Archive for October 2006
Are You Qualified to Work With At-Risk Clients?
Legal & Risk Management
By Sean Riley, MS, JD
Are You Qualified to Work With At-Risk Clients?
Why personal fitness trainers who work with postrehab and special populations are at greater legal risk themselves. Health clubs are becoming increasingly occupied by older clients and those who have special medical needs. This is partly due to referrals from physicians who have begun to appreciate the b…
The Scoop on Running Injuries
PREVENTION
&
POSTREHAB
BY CATHERINE LOGAN, MSPT
The Scoop on Running Injuries
Help runners to avoid common injuries–and to cope with them when they do occur.
Running places extraordinary demands on an athlete’s body. Injuries can happen in many places, including the feet, shins, knees and hips. Designing a program that helps runners avoid or recuperate from common injuries is a great way to ma…
IDEA Code of Ethics: Owners and Managers
As a member of IDEA Health & Fitness Association, I will be guided by the best interests of the client. I will provide facilities and staff for effective exercise and lifestyle programs; ensure that staff maintains the education and experience necessary to appropriately train clients; uphold fair business practices and safety guidelines; and use truth, fairness and integrity to guide all my professional decisions and relationships.
Read MoreMost Walkable Cities
Most Walkable Cities
If you’re traveling for the holidays, see if your destination is on AAA’s list of North America’s Top 10 Most Walkable Cities and, if so, plan to leave your car keys at the hotel:
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
Boston
New Orleans, Louisiana
Downtown Los Angel…
Men Keep Bone Benefits From Early Exercise
Men who participate in sports activities in their late teens enjoy bone-building benefits that stick around for years. This is the case even if they stop training, according to a study published in the August issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2006; 91 [7], 2600–2604).
Physical activity is known to increase bone mineral density (BMD), which …
Prenatal Progess
Strong core muscles are vital for helping prenatal participants offset pregnancy-related postural changes that can cause back pain and other discomforts. The following basic exercises are appropriate for virtually all prenatal and postpartum women. The moves are also excellent for…
Read MoreTotally Taken Care Of
San Diego–based exercise equipment manufacturer and IDEA World Fitness® exhibitor efi Sports Medicine has been lending its muscle to men and women in the armed forces by donating more than 150 of its Total Gym machines to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Luke Paulino, Private First Class with the U.S. Army 2nd Platoon, 792nd Chemical Comp…
Artistic Activity
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Read MoreDeep Breathing and Pain Management
A new study has found that deep-breathing relaxation techniques can help patients cope with pain and anxiety during a medical procedure following coronary bypass surgery. According to a paper published in Heart & Lung (2006; 35 [4], 269–76), researchers at Wright…
Read MoreMoving Beyond Barriers
Your years of experience and training have prepared you to design the best exercise plans. You know how to get results; it’s just not always easy to inspire clients in a way that truly motivates them. Why is it that Charles starts strong, only to burn out after three sessions? Is there a reason Melanie can commit to exercise only if the weather’s good? By evaluating what your cli…
Read MoreIs Your Medicine Making You Fat?
All medications—whether prescription or over-the counter—have some type of side effect, according to nutritionist Madelyn Fernstrom. Side effects run the gamut from pesky but minor skin irritations to fatal allergic reactions. But did you know that one of the most common side effects of medicines is weight gain?
Drugs cause weight gain for a variety of reasons. For examp…
KO’ing Bone Fractures with Vitamins
Past research studies have suggested that a low intake of vitamin K may be linked to an increased rate of bone fractures. Researchers in Japan recently examined numerous randomized, controlled trials to determine what role vitamin K supplementation might play in this association.
…
Cooper Founds Wellness Community
Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, widely referred to as the “father of aerobics,” is founding a new residential community in McKinney, Texas, that will eventually be home to 38,000 people. Cooper Life at Craig Ranch is focused on supporting the health and wellness of its re…
Read MoreFemale Proprietors Underprice Services
If you’re a woman and you own your own professional-service business, chances are you tend to charge less than your male counterparts, according to a research paper examining the effect of gender on pricing practices (“A Behavioral Study of Pricing Decisions: A Focus on Gender,” presented at a national meeting of the Academy of Management in Atlanta in August). The authors not…
Read MoreFitness Fanchise Opportunities Growing
Faced with an unhealthy future, consumers are heeding warnings about their dangerous sedentary habits and seeking out advice. And if recent trends are any indication, there will be plenty of storefront fitness shops to help them. Fitness franchising is becoming big business in the United States, making Entrepreneur magazine’s franchise trend prediction list for the second yea…
Read MoreTai Chi vs. Brisk Walking for Older Adults
When older adults lose muscle tone and their balance starts to deteriorate, a simple mishap like tripping over a rug or losing their footing as they go to the bathroom during the night can turn into a tragedy. Among Americans who break a hip when they are 50 or older—about 300,000 people per year—24% die within 12 months, according to the National Osteoporosis Founda…
Read MoreDon’t Be Hypersensitive About Hypertension
If you have older-adult clients or class participants who are afraid to exercise because of mild high blood pressure, a Johns Hopkins study may ease their concerns. Research results on 104 men and women ages 55–75 showed that a moderate program of physical exertion had no ill effects on the heart’s ability to pump blood, nor did the activity produce a harmful increase in heart size….
Read MoreStress in the Workplace
In the United States during the 5-year period from 1998 to 2003, more workplace disability benefits were paid for mental health disorders than for any other complaints besides musculoskeletal disorders, according to a report released in June 2005 by the Social Security Administration (SSA Pub. No. 11–11543). More and more workers are claiming that depression and anxiety compromise thei…
Read MoreGrading Schools on Exercise and Nutrition
Prompted in part by the rising rate of obesity among school-age children, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recently released a report on the role of the nation’s public schools in fostering good nutrition and exercise habits in students.
“Obesity among school-age children has become a national concern, with the nu…
Mind-Body Practices Help Musicians
Have you ever considered marketing your services directly …
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