Personal Trainer Certification

The Most Effective Ways Of Promoting Physical Exercise For Adults

2009-07-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Pedometers and mass media campaigns are the most cost-effective ways to promote exercise among adults, according a study in Australia.

Considered as a package, researchers at the University of Queensland also conclude that six methods of intervention could reduce death and illness from heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes in Australia, with an overall cost saving for the health sector.

The World Health Organisation recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity – which could just be brisk walking – five times per week.

Linda Cobiac and colleagues at the University of Queensland reviewed the medical literature to identify a range of interventions to promote physical activity and transport use in adults, which had evidence of effectiveness and which were suitable programs to implement in Australia. They then calculated the cost-effectiveness of six interventions.

These included:

- TravelSmart – a program that targeted households in Australia with information about walking paths, bus timetables, and offered incentives to reduce reliance on the car

- general practitioners (GPs): the standard practice amongst GPs in Australia to screen and prescribe physical activity to inactive patients who visit them, as well as the practice of GPs referring patients to counselling sessions with an exercise physiologist at their local general practice

- Internet advice on physical activity

- the promotion of pedometers in the community

- and a mass media campaign that promoted physical activity and community events and activities.

To assess cost-effectiveness of different physical activity programs that are suitable in an Australian context, the researchers were able to compare these six interventions. They calculated the health outcomes of each intervention in terms of disability adjusted life years (DALYs) – the number of healthy years of life lost as a result of premature death or illness – through already published data on how physical activity causes heart disease, stroke, colon and breast cancer, and diabetes.

Offsetting the financial cost of each intervention against the number of years of death or injury (or DALYs) that the intervention averted, they concluded that the program promoting the pedometer as a motivational tool for physical exercise and the mass media campaign were the most cost-effective.

The GP practice of referring patients to an exercise physiologist was the least cost-effective, especially if time and travel costs were considered.

Only the pedometer program and the mass media campaign of the six interventions resulted in an overall cost-saving, but the researchers stress that if the six interventions are considered together "it is likely that the package of interventions would not only be cost-effective by very likely cost-saving to the health sector."

Source: Science Daily, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090713201433.htm

Wellness Study: Previous Exercise Helps Stroke Patients Recover Faster

2009-07-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

Personal Trainers are at the forefront of a new movement: the age of
wellness.

More people, and through a national debate on health care reform, are
talking about health and wellness. The studies have proven again and
again that exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps achieve
wellness. Though some disease may not be prevented, a lifestyle full
of healthy behaviors and activities has proven its rewards.

Take this as an example:
According to a Mayo Clinic national study, a person who has exercised
regularly prior to the onset of a stroke appears to recover more
quickly.

In the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery &
Psychiatry, the researchers reported that stroke patients who had
previously exercised regularly before a stroke occurred were
significantly more likely to have milder impairments and, thus, were
better able to care for themselves, compared to patients who rarely
exercised.

Source: Science Daily, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/
2009/07/090716164342.htm

Study: Progressive Resistance Strength Training Helps Older People In Daily Life

2009-07-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

From ScienceDaily.com:

Progressive resistance strength training not only helps older adults
become stronger but also makes their everyday life easier, a Cochrane
Review suggests.

Muscle strength decreases naturally as people age. This reduction in
muscle strength could affect older adults carrying out daily
activities. Progressive resistance strength training is a type of
strength training that uses free weights, exercise machines, or
elastic bands to strengthen muscles. Key to this type of this
exercise is adjusting the resistance, or weight, according to the
person's progress. This exercise can be prescribed to help older
adults gain the strength necessary to carry out everyday activities
such as walking, climbing stairs, bathing or doing housework.

"Older adults seem to benefit from this type of exercise even at the
age of 80, and even with some type of health condition. The data
support the idea that muscle strength is largely improved after the
training, and the impact on older adults' daily activities can be
significant. Simply having enough strength to do things such as
carrying groceries would make a difference for seniors" says lead
researcher Chiung-ju Liu of the Department of Occupational Therapy at
the Indiana University at Indianapolis in the US.

The 121 trials reviewed in the study involved 6,700 people over the
age of 60, who trained two to three times a week. Training produced a
large improvement in muscle strength, a moderate to large improvement
in doing simple activities such as getting up from a chair or
climbing stairs and a small but statistically significant improvement
in doing complex daily activities, such as bathing or preparing a meal.

Severe adverse events were rare and most reported events were muscle
soreness and pain.

"We recommend older adults work with a health professional or an
exercise professional to do progressive resistance strength training"
says Liu. Because the long-term effect was not assessed in most
trials, the Cochrane Researchers did not know how long the effects
could last.
-----------------------------

AFAA's Osteoball Training for Bone Health is a resistance training
program that helps individuals regain muscle and bone strength. More
details can be found at http://www.afaa.com/osteoball

Career in Personal Training

2009-06-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

"Employment of personal fitness professionals is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. An increasing number of people spend more time and money on fitness, and more businesses are recognizing the benefits of health and fitness programs and other services such as wellness programs for their employees." - U.S. Department of Labor
Who hires Personal Fitness Trainers?

Private health clubs

Schools and colleges

Professional athletes

Actors

Dancers

Medical facilities

Nonprofit health programs

Police departments

Fire departments

Athletic teams

AFAA Personal Trainer Certification in Six Easy Steps

2009-06-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

Here's some basic steps to follow to become an AFAA Personal Trainer. Source: EHow.com

1. Step 1

Learn CPR. All AFAA-certified personal trainers must also be certified to administer CPR.

2. Step 2

Register for the certification workshop as early as possible so you can receive the study guide and review what will be required for certification.

3. Step 3

Order the textbook Personal Fitness Training: Theory and Practice from the AFAA. This is the text used for the class as well as being an excellent resource for you later on.

4. Step 4

Study. The workshop comprises three days of lectures and practical exercises followed by the certification exam. By learning as much as possible before the workshop begins, you can concentrate on the material presented at the workshops.

5. Step 5

Take up weight training. Experience in weight training and the use of weight room equipment is strongly recommended.

6. Step 6

Attend the workshop and take the certification exam.

To see the full article, click here. Or to get certified, click here.

AFAA on Facebook and Twitter

2009-06-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

AFAA is proud to introduce its online presence with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

AFAA -- the world leader in fitness certification, continuing education and Telefitness education -- has always been committed to great customer service and a reputable fitness education through workshops and e-learning (AFAA's new Distance Education Center and E-AFAA.com).

Expect to see AFAA's latest announcements on services and products through our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Click here to follow our conversations on Twitter or go to: twitter.com/afaa_fit

Click here and become a fan of AFAA on Facebook.

And if you are a Personal Trainer certified with AFAA, drop us a line.

Personal Trainer Certifications go bilingual

2009-06-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever, AFAA is offering Personal Trainer Certifications in Spanish.

As part of AFAA's premier $99-a-day, per-program event, APEX September 2009 now includes several workshops presented in Spanish in Florida and California. APEX en Español will be on the weekend of September 18, 19 and 20 at the following locations:

Personal Fitness Trainer Certification (workshop locations and dates)

Bally Total Fitness, 13069 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, CA on Sept. 18, 19 and 20

Bally Total Fitness, 1901 West 39th Street, Hialeah, FL on Sept. 18, 19 and 20

Primary Group Exercise Certification (workshop locations and dates)

Fairfield Family YMCA, 4949 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA on Saturday, Sept. 19

Fairfield Family YMCA, 4949 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA on Sunday, Sept. 20

Bally Total Fitness, 8851 SW 107th Ave., Miami, FL on Saturday, Sept. 19

Bally Total Fitness, 8851 SW 107th Ave., Miami, FL on Saturday, Sept. 20

For more information, visit http://www.afaaapex.com or call us at 800-446-2322.

Online Personal Trainer Education

2009-06-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America has expanded its educational opportunities for personal trainers through its new Distance Education Center.

The DEC allows participants to study select online courses from any Internet-enabled computer and interact with AFAA's instructors and guest lecturers through forums, chat and teleconferencing capabilities.

The core mission of the AFAA DEC is to provide comprehensive cognitive and practical education for fitness professionals, grounded in research, reflecting a commitment to quality distance education that upholds safe and effective fitness practice.

The DEC currently offers two courses now available for enrollment:

Personal Fitness Trainer Online Preparatory Course
Telexercise® Resistance Training Course.

With the enrollment in either course, participants are offered a host of online study tools that can help them prepare and successfully complete the course. The educational support includes:

Multitraining Live™ a technologically driven study group resource to assist the participant in preparing for their course(s) with full-featured, flexible web conferencing software, video chat server, and webinar training applications
DEC Forums — a technology platform that allows comprehensive interactions between participants and AFAA instructors.
Library — along with references within course materials, AFAA has provided additional databases and resources for full-text journal articles, online and through local libraries.

Upon successful completion, each course is worth 18 AFAA Study Units. To learn more, view AFAA's Distance Education Catalog: http://www.afaadistanceeducation.com/pdf/dec-catalog.pdf

Or visit http://www.afaadistanceeducation.com to enroll.

Personal Trainer Certification with AFAA Prepares you for the NBFE Personal Trainer National Boards

2008-09-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

With AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America), you can receive your personal training certification more conveniently than ever. AFAA offers a comprehensive 3-day workshop that educates you on the various aspects of becoming a certified personal fitness trainer.

Within the 3-day workshop you will receive both lectures and a wide assortment of practical demonstrations giving you the knowledge and insight to complete the AFAA personal trainer certification.

A 3-day certification workshop includes lectures, practical demonstrations and written and practical exams. Although this course will help prepare you for both AFAA's Personal Fitness Trainer Certification and the NBFE Personal Fitness Trainer National Boards, successful completion of the course does not guarantee you will pass either examination.
The curriculum includes:
• Anatomy and kinesiology
• Fitness assessment testing procedures (3-minute Step test, sit-and-reach, push-up, abdominal crunch, body composition screening with skin-fold caliper measurement)
• Nutrition fundamentals and weight management
• Special populations and medical considerations
• Listening, leadership and motivational skills
• Exercise programming in the weight room
• Wellness programming and screening guidelines

AFAA's certifications are accredited by Vital Research and AFAA is a member of the National Organization of Competency Assurance (NOCA). AFAA also applied for an additional accreditation through an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education, meeting IHRSA's 2005 recommendation on accreditation for fitness certification organizations.

Since 2003, AFAA has had Affiliate status with the NBFE, which defines standards of practice for various fitness professionals. NBFE Affiliate status is available to qualified groups that participate in the programs of the NBFE, actively support its mission, and comply with other requirements of the Affiliate program.

The NBFE conducted a survey on licensing, and the results confirm that personal trainers would rather utilize one nationally standardized written and practical exam in lieu of having 50 states establish laws that define scope of practice or individual state board examinations. Many allied health professions have moved to utilizing a national board exam as the prerequisite for licensure.

The NBFE's Part I exam is available through PSI LaserGrade testing centers nationwide. In addition, after extensive planning and preparation, the NBFE is ready to begin the beta testing process for the practical exam, also known as Part II. The first step in this process is to conduct a small group calibration of practice testing process.

Eligible fitness professionals are invited to participate in the calibration process, which will be conducted on Nov. 2, 2008, at a 24-Hour Fitness facility in Las Vegas. NBFE is looking for 12 eligible candidates and 4 to 6 volunteers to participate as standardized clients for this process.

Read the invitational document:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jacksonville, Florida
USA
September 14, 2008

National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE) Update:
Part II, Practical Examination

The National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE) has been working diligently on completing the PFT Part II of the National Board Examination. After several months of planning and preparation, we are ready to begin the beta testing process.

The first step in this process is to conduct a small group calibration of examiners, candidates and of the process itself. Qualified NBFE Examiners and standardized volunteer clients will participate in this calibration session overseen by the administrator.

Separate calibration and grading sessions will be conducted and inter-rater and intra-rater reliability will be calculated. Upon completion of the exam process, each Candidate will be interviewed by the administrator regarding the process.

Feedback from this calibration process will be used to make any necessary modifications prior to beginning the actual beta test.

This process will be conducted on November 2, 2008 at 24 Hour Fitness in Las Vegas, NV. We are looking for 12 eligible Candidates and 4 to 6 volunteers to participate as standardized clients for this process. We encourage your participation for this very important process and would like each affiliate organization to participate.

Travel will be at the Candidate’s expense; however the cost of the test will be waived. Upon successful completion, those who successfully complete the test will be considered as "passing" Part II of the NBFE exam. If you are interested, please read further. This process is extremely important to the success of NBFE Part II and we ask that you honor your commitment to participate if accepted.

In order to continue to move the process along, we are allowing individuals who have previously sat for NBFE Part I and/or those eligible to sit for NBFE Part I but have not yet taken or passed Part I to participate in this process, with the understanding that they will not receive certification until such time as they successfully pass both Part I and Part II. In addition, we are waiving the registration fee for NBFE Part II for those who are willing to participate in this process. This will be a one-time opportunity!

For Further Information Contact:
Dr. Dorette Nysewander
888.873.8384
dnysewander@nbfe.org
# # #