Author(s): BIRKLBAUER, A., BIRKLBAUER, J.1, TSCHAKERT, G.2, HOFMANN, P.2, Institution: UNIVERSITY OF SALZBURG, Country: AUSTRIA, Abstract-ID: 2183

INTRODUCTION:
Lack of physical activity is a significant risk factor for global mortality, as evidenced by Katzmarzyk et al. (2022). Studies (e.g., Heath et al. 2022) have demonstrated the effectiveness of exercise training as a preventive and treatment strategy for a wide range of at least 26 non-communicable diseases (Pedersen & Salting 2015). Consequently, an increasing number of countries are incorporating clinical exercise physiologists (CEPs), university graduates specialized in sport and exercise science, into their healthcare systems. Given the worldwide strain on healthcare systems, CEPs are seen as a cost-effective add-on therapy to hospitals, clinics and private physician practices.
METHODS:
Research has shown the necessity of personalized exercise prescriptions that adhere to the so called F.I.T.T. principle (i.e., frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise) (Garrahy et al., 2020), underpinning the inadequacy of a one-size-fits-all approach (Duong, 2022). A comparative study by Carrard et al. (2022) showed the varying roles of CEPs within the healthcare systems of Australia and Switzerland, representing two different modern approaches. Already formally recognized as a health profession in Australia, the respective graduates are not implemented as healthcare providers in Switzerland yet. Looking at other countries like the UK, New Zealand, Canada or Hong Kong, CEPs are increasingly integrated into these healthcare systems.
RESULTS:
Locally, the CEP situation in Austria is comparable with some substantial differences. Austria is a country with one of the highest per capita health expenditures among the EU countries but persistently high preventable mortality rates and even more important less healthy life years (OECD, 2023). Recently, the Austrian government legalized exercise scientists as formally accredited health-professionals (referred to as Training Therapists) within the in-patient system. Since 2012, Training Therapists are recognized as an allied healthcare profession. However, they are limited to work salaried and are not allowed to offer training therapy services in a self-employed position, being a dissatisfying solution with respect to patient care in general.
CONCLUSION:
Although appropriately qualified professionals providing individually adjusted and international guideline- and evidence-based exercise interventions are available, the Austrian healthcare system is still missing this opportunity to implement Training Therapists at an individual, societal, and nation-wide level.

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Heath et al. BMC Med (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02236-0
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OECD/European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (2023) doi.org/10.1787/0f110d90-en
Pedersen & Saltin, ScandJMedSciSports (2015) doi: 10.1111/sms.12581