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ASEPNewsletter
Vol 5 No 10 
October, 2001

ISSN 1097-9743 

Dave LaBore, MA, EPC
Director, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
St. Lukes Hospital

The 4th ASEP National Meeting!  WOW...

I understand those in attendance at the recent national meeting really got something out of it.  The presentations were good, food was good, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the free breakfast and early evening social.  The stroll down the historic Beale Street for an informal gathering at Elvis Presley's Memphis for fun, food, and live music was excellent.  The food, music, and getting to know each other were important parts of the meeting.

I also understand that the new ASEP President, 
Dr. Richard Kreider, and other members of ASEP directed the meeting with timely precision.  In almost every case, the presentations were kept on time and everything ran very smoothly.  I want to thank all of those who participanted in making the meeting the success that I have been told.  I wish that I could have been there, but work required me to stay at home.

Not only was the "Exercise Physiologist Certified" (EPC) exam given to interested and qualified candidates, but there were 33 presentations in two days.  From looking over the "Schedule of Presentations", there were 13 research papers, 13 special topic papers, 6 professional papers, and 1 keynote speaker.  You can read the abstracts of these papers by clicking here. 

I am told that the keyspeaker, Dr. Paula Papanek, Director of Exercise Science, Marquette University, had two "fast-responding" screens going at the same time.  No doubt the presentation was fantastic, and meaningful in future considerations for work employment.  The title of Paula's paper tells the story:  "Baby Boomers: Physiology of Exercise Capturing the Market".

I wish that I could have been there.  Such great papers by exercise physiologists, such as Dr. Frank Wyatt of Baylor University, Dr. Tim Ziegenfuss of the Phoenix Labs and Kent State University, Dr. Lee Brown and Dr. Mike Greenwood of Arkansas State University, Darren Candow of the College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Ronald Mendel of Kent State University, Dr. Robert Robergs of the University of New Mexico, Matthew Wattles, the President of the Idaho Association of Exercise Physiologists, Dr. Larry Birnbaum, Dr. Gary Gordon, Dr. Bill Simpson, Dr. Tommy Boone, and John Dargan; all of the College of St. Scholastica, Dr. Curtis Hart of San Antonio, TX, Dr. Richard Kreider, Dr. Patrician Cowan, Dr. Andy Fry, Dr. Larry Weiss; all of the University of Memphis, Dr. Lonnic Lowery of Kent State University, Dr. Lesley White of the University of Florida, Julie Dial of the University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, Dr. Darryn Willoughby of Texas Christian University, Dr. LaGary Carter of Valdosta State University.  There were also several good papers by graduates students who have either just completed the master's degree or who are in different doctorate programs.  These include Jason McCarthy of Baylor University, Erin Rademacher of the College of St. Scholastica, and Jesse Pittsley of the Unviersity of Kentucky.  All in all, you can see that the program had to be a good one. 

Dr. Boone has indicated to me that the ASEP Board of Directors have at least "3" possible sites for the 5th National Meeting.  It seems that we will be able to plan several years in advance should all the sites get approved.

I am told that the ASEP Standards of Professional Practice for exercise physiologists were reviewed, and that Dr. Boone was able to gather some information about the "Standards" from those in attendance.  He said that the results will be presented in the PEPonline this month.  This is a very iimportant area of analysis because the "Standards" are directly linked to the EPC exam, which begins the process of defining once and for all who is an exercise physiologist and what does an exercise physiologist do?

Well, that's about it for this month.  As you can from what I've written and the other links about the meeting, it was a good one.  I wish I had been there. 

Be sure to read the following article by Dr. Boone.  It is about "change" and thinking differently about exercise physiology.  Also, there are several excellent papers published this month in the PEPonline journal.  Our new President, Dr. Richard Kreider's President's Address along with several articles by Dr. Boone (the paper he presented in Memphis) and Mr. Matthew Wattles (who I understand did a fantastic job in his presentation).  Take a look. Read the articles and, where possible, share them with your students, friends, and colleagues.

That's it for now.  I'll be back with more next month.  Unitl then, think exercise physiology!

From the Past-Editor of ASEPNewsletter

Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP, EPC
Professor and Chair
Department of Exercise Physiology

Changing Our Global Way of Thinking as Exercise Physiologists

If the world of exercise physiology that sports medicine tells us about is reality, how does it happen that we don’t feel more at home in it?  This is the question before us.  Why don’t we feel more at home in sports medicine?  The answer is within the fundamental change that exercise physiologists have come to know as the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP).  The profound transformations in thinking have been largely a matter of only a few exercise physiologists, but the process is not that different from global change in thinking. 

What these few exercise physiologists have done is change the reality of the emerging profession.  They believe in the idea that exercise physiologists have the right to their own professional organization.  Hence, the assumption that exercise physiologists should continue as a discipline engineered by the academic PhD is no longer plausible.  Their conviction today is an all-inclusive understanding that the assumption underlying the link between sports medicine and exercise physiology is false.  This is precisely the thinking of ASEP, and thus the work of ASEP to “fight back”.  That is, when members of the profession are not supported by a systematic advancement of policy and thinking, the ideal place to be is within an organization of members committed to the same values.

ASEP is the “within” that exercise physiologists can come to embrace each other.  It is set up to reduce the emotional threats of continuing to work under current conditions.  ASEP is about change, and “change” implies individual change.  Thus, it is the purpose of ASEP to support change that is inevitable and long in coming.  By now, it should not be a revolutionary thought that for decades exercise physiologists have not had their own professional organization.  And, it should not be news to most of us that exercise physiologists have raised concerns and issues many times before within the sports medicine model.  Most of us are also keenly aware that the mission of sports medicine has been and still is the promotion of sports medicine.

Many years ago when I was teaching at Wake Forest University, I was told by Dr. Paul Ribisl that if I didn’t like what I perceive as wrong, then I should “Stop talking about it, get involved and do something!”  I have never forgotten and, in fact, I have always judged the conversation as one of the most important I’ve ever had with anyone.  My guess is that he has probably forgotten our conversation just feet from the coke machine.  My guess is that he is still thinking sports medicine, physical education, or exercise science is enough.  It is highly unlikely that he understands the ASEP’s definition of exercise physiology or its role in the professional development of exercise physiology.  It is much easier to avoid the basic mind change that is profound and far more revolutionizing than sports medicine.  Yet, I continue to give him the benefit of the doubt.  He is an impressive person with a dedication towards health care and total fitness that is hard to match.

Like my friend and others caught in the sports medicine myth, they hesitant to fancy that ASEP might be right.  The reluctance however can be tolerated for just a while longer.  Eventually, it is expected that every straight thinking person will come to understand the historical significance of having an organization to support the fundamental issues and changes that must be addressed and corrected, respectively.  This article is a deliberate attempt to stimulate a critical dialogue between those who believe in ASEP and those who don’t. 

Imagine, once upon a time there were exercise physiologists who believed that sports medicine was their professional organization.  They were academic PhD exercise physiologists from across the United States.  As faculty members in small and large colleges and universities, they belonged to departments that offered dozens upon dozens of different academic degrees.  While still working hard to teach exercise physiology and all kinds of hands-on experiences, they failed to be fascinated by the possibilities of an organization of exercise physiologists, and thus the story continues unchanged. 

The story you just read is true.  The sad aspect of it is that it continues today as a contemporary symbol that transformation is a slow process.  Members of ASEP aren’t interested in a “revolution” per se.  Rather, to their dissatisfication with sports medicine and the entrenched beliefs that the organization works on behalf of exercise physiologists, they have come to believe that exercise physiology cannot develop within the context of a multi-professional organization.  Their faith no longer revolves around the sports medicine model.  So, early on, members of ASEP set out to create an organization with a better fit.  After careful study and some very hard work, members of ASEP published their thinking on the Internet.  The re-examination of exercise physiology within the ASEP Internet pages has been interpreted by some members of sports medicine as heresy.  Some even have stated that the “…leadership of ASEP is a disgrace to exercise physiology….”  To others, however, who have found the ASEP message a breath of fresh air, they are very much attracted to its mission, goals and objectives.

The implications of another organization of “exercise physiologists by exercise physiologists” is simply too much for some sports medicine personalities.  No longer will they have the full opportunity to be either in control or the catalysis for change to promote sports medicine.  In truth, they should have known that the change in thinking was imperative.  In fact, what is obvious is that heresy on a grand scale has been happening for some time.  Sports medicine has looked the other way far too long.  We now know that philosophical debates occurred within sports medicine for some years without the opportunity to develop a professional academic foundation.  The attempts some decades ago to focus significant organizational efforts on exercise physiology were tabled “forever”.  Talk about mis-guided thinking.  Here again, however, the primary function was (and still is) to build sports medicine, not exercise physiology.

The overwhelming evidence is that every “emerging profession” must have its own professional organization.  The development of professionalism is directly related to the articulated ideas that result from the organization’s advancement in understanding the link between it and the well being of its members.  The most recent ASEP National Meeting in Memphis has been defined by some of the participants as the hallmark of change, given the unity in thinking about exercise physiology.  In a measurable way, the participants left the meeting with a better understanding of who we are, what kind of conditions we are in, and what is important to us.  What is also interesting about the meeting is that those in attendance seem to perceive and think about exercise physiology in a different way.  As a result, it is more than logical that they have made a direct break with the long-established doctrine of sports medicine.  It is probably one of the most discernible subjective experiences that is anticipated to cause action. 

We need more meetings like the one in Memphis, especially since it helped those in attendance to get past the illusion of understanding.  It may seem strange, but I left the meeting with a declaration of faith in the members’ ability to shape the visible world of exercise physiology.  For some reason, the smaller the numbers in attendance, by comparison to earlier meetings, the better the opportunity for the members to confront their belief system that has been shaped by decades of built-in assumptions.  Because they learned a little about trusting themselves, they are able to do what they can do without fear and distrust.  Therefore, a new day is dawning for real leadership and a collective sense of purpose specific enough to form the basis for action.  In the end, life goes on as an exercise physiologist, but with a profound difference.  It could be characterized as a deep commitment nudging us towards the path we most deeply desire for ourselves. 

---

See also: 

Managing Change in Exercise Physiology
PEPonline, October, 2001

If We Will Just Listen, We Will Know What to Do!
PEPonline, April, 2001

October 29, "Exercise Physiology Day"

by Steven Jungbauer, MA, MBA, EPC

Hello everyone.  This message was posted last month, but it is so important that I thought it should be posted again.  What do you think about it?

The Indiana Association of Exercise Physiologists, an affiliate association of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists, is pleased to announce that Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon has proclaimed October 29th as Exercise Physiology Day. The IAEP would like to invite and encourage other states to recognize Exercise Physiologists on this day. The IAEP plans a substantial marketing campaign with press releases throughout the state.  In addition, our members will receive a small gift to recognize this day and their contributions to the field and the public. Take time today to email your governor and request that they proclaim October 29th as Exercise Physiology Day. (This can be done through email.) If you are interested in a copy of this Proclamation please email me with a fax number.