Professional Trainer - Fitness Testing

The first step in designing an appropriate fitness plan for a client is to establish your client's initial level of conditioning. Since fitness tests evaluate specific systems in the body, you can use fitness testing to establish your client's initial level of conditioning. Then follow-up testing can be used to indicate progress or lack of progress within each system.

An assessment to identify clients who may have complications with exercise and dietary regimens and may require physician participation.

A Risk Assessment may include:

Coronary heart disease risk questionnaire

Exercise readiness questionnaire

Client history questionnaire

Medication assessment

Any of the following (optional) measurements. The measurements below require no physical exertion on the client's part.

Body Composition

Resting blood pressure

Resting heart rate

Waist/hip ratio

Body mass index

Cholesterol/HDL Ratio

Dietary Habit Analysis

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is a major form of heart disease. Nearly one of every three deaths is a result of CHD, making it the single leading cause of death in the United States.

The heart muscle, like every other organ in the body, needs its own blood supply. The heart is not nourished by the blood that is being pumped to the lungs and body. The heart's blood is supplied throughout the coronary arteries (3 major branches). The narrowing, hardening, and blocking of these arteries by atherosclerosis leads to CHD. The blood clot may form in a narrowing coronary artery and block the flow of blood to the part of the heart muscle supplied by the artery. This is known as a myocardial infarction or heart attack.

When part of the heart muscle does not get enough blood (oxygen and nutrients) it begins to die. When CHD closes the coronary artery by about 2/3s it causes chest pain called angina pectoris, which usually occurs during emotional or physical excitement.

Stroke

Stroke is a form of cardiovascular disease that affects the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the brain. The blood flow of most stroke victoms is blocked from atherosclerosis and/or a clot forms inside the cerebral artery.

Important risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, gender, family history, abdominal obesity, and race. Warning signals of stroke include unexplained dizziness, sudden temporary weakness or numbness on one side of the face, arm, leg, or body generally, temporary loss of speech, and/or temporary dimness or loss of vision in one eye.

Metabolic Disorders

Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar levels

Hyperglycemia: Excessive levels of glucose in the blood

Hypothyroidism: Reduced level of the hormone secreted by the thyroid gland.

Hyperthyroidism: Increased levels of the hormone secreted by the thyroid gland. High blood cholesterol levels. Also consider the Cholesterol/HDL ratio.

Hypertension: High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated above optimal levels. The diagnosis of adult hypertension is confirmed when the average of two or more diastolic measurements on at least two subsequent visits is 90 mm Hg or higher or when the average of multiple systolic measurements on two or more subsequent visits is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg.

A key functional difference between Risk Assessment and Fitness Testing is that Fitness Tests require the clients to physically exert themselves.

Your Responsibilities as a Personal Trainer

Let's set the ground rules right off the bat. You will not be expected to serve as a Doctor, Nurse, Physical Therapist, or in any other medical capacity while in your role as a Personal Trainer. In fact, if you attempt to serve in such a capacity, you will be acting both improperly and illegally, unless you are a doctor, nurse, or physical therapist. Follow these simple guidelines while working with your clients:

Never attempt to diagnose an injury or any other medical or health condition.

Never attempt to prescribe or dispense any kind of medication whatsoever (including over-the-counter medications) to anyone.

Never attempt to treat any health condition or injury under any circumstances whatsoever (unless first aid).

Never prescribe exercise for anyone with a known medical problem without first obtaining clearance to do so and/or instructions from their doctor.

If you suspect that a problem exits, refer your client to a doctor. Furthermore, refuse continued assistance to this individual until the medical problem has been eliminated.

Ensure that your CPR certification is current.