KHP 450: Fitness Professionals' Role and
Scope of Practice
Role of fitness professionals - ANS-Work directly with clients or patients as part of the
health care team to assess and improve/maintain physical fitness
Exercise testing
Exercise prescription
Periodization
Recovery from injury
Elements of nutrition
Probably only as much as you would want a dietitian giving exercise advise
Other members of the healthcare team:
Primary care Physician, specialists, dietitians, PT's, counselor/mental health
professional, etc.
scope of practice - ANS-Dictated largely by certifications / area of expertise
Generally, categorized as:
"Apparently healthy"
No known medical conditions
Limited number of risk factors
No signs/symptoms of disease
"Medically controlled" disease
Known medical condition managed day-to-day with medications
Athletic populations
Performance enhancement techniques can be applied to other populations with care
Clinical populations
Known medical condition; may be poorly managed
CVD, T2D, gastric bypass surgery, osteoporosis, AIDS, cancer...
Communication with other members of healthcare team is essential
Confusion over the role of fitness professionals - ANS-Few, if any, laws regulating who
can work as a fitness professional
Contributes to generally poor view of "personal trainers" held by many
Contributes to confusion as to who is qualified to give exercise advice
Some states starting to require licensure
Few, if any, laws regulating who fitness professionals can work with
Performance enhancement specialists not barred from working with clinical populations
Many physicians are unaware of distinction between Fitness professionals
, Who should I refer a patient to?
Types of fitness professionals by increasing education/training - ANS-Group Exercise
Instructors
Personal Trainers
Exercise Physiologists
Performance Enhancement Specialists
Clinical Exercise Physiologists
4.Specialists
exercise certifications - ANS-Many regulatory bodies offer exercise certifications to
fitness professionals
Goal: Demonstrate proficiency as a fitness professional to peers, clients, medical team
Categorized by type
Can hold an unlimited number
Qualifications for exams differ between certifications
Education, experience, etc.
Certifications are not licenses
Not required to practice as a professional
Must be maintained through continuing education
why are certifications important? - ANS-Demonstrate professional knowledge
To clients
To co-workers / related professionals
To the community and others
Require professionals to stay current in knowledge, skills, and abilities
Continuing education
Conferences
Provide periodic publications
Provide a safety net for practitioners
"standard practice" based on research
Liability insurance
certifying bodies - ANS-American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
National Strength and Conditionin Association (NSCA)
American Council on Exercise
Scope of Practice
Role of fitness professionals - ANS-Work directly with clients or patients as part of the
health care team to assess and improve/maintain physical fitness
Exercise testing
Exercise prescription
Periodization
Recovery from injury
Elements of nutrition
Probably only as much as you would want a dietitian giving exercise advise
Other members of the healthcare team:
Primary care Physician, specialists, dietitians, PT's, counselor/mental health
professional, etc.
scope of practice - ANS-Dictated largely by certifications / area of expertise
Generally, categorized as:
"Apparently healthy"
No known medical conditions
Limited number of risk factors
No signs/symptoms of disease
"Medically controlled" disease
Known medical condition managed day-to-day with medications
Athletic populations
Performance enhancement techniques can be applied to other populations with care
Clinical populations
Known medical condition; may be poorly managed
CVD, T2D, gastric bypass surgery, osteoporosis, AIDS, cancer...
Communication with other members of healthcare team is essential
Confusion over the role of fitness professionals - ANS-Few, if any, laws regulating who
can work as a fitness professional
Contributes to generally poor view of "personal trainers" held by many
Contributes to confusion as to who is qualified to give exercise advice
Some states starting to require licensure
Few, if any, laws regulating who fitness professionals can work with
Performance enhancement specialists not barred from working with clinical populations
Many physicians are unaware of distinction between Fitness professionals
, Who should I refer a patient to?
Types of fitness professionals by increasing education/training - ANS-Group Exercise
Instructors
Personal Trainers
Exercise Physiologists
Performance Enhancement Specialists
Clinical Exercise Physiologists
4.Specialists
exercise certifications - ANS-Many regulatory bodies offer exercise certifications to
fitness professionals
Goal: Demonstrate proficiency as a fitness professional to peers, clients, medical team
Categorized by type
Can hold an unlimited number
Qualifications for exams differ between certifications
Education, experience, etc.
Certifications are not licenses
Not required to practice as a professional
Must be maintained through continuing education
why are certifications important? - ANS-Demonstrate professional knowledge
To clients
To co-workers / related professionals
To the community and others
Require professionals to stay current in knowledge, skills, and abilities
Continuing education
Conferences
Provide periodic publications
Provide a safety net for practitioners
"standard practice" based on research
Liability insurance
certifying bodies - ANS-American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
National Strength and Conditionin Association (NSCA)
American Council on Exercise
