Clinical Career Options for Fitness Professionals.

Navigation: Main page

Author: Poston, Jonathan1 sunsetstampede@gmail.com

CAREER PATHS

Health clubs offer many opportunities for trainers and group-exercise instructors, but there are other viable employment options for career-minded fitness professionals. Work Conditioning, also known as Work Hardening, is one such alternative. This concept is usually associated with a physical therapy practice, but can be viewed as a type of post-rehabilitation. In this field, fitness professionals can be Work Conditioning instructors and facilitate exercises for injured patients.

Work Conditioning programs offer specialized and carefully designed exercise approaches to increase joint function and muscle strength, decrease pain and allow for a smooth transition back into the workforce. Work Conditioning programs are part of a process, which begins when a worker gets hurt on the job. If upon seeking medical attention the employee finds that he or she is unable to immediately return to work, he or she may be faced with a long line of recovery options. Work Conditioning is an option that is usually the last step before the employee goes back to work. This type of program is doctor-approved and supervised by a physical therapist in order to comply with insurance mandates and payment collection.

The Work Conditioning instructor carries out an intricate role. He or she teaches approved exercises and works with physical therapists and/or other health professionals to ensure that the class format is always in line with the patient's needs. For example, if injury recurrence is reported to the physician regarding one particular exercise, the exercise may be omitted from the program. However, if patients come in with unusual injuries that are not addressed by the current program, a meeting will be held with the supervising health professional to address the needs of the patient.

The Work Conditioning instructor also prepares daily documentation of patient progress. This information is then delivered to the patient's physician and insurance provider. The notes chart the patient's cooperation, pain level, weights used, goals, program duration and any significant changes.

It is essential for fitness professionals to have in-depth knowledge of injury, treatment, surgical procedures and specific exercise-appropriate modifications, as well as some knowledge of special populations. The instructor must also be familiar with exercise contraindications and individual injury. For example, a back injury patient with one type of injury may be able to perform a full squat under certain circumstances, while another back injury patient may not be able to squat at all.

A model Work Conditioning program that has been successful in Asheville, N.C. is at Blue Ridge Bone & Joint (BRBJ). The first step in this specific program is for injured workers to be referred by their employers. The injured worker can come into the program with injuries ranging from amputations to severe back and shoulder problems to post surgery. Upon initial injury, the patient sees a BRBJ orthopaedic physician and is then referred to physical therapy for further care. The next step is a doctor's referral for the patient to begin Work Conditioning.

The BRBJ Work Conditioning model divides the class into three sections. The first section focuses on full body strength. The patient will sit on a therapy ball to perform an upper body workout consisting of curls, rows, overhead presses, tricep extensions, shrugs and rotator cuff band exercises. The lower body section includes squats, balance work, lunges and calf raises. Next is the Mat class where a series of full body stretches and core exercises are performed. The last part of class is specific to the patient's needs as it includes movements that simulate those performed at the patient's job. For example, a worker who loads and unloads boxes may work on a custom piece of equipment called the Lift Station, where boxes of varying weights are moved from shelf to shelf.

In regards to the perfect employee for the BRBJ program, BRBJ Work Conditioning Director and Certified Vocational Evaluator, Mike Piercy, MA, says, "We want someone with a background in strength and conditioning, and overall fitness training." The instructor should be able to "use their knowledge of fitness theory to teach patients functional, work-related skills like proper stooping, bending and carrying."

Fitness professionals working in this environment need to have patience and compassion when working with patients. Many times, patients do not want to cooperate with the program and do not want to be in class. They are hurt and oftentimes disgruntled--and some of them cry throughout the workout. Of course, there are also patients who want to get better and are pleasant throughout the process.

The injured population presents much diversity and the instructor must be prepared to work with these often challenging situations. As a prerequisite, the fitness professional should enjoy people in general and should have a special talent for dealing with patients during their stressful times.

Work Conditioning offers fitness professionals a different avenue to work outside of the gym. However, the trainer or group-exercise instructor must appreciate the differences present in this clinical environment. This clinical setting has a slower momentum compared to a gym setting, however, it may be a refreshing idea to many in the fitness industry.

Post-rehabilitation is a Blanket term for working with patients after they have completed physical therapy. It has Become a popular way for certified personal trainers to work with individuals recovering from injury. Since laws may vary from state to state, as they pertain to fitness professionals working in medical settings, it pays to contact the Industrial Commission to determine program viability in your area. This primary government contact is intricately involved in the billing process and therefore sets forth standards and qualification mandates for any instructor(s) working with individuals who have been hurt on the job.

PHOTO (COLOR)

(n1.) CHAFFING, D.B. AND ANDERSON, G.B.J. OCCUPATIONAL BIOMECHANICS, SECOND EDITION. NEW YORK: JOHN WILEY & SONS, 1991.