Osteoporosis Fitness Specialist
Many fitness professionals lack the knowledge to safely and effectively design fitness programs that specifically meet the needs of those diagnosed with Osteoporosis, or at risk of being diagnosed. Many trainers are intimidated to take on clients with osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and other bone issues. These clients need and can benefit the most from a sound, sensible, bone-enhancing fitness program. This course will go over the basic physiology of bones, certain diseases or conditions affecting bones, the use of diet and exercise to restore and maintain healthy bones and their functions, and how to program an exercise regimen, including regression and progression, to reduce the risk of traumatic falls in clients wanting healthier bones.
Course Author: Mark Kelly, Ph.DDr. has been involved with the health and fitness field for more than 30 years; as teacher in colleges and universities; as a personal trainer, group exercise leader, coach; and as an athlete who achieved a national ranking (6th in 25-29) in duathlons in 1993.
He received his B.S. in Kinesiology and Psychology from UCLA. He got his M.S. degree from Louisiana State University, Health Science Center in Physiology, and a Ph.D. in Exercise Science and Education Administration from the University of New Orleans. He is actually finishing another degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University and hopes to use it for Corporate Wellness and Safety.
Additional Bio information
- Discuss basic bone physiology and how bones respond to stress including Wolf’s Law of bone remodeling.
- Provide the basic information on disease conditions such as osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and how they related to bone physiology.
- Explain the role of exercise and diet in restoring and maintaining healthy bones and avoiding the previously mentioned bone diseases.
- Discuss how Strength, Agility, Flexibility, and Equilibrium (S.A.F.E.) exercises all contribute to healthy bones to keep someone safe from future injury and debilitating conditions.
- Show exercises which fulfill the SAFE factors and how to regress or progress them for clients.
- Discuss the role of medications and nutrients in bone health and how certain medications may help or affect exercise and diet practices.
- Lesson 1: Boning Up on Bones – Understanding Anatomy and Physiology of Bones
- Lesson 2: Nutritional Factors That Can Increase or Decrease Bone Density
- Lesson 3: How Exercise Can Increase Bone Density and Prevent Osteoporosis
- Lesson 4: Assessments – Determining Where Your Client Should Start
- Lesson 5: Programming – Plugging It All Together
- Lesson 5.a: Programming – Exercises for the Gym
- Lesson 5.b: Programming – Exercises for the Home
- Lesson 5.c: Programming – Exercises for the Park
- Lesson 6: Marketing and Promotion – Getting the Word Out and Monetizing Your Knowledge and Skills
This is an online course; all materials are delivered virtually.
This course is delivered through a written course manual, video narrated slide presentations, videos of sample exercises, and sample forms. Comprehension of the material will be measured via a mandatory, multiple-choice item, competency assessment requiring a minimum of 80% correct responses in order to pass.
System Note: The Google Chrome browser can automatically play all videos in a lesson at the same time, which may be an extremely annoying feature for some, and for which, at the present, there is no easy fix in the Google Chrome settings. If this occurs, try viewing this course using a browser other than Chrome (e.g., Firefox).
All of the online courses on MedFit Classroom which lead to a Certificate of Specialization are considered advanced level education, and are meant to be taken by fitness professionals who have previously acquired education and experience as a professional within the health and fitness industry. In order for one to receive the Certificate of Specialization conferred upon those who obtain and complete this Fitness Specialist course, one must be able to show proof that he or she has the following:
- Evidence of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in fitness or health related field AND/OR possess a certification from a nationally-recognized certification, NCCA or ANSI/ISO accredited program AND
- Evidence of professional liability insurance.