CPT Textbook

Flexibility training is a key component of comprehensive fitness training. Flexibility training techniques encompass a very broad range of activities that are best utilized in a specific, progressive fashion. Introduction to Flexibility Training Flexibility can be defined as the ability of a joint to move through its complete ranges of motion without injury.1,12 This ability … Read more

Proper programming of aerobic exercise is an integral part of any comprehensive fitness plan. Knowing when and how to incorporate different aerobic modalities will help fitness professionals guide their clients toward specific goals and health markers. In addition, knowing which adaptations aerobic training creates establishes a deeper understanding of the benefits of aerobic conditioning on … Read more

Posture and movement assessments are crucial steps fitness professionals must use to determine any muscle imbalances or movement issues that should be focused on or corrected during the exercise program. In the field of personal training, movement assessments are utilized as a baseline tool to determine injury risk, establish a range of motion patterns, and … Read more

Communication skills are vital for all fitness professionals. From closing sales with prospective clients, to instructing technique and guiding clients through behavioral changes, interpersonal communication is a constant aspect of being a great personal trainer. Personal trainers, instructors, and coaches with good communication skills give vital information to their clients in training sessions and process … Read more

The endocrine system plays a key role in exercise in both acute responses and long-term adaptations. This system consists of hormones, the glands that produce them, and the receptors in the body that respond to hormones. Fitness professionals must have a basic knowledge of the endocrine system given its importance to exercise science for properly … Read more

Fitness professionals must have basic working knowledge of the cardiorespiratory system for a number of reasons. Program design principles are all based on the underlying anatomy of the human body. As such, knowledge of anatomy allows fitness professionals to make better programming decisions, and explain those decisions more effectively with the client. Furthermore, anyone working … Read more

The muscular system is responsible for generating the force that drives all human movement. In terms of personal training and exercise, the muscular system adapts in a variety of beneficial ways, depending on the training stimulus. Fitness professionals need to know the muscular system anatomy and function in order to properly understand the underpinnings of … Read more

Macronutrients and water are necessary products that fuel the body’s daily processes. This chapter defines what an essential nutrient is, how macronutrients function in the human body as well as hydration requirements and ways to make sure clients maintain the proper fluid intake. Introduction to Macronutrients Nutrients Nutrients are defined as chemical structures found in … Read more

In the context of personal training, special populations refers to any given subset of the general population that have special considerations when it comes to program design or exercise technique. While many training principles apply across most populations, there are modifications and considerations that fitness professionals must make when working with various special populations. An … Read more

The long-term success of a training program depends on progressing through multiple phases of training that target different, complimentary fitness goals that cycle over periods of time. Most large fitness goals cannot be achieved without multiple types of training. However, this training must be planned and coordinated properly to successfully drive adaptations and avoid injuries. … Read more