Exercise is dose-related
The benefit of your exercise program or personal training sessions is dose-related. When your doctor prescribes medication for a condition such as hypertension, you are most likely to take the medication as prescribed so that you are able to control your blood pressure and prevent the risk for developing related health issues such as stroke or heart attack. The amount of medication or the dosage that you need to take varies from person to person and by the severity of your medical issue(s). The same holds true for exercise, improvements in function, health, fitness and performance are also dose-related.
Exercise is Medicine
Performing physical activity in the appropriate “dosage” is a highly effective prescription for the prevention, treatment and management of more than 40 of the most common chronic health conditions encountered in clinical practice (http://exerciseismedicine.org). Before leaving the clinic setting, inactive patients should receive a referral to available physical activity resources in the local community to assist them in becoming more physically active. Physical activity promotes optimal health, is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions, weight loss and weight management, and should be regularly assessed and included as part of health care
After initial evaluation/assessment, performing the exercise program as prescribed and/or recommended by adhering to the Exercise Prescription provided (Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type ) provides the best opportunity for you to receive desired health benefits and is very much dose-related. Performing exercises too often leads to overtraining and injury. On the other hand, not performing the exercises enough, as in once a week, performing the program inconsistently, or spreading personal training sessions too far apart especially when not performing independent exercises as needed, will not provide the function, health or fitness benefits you are looking for, and even gradually decline in function and health.
Most people do not know or understand that qualified fitness professional are an essential element of the healthcare continuum and are perfectly positioned to serve in the quest not only for disease management, but disease prevention as well.
It is the fitness professional who spends a considerable one-on-one time with the client and has the opportunity to learn how best to deliver exercises that are specifically designed for the individual and targets their specific health or medical condition. More importantly, regular appointments give the fitness professional to share health information, facilitate behavior change, adjust and progress exercise programs as the client improves or as medical status changes, allowing for permanent adoption of new healthy behaviors, that include physical activity, constructive exercise and enabling the client to reach his or her wellness potential.
Take full advantage of your fitness professional or personal trainer
Depending on the qualifications of the personal trainer, he or she is able to develop and deliver fitness and clinical exercise programs, conduct assessments, and design comprehensive health and fitness programs to help clients prevent and manage disease, avoid injuries, improve overall wellness and function throughout all phases of medical interventions, and help clients return to desired activities following rehabilitation. The fitness professional applies principles of exercise science, health coaching, nutrition, psychology, corrective exercise, therapeutic exercise, and pathophysiology to develop health and fitness programs for special population clients with clinical issues(e.g. Cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, Balance and mobility disorders) in order to facilitate lasting behavior change and improve client health, function and well-being. For mature and older adults, this can also help you reach old age and enjoy old age with better function, health and a high quality of life.
Clients seeking to optimize their wellness potential should take full advantage of the skills of their personal trainer and follow the recommendations and exercise program he or she specifically designed and tailored for the client’s health and medical status with the goal that the client receive desired benefits.
Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) is a nonprofit initiative co-launched by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Medical Association (AMA), with support from the Office of the Surgeon General and the 18th Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, on November 5, 2007