CPT Chapter

Prior to beginning an exercise program with a client, fitness professionals must conduct a variety of intake assessments to check for risk factors and get a baseline for future progress tracking. Fitness professionals must be familiar with acquiring health history forms, taking anthropometric measurements, and conducting resting assessments. Introduction to Comprehensive Client Assessments Comprehensive client … Read more

Balance is a fundamental skill in daily activity necessary for the safe completion of any type of movement or activity pattern. Specifically, balance refers to the body’s ability to maintain its center of gravity over its base of support during a given action. It relies upon a feedback network from the vestibular, visual, and somatosensory … Read more

Fitness professionals must have in-depth knowledge of the various training protocols and systems for improving strength and fitness. Professionals should be particularly familiar with the equipment in their facility, and the modalities they plan to use with their clients. Introduction to Resistance Training Each modality has its pros and cons. While certain populations may benefit … Read more

Micronutrients are the compounds necessary to maintain the daily functions of the human body. These encompass organic and inorganic compounds such as vitamins and minerals.1 There are nearly 30 of these nutrients considered to be essential because the body cannot manufacture them in sufficient amounts. Thus, these micronutrients must be obtained from the diet in … Read more

Fitness professionals must have a basic understanding of skeletal system anatomy due to the key role it plays in all aspects of human life, including all movement and exercise. The bones, ligaments, tendons, and joints are all key structures in anatomy. Additionally, professionals must understand how disease and resistance training impacts these structures. The skeletal … Read more

Knowledge of basic nutritional concepts is important for personal trainers as nutrition plays an integral role in the overall mechanics and health of the body. This chapter will review nutrition and its importance for athletic performance, foundational concepts in nutrition, popular diets, and general healthy eating guidelines. Nutrition can be defined as the science of … Read more

The body undergoes many different beneficial adaptations in response to prolonged resistance exercise training. For general fitness clients, these adaptations are typically the primary reason for including resistance training as a pillar of fitness. Fitness professionals must understand the various adaptations and processes to effectively plan, program, and adjust programs, as well as explain the … Read more

Fitness professionals routinely assess the cardiorespiratory fitness level of clients. Cardiorespiratory fitness assessments include submaximal and maximal exercise tests designed to provide baseline information and progress measurements throughout the duration of the training program. Cardiorespiratory fitness is the maximal capacity of the body’s circulatory and respiratory systems to provide oxygenated blood to the muscles during … Read more

Biomechanics is defined as the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms. In the context of the human body, biomechanics defines how different forces act on the musculoskeletal system and how the body tissue responds to these forces. Biomechanics focuses on the actual movement of the body, the different … Read more

Behavioral coaching is a key skill for fitness professionals. While most trainers can dveloper a training program and demonstrate exercise techniques, transforming sedentary individuals from not exercising to engaging in a regular, periodized exercise program is the true crux of being an effective personal trainer. This is particularly true for those who work with weight … Read more