Report on the economic value of exercise physiology in Australia

The report entitled Valuing the contribution of Exercise Physiologists in Australia: An economic perspective was developed by Deloitte Access Economics for Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA). The report demonstrates that exercise physiology leads to $1.09 billion in health system and productivity improvement savings ($940 million in health system savings alone) over three years, through prevention, early intervention, treatment and chronic disease management, across six conditions, including cancer.

Exercise physiology also had an estimated benefit-cost ratio of 2.5. For every one dollar invested in exercise physiology, there is an average of $2.50 in economic benefits like avoided hospitalisations, general practice visits and specialist consultations. 

Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) generate savings through avoided health system use and productivity gains. By helping people better manage their health condition, AEPs reduce people's time away from work and keep them engaged in everyday life.

Over three years, there were an estimated:

• 60,335 avoided hospitalisations  

• 413,009 avoided hospital bed-days

• 38,618 avoided emergency department presentations

• 932,474 avoided general practice visits

• 391,338 avoided specialist appointment

What is the impact on cancer care?

Engaging in adequate physical activity can improve symptoms, enhance physical functioning and quality of life, and in some conditions, slow disease progression and reduce risk of complications. In cancer care, exercise physiology supports functional decline during chemotherapy and post-treatment recovery. The report found that an average hospitalisation diversion rate of 42% in patients with cancer who received exercise-based interventions compared to control groups. It also reported a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 3.0 for cancer, which was the highest of the six conditions modelled. In other words, for every $1 invested in exercise physiology for the cancer population, this generates approximately $3 in economic benefit. 

However, the modelling estimates that ~22,757 people with cancer were receiving exercise physiology services, against a prevalent cancer population of ~571,600, which equates to only around 4% of the population. The report therefore provides an argument not only for the value of existing EP services, but for expanding access.

The report identified five opportunities to utilise Exercise Physiology to improve outcomes:

1. Integrate exercise physiologists into primary care and community health to support prevention and early intervention.
2. Integrate exercise physiologists within aged care more broadly to support healthy aging.
3. Expand the role of exercise physiologists within occupational rehabilitation and return to work pathways.
4. Strengthen evidence translation and long-term outcome measurement.
5. Increase awareness of exercise physiology among policymakers, employers and broader community.