Exercise Physiology FAQs

No. The price you see on the practitioner's profile is the total cost for the session. There are no registration fees or platform taxes added at checkout. Your payment covers the full clinical time, the exercise prescription, and any follow-up notes provided by your specialist.

Yes, you can. Many people book on behalf of parents or dependents. Whoever makes the appointment, this will be under your account. We would recommend that, if possible, you make an appointment to set up an account in your name. This helps to prevent confusion for your initial assessment.

Yes. When you book through The Health Nav, your appointment is instantly secured in the practitioner’s calendar. You will receive an immediate email confirmation with the time, your booked practitioner and the location of your appointment.

We understand that health can be unpredictable. Most practitioners on The Health Nav operate a 24-hour cancellation policy. Cancellations made more than 24 hours in advance: Usually eligible for a full refund or a fee-free reschedule. Cancellations under 24 hours: May incur a late-cancellation fee (often 50% or 100% of the session cost) to compensate the clinician for their reserved time. Please check the specific Booking Terms on your chosen specialist's profile before confirming."

To ensure a consistent Gold Standard of care across our platform, we verify clinics at both the facility and practitioner level. Our requirements include: Individual Verification: Every practitioner at your clinic must be individually verified by our team, holding active AHCS or CASES registration. Clinical Governance: We require proof of valid Medical Malpractice (Professional Indemnity) and Public Liability insurance that explicitly covers the clinical activities performed at your site. Service Area: You must have a physical clinical address or provide mobile services within our active London hubs. We are currently prioritising clinics in South West London, such as Wimbledon, Fulham, Balham, Clapham and West London, such as Chiswick, Hammersmith and Kensington & Chelsea. Thinking of joining? As a new partner, we invite you to a Founder Discovery Call to discuss how we can integrate your clinic into our local pSEO funnels.

At The Health Nav, we use a precision-matching engine to connect you with high-intent patients. We limit each practitioner to five clinical specialism tags to ensure that your profile carries maximum authority in the areas where you are most qualified. The benefits of this focused approach: Bypassing the Generalist Noise: Instead of appearing in broad exercise searches, you are hyper-targeted for specific clinical needs like Heart Failure, Type II diabetes, Pelvic Health, Sarcopenia or Osteoporosis. E-E-A-T Ranking: Search engines and AI discovery tools now prioritise Niche Authority. Five deep tags signal to Google that you are an expert in those specific pathologies, rather than a jack of all trades. Higher Conversion: Patients searching for specific conditions (e.g., Pelvic health exercise after surgery) are significantly more likely to book an appointment than those searching for general fitness advice. Referral Readiness: These tags make it easy for GPs and Physiotherapists to find the exact Loading Phase specialist their patient needs for a safe handover.

We are helping to solve the visibility problem that Clinical Exercise Physiologists in the UK face. Traditional marketing forces you to compete for broad terms like exercise or fitness, which is not appropriate for your skill set or a modern search. The Health Nav pivots your marketing toward Clinical Silos, connecting you with patients searching for your specific medical expertise. How we drive patients to you: Precision pSEO: Our platform is engineered to rank for high-intent clinical queries, such as Cardiac rehab specialist in {Area} or Exercise for Sarcopenia on Wegovy. Instead of broad traffic, you get patients who are already looking for your specific qualification. E-E-A-T Validation: By displaying your AHCS/CASES Verified badge and registration number, we provide the Experience, Expertise, and Trust that search engines and patients now demand in 2026. The Hand-off Funnel: We actively market to Physiotherapists and GPs who are looking for trusted CEPs to handle the Loading Phase of their patients' recovery. Clinic Dashboard: Manage your reputation with verified patient reviews and clinical tags that showcase your success in treating specific pathologies.

No. All practitioners on The Health Nav are independent specialists and must maintain their own Professional Indemnity (Medical Malpractice) and Public Liability insurance. However, being a part of our vetted network provides several key advantages: Verified Status: Our vetting of your AHCS and CASES registration serves as a third-party validation of your Fit to Practise status. Easier Renewals: Many clinical insurers require proof of active professional body membership and adherence to a Code of Conduct. Your verified profile on our platform provides a clear, shareable record of your clinical compliance.

Our platform is designed to showcase the expertise of Healthcare Science professionals. Unlike a directory of personal trainers, The Health Nav builds your profile around your clinical scope of practice: Clinical Silos: We map your services to medical categories, such as Cardiac Rehab, Metabolic Health, and Sarcopenia Prevention, ensuring you are found by patients who need medical-grade exercise, not just a workout. Credential Validation: Your profile prominently displays your AHCS/CASES registration and your university-level qualifications (BSc/MSc), immediately signalling a higher tier of expertise to both patients and referring GPs. Outcome Tracking: We focus on clinical markers. Your profile highlights your ability to manage patients with complex pathologies and polypharmacy, justifying your specialist rates. For a detailed look at how our Clinical Exercise Physiologists work alongside Physiotherapists, visit our https://thehealthnav.co.uk/guides/find-your-exercise-physiologist-london

Yes. To ensure patient safety and maintain our clinical standing, all practitioners on The Health Nav must meet rigorous educational and professional benchmarks. Our Mandatory Requirements: Primary Qualification: You must hold a minimum of a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science or a related human physiology discipline. The Clinical Standard: Most of our practitioners hold an MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology from an AHCS-accredited university. Professional Registration: Active registration with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) or CASES (The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences) is required. You may also want to provide additional evidence of your qualifications or further training, such as: Cardiac - BACPR Level 4 (Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation), Oncology - CanRehab or equivalent Level 4 Cancer Rehab and Metabolic/Respiratory - evidence of postgraduate specialised training. Note for 2026: As the AHCS Portfolio Pathway will close in December 2026, we prioritise practitioners who have graduated from accredited MSc programmes, ensuring they meet the national Standards of Proficiency for Healthcare Science.

To ensure our platform remains the UK’s most trusted source for Exercise as Medicine, we prioritise practitioners registered with the primary bodies for Healthcare Science. We specifically verify: Primary Clinical Register: Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). This is the main voluntary register for Clinical Exercise Physiologists in the UK. Practitioners on this register have met the AHCS Standards of Proficiency and are recognised as Healthcare Science Practitioners. Chartered Professional Body: CASES (The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences). We verify professional membership and accreditation with Clinical Exercise Physiology UK, a division of CASES. This confirms the practitioner’s adherence to Royal Charter standards. Specialist Groups: We also recognise practitioners affiliated with the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) or those holding specialist certifications from BACPR (Cardiac) or CanRehab (Oncology). Note on CIMSPA: While we value CIMSPA Health Navigator status for community health roles, our Clinical Exercise Physiologists must hold higher-tier clinical registration (AHCS/CASES) to ensure they are qualified to manage complex chronic conditions like Exercise Physiology.

Coverage for Exercise Physiology is growing rapidly in the UK. Many private health insurers now recognise EP services, especially for chronic disease management. We recommend checking your specific policy or asking your practitioner for their provider details before booking.

While a Physio helps with initial pain and acute injury, an EP focuses on the next stage: building your foundation. They help you transition from rehabilitation to long-term health maintenance, ensuring your injury doesn't return, and your overall physical performance improves.

Unlike personal trainers, Exercise Physiologists (EPs) are university-qualified allied health professionals. They specialise in clinical exercise interventions for people with chronic medical conditions, injuries, or disabilities. They are registered with bodies like the AHCS or BASES, ensuring they meet rigorous clinical standards.

At The Health Nav, we believe in a performance-based partnership. There are no upfront registration fees or monthly subscriptions for individual Clinical Exercise Physiologists (CEPs) or clinics to join our platform. Our Growth-Linked Fee Structure: Free Listing & Vetting: It is free to create your profile and undergo our clinical vetting process. Success Fee: We only win when you do. The Health Nav retains a small percentage of the booking fee for every session completed through the platform. Founder-Led Onboarding: As we are currently in our early-access phase, we invite all prospective practitioners to a brief Discovery Call with our founders.

At The Health Nav, we only list practitioners who meet the audit for clinical practice in the UK. You can verify a specialist's qualifications directly on their profile through two primary methods: AHCS Registration: Most Clinical Exercise Physiologists (CEPs) are registered with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). You can check their unique registration number on their profile, which confirms they meet the national standards for healthcare science practitioners. CASES Accreditation: Many of our specialists hold Chartered status or accreditation with CASES (The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences), specifically through the Clinical Exercise Physiology UK division. Academic Credentials: To become a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in the UK, you need to demonstrate 6 years of clinical experience, have an undergraduate BSc in Sports and Exercise Science or a related and an MSc in a clinical exercise-related field, with specific training in pathology and Exercise as Medicine. Our Vetting Badge: Every profile on our platform features a Verified badge. This means we have manually checked their registration, degree, and insurance, so you don’t have to.

Every practitioner undergoes a manual audit by our clinical team. We verify their identity, active professional indemnity insurance, and most importantly, their mandatory registration with AHCS. This ensures that every specialist on The Health Nav is a qualified Clinical Exercise Physiologist, not just a fitness instructor. You'll see a verified badge on their profile to make that clear.

The choice depends on which stage of recovery you are in. Both are university-qualified professionals, but they specialise in different phases of your health journey: See a Physiotherapist for the 'Acute Phase': If you have a brand-new injury, sudden pain, or have just had surgery. Physios focus on diagnosis, pain reduction, and manual therapy (hands-on treatment) to get you moving again. See a Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) for the Chronic & Management Phase: If you are managing a long-term condition (like Diabetes, Heart Disease, or POTS) or if you’ve finished initial physio but aren't back to full strength. CEPs focus on 'Exercise as Medicine' using scientific loading to improve your heart health, metabolism, and long-term physical resilience. If you have an immediate new injury or diagnosis, start with a Physio. If you need a longer-term plan that will factor in your lifestyle and manage your long-term health, see a Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

Your Initial Assessment is a 60-minute clinical evaluation designed to bridge the gap between your medical diagnosis and a safe, effective exercise/rehabilitation plan. Unlike a standard gym induction, this session focuses on functional capacity and clinical safety markers. What is covered: Medical History: Analysis of your diagnosis, medications (e.g., Cardiac or GLP-1s), and consultant notes. Biometrics: Baseline checks of blood pressure, heart rate, body composition, and (if needed) blood glucose or oxygen levels. Functional Testing: Testing your strength, balance, and your exercise zones for exercise intensity. After collecting the data, you will have your clinical exercise prescription plan tailored to your needs.