Elements and Performance Criteria
- Review pre-test screening information.
- Access and review initial client pre-test screening information according to legislation and regulatory requirements and organisational policies and procedures.
- Advise the client of the relevance of the screening and appraisal process to developing an individualised exercise program.
- Ascertain additional health information about the client prior to fitness appraisal and identify any factors requiring medical clearance according to organisational policies and procedures.
- Recommend client seek medical or allied health professional assistance, where required before proceeding with fitness appraisal according to organisational policies and procedures.
- Determine the fitness goals of clients.
- Determine the perceived benefits clients expect from the exercise program.
- Discuss the client's habits, cultural expectation lifestyle, family situation, likes and dislikes which might impact on the prescription of an appropriate exercise program.
- Provide relevant information on the impact of poor lifestyle behaviours on health and fitness to the client.
- Consult with the client to develop and document short and long-term fitness goals.
- Match fitness goals to products and services available in the fitness industry.
- Conduct a basic fitness appraisal.
- Select appropriate tools and appraisal methods according to the clients' current fitness capacity.
- Organise fitness assessment equipment required for the appraisal as appropriate.
- Conduct basic fitness appraisals ensuring the safety of the client according to organisational policies and procedures.
- Explain the results of the fitness appraisals to the client and recommend an appropriate exercise program.
- Record recommendations for the client's exercise program according to organisational policies and procedures.
- Develop a client profile that can be used to develop an individualised exercise program.
- Identify signs of poor exercise tolerance and reason for discontinuation of a fitness appraisal.
- Use energy, water and other resources effectively when cleaning, preparing and maintaining equipment and activity areas to reduce negative environmental impacts.
- Motivate and encourage clients.
- Determine the client's level of commitment to the exercise program.
- Apply motivation techniques to help the client identify barriers to adherence and to set effective and manageable exercise goals according to fitness levels.
- Assist the client to identify behavioural changes to improve long-term adherence to an exercise program.
- Advise the client on techniques that may increase their adherence to exercise.
- Recognise and use the factors that encourage people to adhere to exercise programs when instructing clients.
- Recognise and apply common reasons for discontinuation of exercise programs when settling program guidelines.
- Discuss habits, lifestyle, family situation likes, dislikes which might impact on writing an appropriate exercise program with the client.
- Use the physical and the psychological characteristics that apply to each stage of fitness, stages of change and the most appropriate form of motivation at each level when instructing clients.
- Direct clients to understand and overcome their own barriers to the continuation of an exercise program.
- Identify the steps involved in establishing a behavioural change that results in their long term adherence to an exercise program to the client and use when instructing clients.
- Take into account people's idiosyncrasies, cultural and social differences, behavioural patterns and industry standards when instructing clients.