Medical Exercise and why you need it.

The first thing that pops into someone's mind when they hear "medical exercise" is, well, medical. They say, "I'm not sick".....And while that might very well be true, having a medical exercise training program might be the best thing you have done for yourself in a while. And it could be the best thing you do for yourself now and your future self.

You see, medical exercise training can include many things. It isn't just about working with those who have a medical condition or have been released from therapy or some other medical issue. Medical Exercise Training can help you maximize your health and fitness by paying extra attention to how you exercise. And once you get past the age of 40, that is something you really want to pay attention to. 

As we age, our bodies change - a lot. We become more stiff (we lose flexibility) and whether we might realize it or not, our balance is affected to some degree and we find we aren't as sure of our footing as we once were. In addition, our body begins to lose lean muscle and our VO2 max begins to decline. Add to that at some point, most likely, we will begin to see changes in our metabolic health. As we age, there are greater risks for diabetes, cancer, hypertension and obesity. 

So as you can see, we all need to have some Medical Exercise in our lives. I actually practice medical exercise training on myself. I am 66 years old and while I have been highly athletic most all my life and a former competitive athlete, I have some issues that have developed as I have gotten older and, well, I hurt. But I am applying to myself the exact same thing I do for all of my older clients and it works. I feel better and I have more energy and I sleep better. 

In the past, I never did aerobic exercise. I still don't. But I do use a method of training called H.I.I.T. or Tabata. Both are pretty challenging methods of cardio fitness training. On some exercises, I use an air bike and on others I do big circuit training with little to no rest. The bike training takes me between 5 minutes and on some days, 20 minutes to do. The big circuit training takes about as long but I never do them both on the same day. 

Your body needs a very specific type of training as you get older and Medical Exercise Training can be that for you. Because of the advanced training an MES (Medical Exercise Specialist) must go through in order to earn the MES certification, you can place your trust in the care of such a professional. 

Want to know more? Call me at 606-305-9362. 

Stay strong! 

Medical Exercise Training is important and you need it!

 

While Medical Exercise Training is relatively the "new kid" on the block it is a vital form of exercise that many people should take advantage of. Especially if you are over the age of 45. 

MET, or Medical Exercise Training is a very specific type of exercise training and it is not delivered by your typical personal trainer. The Medical Exercise Specialist or MES, must enroll with the Medical Exercise Training Institute and plan on studying for a minimum of 9 months in a rather rigorous curriculum that covers strength training, cardiovascular exercise, flexibility, balance training while gaining an understanding of the medical conditions that may have given them medical problems that have affected their ability to have functional movement and thus requiring medical attention. 

In addition, the MES must be familiar with medical terminology as well as understand their "Scope of Practice". The MES does not diagnose nor does the MES treat any form of disease. Medical Exercise helps to manage medical conditions through correspondence with the individual's doctor so as to deliver them a safe and effective Medical Exercise program. 

High on the list of learning is kinesiology, biomechanics, physiology, cardiovascular health and function, metabolism, functional anatomy, medical communications as well as knowing how to take an in-depth medical health history. During the 9 months there will be case studies to complete, and understanding how to address issues such as Achilles Tendon ruptures, Impingement Syndrome, ACL tears, Meniscus tears and much, much more. 

These are not your typical studies that a personal trainer gains with a certification program. And the founder of the Medical Exercise Training Institute is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 30 years of experience and has worked with hundreds of pro, Olympic and Elite College athletes. And he wanted elite personal trainers to know how to address the needs of individuals once they were released from physical therapy. Thus the medical exercise profession was born in 1994. I graduated the METI and became a Certified Medical Exercise Specialist in 2008 and I have practiced in Somerset as an MES since 2008 but I have been a Board Registered Trainer since 2005 and a Certified Personal Trainer since 1983 in addition to holding numerous other elite certifications.

So the question is, why is Medical Exercise important to you? 

Well, I am going to address that issue over the next few blogs. I have learned that if you put down too much in one sitting, you will lose most people, so I like to keep my blogs short and interesting. 

So next issue I am going to cover that all important question as to why MET is right for you.

Until then,

Stay healthy, Stay Strong and Stay Functional!