when working with athletes who have soft tissue injuries, once the pain disappears and their range of motion and general movement
capacity is restored, the goal is to challenge the athlete with exercises that have a lengthened range of motion that most resemble their sport. This can be done through triphasic training with an emphasis on eccentrics. The results of this study though did not show significant increases in patellar tendon stiffness during either intervention group. Future studies should look at changes in tendon stiffness during other modes of exercise like stretching and plyometrics in both the trained and untrained population.”

Want to learn more?
Then check these out…

Watch this video
Read this paper
Listen to this podcast
Read this infographic

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Want more research reviews like this?

Every coach understands the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest sports performance research like this, but none have the time, energy, or even enjoys spending hours upon hours searching through PubMed and other academic journals. Instead, your precious time is better-spent coaching, programming, and managing all the other more important aspects of your job.

The solution…

The Performance Digest
The Performance Digest is a monthly summary of the latest sports performance research reviewed by our team of hand-selected experts. We sift through the 1,000+ studies published in the realms of sports performance every, single month and review only those which are important to you. Each monthly issues contains 19 research reviews in all of the following disciplines:

This comprehensive topic base ensures you’re constantly expanding your knowledge and accelerating your career as quickly as humanly possible. The reviews are also hyper-focused, 1-page summaries, meaning there’s no jargon or wasted time. We cut right to the chase and tell you what you need to know so you can get back to coaching.

Join the thousands of other coaches who read it every, single month. Click here to get instant access for free…

Dr. Jordan August

Jordan is a Physical Therapist and Strength Coach who currently practices in a Sports & Orthopedic clinic in Bergen County, New Jersey. He is passionate about educating athletes on ways to optimize performance while decreasing the risk of injury.

More content by Jordan

The post Accentuated eccentric training for the muscles & tendons of the knee appeared first on Science for Sport.

Contents

1. Background & Objective
2. What They Did
3. What They Found
4. Practical Takeaways
5. Reviewer’s Comments
6. About the Reviewer
7. Comments

Background & Objective

Injuries in sport have a huge impact on athletic performance. It is extremely important to know about previous injury history in rehabilitation because this can potentially increase the risk of re-injury. Questions arise as to whether current rehabilitation programs are sufficient and effective to safely return athletes to performance, in addition to whether there are deficiencies in the sports performance and return-to-play phase that could potentially subject athletes to future injury.

This article aims to provide guidance to rehabilitation practitioners and present the available literature pertaining to strength and power development, as well as, how these principles can be incorporated into a rehabilitation program and improve the return-to-sport (RTS) process.

What They Did

This article examined the available literature with regards to principles of strength training, as well as force and power development, and how these can be implemented in a rehabilitation program.

Practical applications were presented and further broke down deficits seen in athletes after injury, including strength, rate of force development, and reactive strength. Evidence-based strategies were outlined to address the aspects that can be used to enhance a rehabilitation program, as well as reduce the risk of recurrence of injury

What They Found

The key findings in this study were:

• Being able to maintain a high level of strength can reduce sports-related injuries by one-third and overuse injuries by almost half.
• Deficits in rate of force development (RFD) have been shown after injury, and the ability to apply high forces in short time frames is imperative to restore from a rehabilitation and performance standpoint when returning athletes to sport.
• In the rehabilitation setting, patients should be gradually progressed to heavier loads in a periodised manner.
• The goal of a rehabilitation program should be to continually challenge the athlete in order to evoke a positive training adaptation.
• Strong communication skills and cooperation with all sports medicine staff are essential to bridge the gap from rehabilitation to performance.

Practical Takeaways

• Strength, rate of force development, and reactive strength decrease following an injury, so it is imperative to address all aspects prior to returning an athlete to sport.
• Athletes who are stronger and faster have a lower injury risk than their weaker counterparts.
• Maximal strength training should involve a load (or intensity) of 80%-100% of 1RM utilising approximately 1-6 repetitions across 3-5 sets, with rest periods of 3-5 min and a frequency of 2-3 times per week.
• Medicine-ball throws, plyometrics, and Olympic weight lifting are all examples of exercise modes to increase RFD.
• Training exercises like drop jumps, depth jumps, rebound sprinting actions, and hurdle jumps can be utilised to target reactive strength.

Reviewer’s Comments

“This article shows us the importance of adopting S&C principles in the rehabilitation setting in order to successfully return athletes to sport, with a decreased risk of subsequent injury. Current research shows that 66% of sports-related injuries can be prevented by being strong. The high percentage of re-injury in many sports across various diagnoses, makes me question how effective our rehabilitation programs are and to what extent they are progressed prior to RTS.

As a strength coach and as a physical therapist, I make it a staple to always progress my athletes’ program across the entire continuum by varying sets, rep ranges, and increasing load over time to ensure they are truly adapting to allow them to be able to fully handle the demands that will be placed upon them during sport.”

Want to learn more?

Watch this video
Watch this video
Read this article
Read this infographic

The full study can be read here.

The post How to implement strength and power training principles into rehabilitation appeared first on Science for Sport.

A research review from the Performance Digest

By Dr. Jordan August
Last updated: March 2nd, 2023
4 min read

Background & Objective

Artificial turf (AT) has a number of benefits over natural grass (NG), such as decreased maintenance costs, and increased usability across the elements, making it more common in professional sports. However, many athletes prefer to play on natural grass due to factors including perceived injury rate, discomfort, and fatiguability. This study utilised the Injury Rate Ratio to evaluate data of injury occurrence on either artificial turf or natural grass playing surfaces.

What They Did

Injury data from pre-season, regular season, and post-season for two Major League Soccer (MLS) teams was recorded over the course of four seasons (2013-2016), along with the playing surface:
⇒ AT
⇒ NG
The injury incidence rate ratio was calculated as incidence rate AT/ incidence rate NG to determine which playing surface had a higher injury incidence rate.

What They Found

The key findings in this study were:
⇒ A total of 2174 in-game injuries were recorded during the study period, with 1.54 injuries per game occurring on AT and 1.49 occurring on NG.

⇒ Yearly injury incidence increased each year on both playing surfaces – 12.5% on NG and 26.3% on AT.

⇒ From 2013-2016, data analysis showed comparable injury incidence and overall injury rate between AT and NG surfaces, however, regarding specific injuries, a higher rate of Achilles injury and ankle fracture was found on AT.

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Practical Takeaways

Despite what other sports may show and what MLS players beliefs are, this study shows us that there was no statistical difference in injury rates among MLS players playing on AT vs. NG. Over the last few years injuries rates have increased in all sports, so the question of playing surface has become a popular topic. Other variables such as strength and previous injury, should outweigh playing surface.

Since ankle injuries were found to be the only body part with increased injury occurrence on AT compared to NG, further research should investigate data and association with type of footwear as well as contact vs. non-contact injuries on playing surface.

Strengthening and proprioception training have been shown to decrease the overall risk of ankle-related injuries. When teams are in a situation where AT is the only playing surface at hand, it is imperative that players run through a sound dynamic warm-up for injury-risk reduction.

Reviewer’s Comments

“The biggest indicator of future injury is previous injury, and one major limiting factor in this study was the failure to include player’s injury history. This is important from an injury prevention and rehabilitation standpoint because if the initial injury was not fully rehabilitated and the player did not go through a proper return-to sport protocol, this could have skewed the rate of injury.

Other variables not included which impact the overall strength of this study was time missed and re-injury rates. However, it is important to note that a large amount of data was collected, all which showed comparable injury rates regardless of the playing surface.”

Want to learn more?
Then check these out…

Watch this video
Read this article
Listen to this podcast

The full study can be read here.

Want more research reviews like this?

Every coach understands the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest sports performance research like this, but none have the time, energy, or even enjoys spending hours upon hours searching through PubMed and other academic journals. Instead, your precious time is better-spent coaching, programming, and managing all the other more important aspects of your job.

The solution…

The Performance Digest
The Performance Digest is a monthly summary of the latest sports performance research reviewed by our team of hand-selected experts. We sift through the 1,000+ studies published in the realms of sports performance every, single month and review only those which are important to you. Each monthly issues contains 19 research reviews in all of the following disciplines:

This comprehensive topic base ensures you’re constantly expanding your knowledge and accelerating your career as quickly as humanly possible. The reviews are also hyper-focused, 1-page summaries, meaning there’s no jargon or wasted time. We cut right to the chase and tell you what you need to know so you can get back to coaching.

Join the thousands of other coaches who read it every, single month. Click here to grab your FREE copy…

[optin-monster-shortcode id=”nhpxak0baeqvjdeila6a”]

Dr. Jordan August

Jordan is a Physical Therapist and Strength Coach who currently practices in a Sports & Orthopedic clinic in Bergen County, New Jersey. He is passionate about educating athletes on ways to optimize performance while decreasing the risk of injury.

More content by Jordan

The post Natural grass vs. artificial turf: which surface poses an increased injury risk? appeared first on Science for Sport.