Discuss why assessments are key to establish clients current emotional and physical readiness. Discuss different physical assessments Discuss different emotional assessments

As with any relationship first impressions do count and also dictate how that relationship progresses. Personal training isnt any different, its called personal training after all. Even though it is a professional atmosphere we as trainers are establishing a very private, personal relationship with our clients. They are going to share emotions, feelings, and talk about what is a struggle for a lot of people…their weight and their relationship with food.

In a general sense a professional assessment and analysis process can set a potential client at ease, they understand that you are in control and can see from the assessments and explanation of the assessments that you know what you are doing. This is pretty big for helping the client to trust you. If were going to help a client they need to be able to trust us with whats going on in their life and they need to feel comfortable in sharing emotions with us.

In the physical sense, assessments are the foundation of program design, more importantly assessments are the foundation of injury free and results based training. Each trainer should have a combination of assessments they understand and feel comfortable with.

Each trainer needs a set of assessments that they feel comfortable with, truly understand, and can replicate without tremendous variance. In a scientific sense this allows us to be objective. For example a cardio test doesnt involve our opinion of how fit that person is. The numbers are going to tell us objectively, they are fit or theyre not. Physical assessments could be broken down into three essential categories: cardio, strength, and postural/balance. There are more, but these are what I feel to be the minimums. More information is always better, but were trainers not doctors. Cardio-something needed to establish cardio capacity and or recovery capacity as well as a starting point for our cardio recommendation. I like the 3-minute step test Strength-dependent on the goal and ability level of the client. A beginning client really doesnt need to go through a 3 rep max test per say. Basic movements such as a squat, row, or chest press should allow you to functionally assess the starting point. I would say if you are taking a beginning client through a 3 rep max test their muscle activation and form and technique prevents it from being a true max for that muscle group. We need to understand that most clients have deviations, having them rock out on a 3 rep max on your first session probably isnt going to help with that.

Postural/balance-I threw balance in with postural, its pretty safe to say that a sedentary person that spends the majority of their waking day in a seated position is going to have poor balance. I dont feel its necessary assessment per say. Each assessment performed think of the physical and emotional effect. Most clients are not walking into a first session feeling on top of the world. Balance is challenging and frustrating for most. Postural assessments-going back to the principal that we are not doctors…we dont have the same tools to examine interior as well as exterior. Not to say a trainer cant effectively diagnose a persons posture. More so there are more factors than just a tight muscle. That is one of the factors that we can identify and try to help with.

I like a combination of the NASM Single Leg Squat, Overhead Squat, as well as NASMs CES assessments for shoulder. Try Paul Cheks lower ab assessments Remember, the assessment is just a starting point. Its a piece of the puzzle.

In order to be successful we need to be able to see where our client stands in regards to stressors in their life and understanding of the goal. A goal assessment process is key in this to identify if this is the right goal for the client. A process is needed that helps to identify pros and cons of the goal, as well as timelines and back-up plans.

In addition to the goal setting process, both the trainer and client need an understanding of why they are pursuing this goal (are they for the right reasons) as well as what is involved. Out of this both trainer and client should walk away with a clear idea of the goal and expectations. Change is one of the primary stressors in life, evaluating a clients current stress levels allows us to guide them through a process rather than to add to the stress by not truly understanding all of the stressors in that clients life.

Each trainer needs a combination of physical and emotional assessments to adequately assess and intake a client Physical assessments-cardio, strength, and postural Emotional assessments-goal setting and stressors

A trainer gets one chance to make a great impression, and that is typically on the first session. A client is walking into that session with fears and anxieties around exercise and starting a training program. This is really normal, and is expected. Use that assessment process to get to know them in a professional way. Let the client see that you are covering all of the bases before starting work on something as personal and valuable as their body. Also, use that time to allow for questions. Guide the conversation to potentially allow discussion on topics that you know most initial clients are facing. Last, after the assessments sit down with the client to explain what you found, but more importantly to create a plan for their success.