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To ensure participants are happy with their progress and will keep training, it is important that the trainer is able to design exercise programs and session plans which are relevant to the specific needs of the participant. Pg 248 2

 Comprehensive initial consultation – to design specific programs.  Questionnaires: health, medical conditions, goals, & lifestyle.  The trainer needs to build up a detailed picture of this participant and their life so that the exercises they choose and the program they design will have the best chance of succeeding. 3

FACTORS TO CONSIDER:  The trainer needs to consider a range of factors to ensure the program is appropriate and that it will benefit the participant rather than harm them.  The trainer needs to consider the following:  PAR-Q responses –any contra-indications?  Medical history –any conditions which may affect the training?  Current and previous exercise history – current fitness level. 4

FACTORS TO CONSIDER CONTINUED...  Barriers to exercise – constraints such as time, cost, family responsibilities, or work commitments?  Motives & goals – what is the participant aiming to achieve and what is their timescale?  Occupation – hours worked and whether work is manual or office- based.  Activity levels – amount of movement they do on a daily basis.  Leisure time activities – whether these are active or inactive. 5

FACTORS TO CONSIDER CONTINUED...  Diet – what, how much and when they eat.  Stress levels –work/home life, and how they deal with it.  Alcohol intake – how much they consume and how often.  Smoking –smoker/ex-smoker and the amount they smoke.  Time available – the client needs to fit the training into their schedule and the trainer needs to be realistic when planning the program. 6

CLIENT GROUPS  Clients are the central focus of the fitness industry.  It is essential to understand the individual needs and goals of each client.  Clients will come from a range of backgrounds, ages, fitness levels, shapes and sizes. 7

 You may see the following groups of people as clients:  Varied ability levels – beginners, intermediates, advanced  Varied fitness levels – low, moderate or high  Elderly  Juniors  Athletes  People with specific goals, such as running a marathon or weight loss  Pregnant women  People with medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes 8

ACTIVITY SELECTION  Other factors to consider:  Likes & dislikes – what is the participant comfortable doing? Why do they not like certain exercises?  Accessibility – where can they get to for their training? This may be physical or limited by cost. 9

Consider the following factors continued:  Culture – are they limited by their culture in terms of expected roles and responsibilities, and also dress code?  Equipment available – are activities limited by venue and what it has to offer? You may be training in a gym or at the clients home. 10

 To ensure the success of a program, it needs to be specific to the outcome the client wants.  Therefore it is important that you find out exactly what the client would like to achieve. 11

 The clients objectives could be any one of the following: Cardiovascular fitness Flexibility Weight loss Improved health Muscular strength Muscular size Muscle tone Power 12

ONCE YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED THE OBJECTIVES, IT IS TIME TO PLAN THE PROGRAM 13