In short, the right definition points the profession in the right direction. The scope of practice appears to speak primarily to cardiopulmonary patients. It reduces the definition of the exercise physiologist to that the clinical exercise physiologist, as if cardiopulmonary is the only career option available. While physician supervision is also commonplace with other medical professionals, nurses, physical therapists, dietitians, and others are afforded significantly more freedom to engage in their professional work. The definition suggests that the exercise physiologist is a technician.
Exercise physiology has to be an academically driven profession.
By applying exercise principles and concepts. It is restricted primarily to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation whereby the clients must be referred by or under the continued care of a licensed physician. The document defines the exercise physiologist by clinical procedures and rehabilitation principles. It is the path of least resistance, which can not sustain the transition to being an academically driven profession. The definition of the clinical exercise physiologist by ACSM and the definition of an exercise physiologist by the U.S. Department of Labor are essentially the same.