The purposes of assessment are to gather baseline data and to provide a basis for developing goals and effective exercise programs. Gathering and evaluating the various pieces of information give the personal trainer a broader perspective of the client. The process and the data collected assist the trainer in identifying potential areas of injury and reasonable starting points for recommended intensities and volumes of exercise based on the goals and fitness outcomes.
Personal trainersTesting and EvaluationClient Consultation|Assessment
This excerpt explains the role that lactate plays in exercise metabolism and how that information is useful for athletes to predict things like pacing, fitness, and efficacy of training programs.
Personal trainersTSAC FacilitatorsCoachesExercise ScienceProgram designTesting and Evaluation
A review of the literature concludes that a strength training program including low-intensity to high-intensity resistance exercises and plyometric exercises performed 2 – 3 times per week for 8 – 12 weeks is an appropriate strategy to improve running economy in highly trained middle- and long-distance runners.
Personal trainersCoachesExercise ScienceExercise Technique
This article describes how to use dumbbell exercises in the training programs for football athletes. It includes sample programs for skill position athletes and big skill position athletes.
This study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research compared the muscle activation level of the gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, and erector spinae in the hip thrust, barbell deadlift, and hex bar deadlift; each of which are compound resisted hip-extension exercises.
Personal trainersCoachesExercise ScienceProgram design
There is evidence that alcohol should not be ingested after resistance exercise by men as this ingestion could potentially hamper the desired muscular adaptations to resistance exercise by reducing anabolic signaling.
In this session from the 2014 NSCA Personal Trainers Conference, Barton Bishop explains how to utilize the body’s natural way of learning movement. This will help athletes become more efficient at movement for improvements in exercise and athletic performance, and help in preventing future injuries.
In this lecture from the NSCA's 2014 Coaches Conference, Mike Robertson talks about corrective exercise and its application. Invoking Gray Cook, Mike defines corrective exercise as "a holistic approach where an assessment is used to determine specific weaknesses and/or limitations of the athlete" - be it aerobic, strength, or agility.