INTRO TO EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION
- Moran Sciamama-Saghiv
- Oct 4, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 16
WHAT'S THE PLAN DOC?
The most professional and leading exercise professionals such as personal trainers, prescribe exercise to their clients as the last and fourth step of the entire process. Prior to establishing the best exercise plan or exercise program tailor made for a specific client, three processes are conducted in the following order: 1) Health assessment; 2) Fitness assessment; 3) Fitness assessment result analysis and interpretation (including conveying the results to your client).
Thus, this post is the first in a series of posts related to health assessment, fitness assessment, Fitness assessment result analysis and interpretation, and exercise prescription. As part of this mini-series, we will dive into each and every process separately, and tie them together. It is important to note, that we will discuss the content and extent of the processes as required to exercise test a person, and create an exercise plan for a client.
The main purpose of the health assessment process is to identify any health conditions, diseases, syndromes, and concerns that could influence how we exercise test the person, and how we will train them or plan for them to exercise in the future. Furthermore, a person's health assessment might lead to the need for more medical, physical, and physiological information, before advancing the progress.
The main purpose of the fitness assessment process is to quantify a person's fitness level, while addressing specific fitness components separately such as aerobic fitness (i.e. cardiorespiratory fitness; CRF), anaerobic fitness (i.e. muscular strength), balance, coordination, agility, flexibility, body composition, reaction time, and more. Some fitness components are more specific to athletes, while some are relevant to all. Another aspect that should be addressed is proprioception.
Muscular fitness can be further divided into muscular power, muscular strength, and muscular endurance (all anaerobic fitness components).Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can also further be divided into cardiorespiratory power and cardiorespiratory endurance. Balance can be further divided into static balance and dynamic balance. Flexibility is usually accommodated with the assessment of mobility (not the same as flexibility).
The main purpose of the fitness assessment result analysis and interpretation process (including conveying the results to your client) is to analyze the results of the fitness assessment process, draw conclusions, identify further possible needs prior to prescribing exercise. In addition, this process includes informing your client of everything found, meanings, and what do future actions and steps include.
Finally, all the information is taken into consideration as the exercise plan is created. In addition to the traditional health and fitness information, other aspects of the person's life, such as lifestyle, personality. profession, caloric balance, mental and psychological needs, schedule, finances, learning styles, motivation, beliefs, preferences, available facilities, and more. The exercise plan should lay the basis for the next few weeks if not months, with periodic check points scheduled.
Last, yet not at all least, as life and people are dynamic, so should the process allow for maximal flexibility if and when possible. Nothing should be set in stone besides safety, respect, privacy, and professionalism. If the process and any data available suggest changes, and it is what is advised or require, changes should be made accordingly. In the posts to come, we will dive in deeper into all these processes and more. Stay tuned!
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