Medical Exercise Specialist

Established in 1994 by the American Academy of Health, Fitness & Rehabilitation Professionals (AAHFRP), the Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) is the world's first certification program for post rehab fitness trainers. The MES is now considered the "gold standard" certification for post rehab professionals, more than 10,000 participants around the world have successfully completed AAHFRP's training/certification seminars. Are YOU next?

What is a Medical Exercise Specialist? A MES is a fitness professional who not only works with the typical client looking to improve their health and fitness level; but who also has gained the knowledge and skills to work with clients who present a wide range of medical conditions. These atypical clients are "post rehab" in that they are referred to a fitness professional after they have completed a rehabilitation program and now need a fitness program tailored to their particular medical condition. Are you prepared to work with this type of client?

The MES is trained to develop safe and effective conditioning programs for clients with musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, neurological or metabolic disorders. MES's are found working in hospital-based wellness and fitness centers, corporate fitness centers, physical therapy clinics, chiropractic offices, health clubs, gyms, personal training studios and in clients' homes. [Note: The MES is not trained to offer any professional rehab services provided by licensed physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists and/or physicians.]

As a MES, what can I do?

• Perform safe and effective fitness assessments on clients with medical disorders without causing exacerbation of the condition.
• Perform a 12-point musculoskeletal screening on a post rehab client.
• Understand the related anatomy, pathology and biomechanics of common medical conditions.
• Understand how common medical conditions respond to exercise.
• Develop safe and effective conditioning programs for clients with musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
• Apply safe and effective post rehab exercise techniques for the upper and lower extremity and spine.
• Communicate effectively with medical professionals and insurance carriers.
• Identify the red flags and warning signs that indicate the client is in need of evaluation or treatment from a licensed medical professional.
• Understand the role and scope of practice for the fitness professional when working with post rehab and medical exercise clients.
• Develop an effective post rehab-marketing program to establish relationships with medical professionals in the local community.Perform a functional assessment on the post rehab client to determine the client's functional abilities as a means of evaluating the effectiveness of the post rehab program
• Document both assessment and training sessions using standardized post rehab forms and methods.

So what's involved?

The MES certification is obtained by completing one of three options:

1. MES DVD Home Study – for the self-paced learner (20 DVD's and 529-page course manual)
2. MES Study Group – this option offers structured learning in a home environment to help you stay on track. This option uses teleseminars to augment the MES DVD course materials (includes full MES DVD workshop). We highly recommend this option to maximize your learning and your money!
3. MES 2-Day On-site Workshop w/ Dr. Mike – attend the MES on-site workshop and participate in the MES Study Group for an advanced, hands-on presentation of the material contained in the MES DVD workshop. This is the ultimate post rehab learning experience.

The MES course is far more advanced than the Essentials of Post Rehab Fitness workshop. The MES course is for the post rehab professional who works with a wide range of medically-based clients. During the MES workshop, Dr. Mike provides specific post rehab guidelines and protocols for over 60 medical conditions! The conditions discussed in the MES course are reviewed in much greater detail and depth than in the Essentials course.

To become and remain MES certified:

• Complete the Medical Exercise Specialist Workshop (DVD home study, study group or on-site)
• Complete ten (10) hours of observation in a physical therapy, chiropractic or sports medicine center prior to the MES exam
• Pass both the written and practical portions of the MES final exam
• MES certification must be renewed every two years by completing ten (10) hours of post rehab related coursework taught by a licensed medical professional

How do I know if I'm ready?

• You must possess at least ONE of these three prerequisites to enroll in the MES Workshop:
• Certification as a personal trainer from an internationally recognized organization.
• Hold a degree in a health or fitness related field. (i.e. exercise physiology or kinesiology)
• Have one (1) or more years experience working in a physical therapy, chiropractic or sports medicine clinic as a rehab/exercise technician.

Should you get certified? Absolutely! The MES certification is recommended for the fitness professional who wants to make post rehab fitness an area of specialization. Simply stated, the MES certification is for YOU if you're looking to increase your client base. Click on the link below to register for the MES option that best meets your needs or call 1-888-610-0923.

Some of the conditions the MES is trained to provide services for include:

MES DVD Workshop Package

Each MES DVD workshop, MES Study Group or MES/METS on-site workshop participant receives the entire MES DVD workshop package. The MES DVD package consists of 20 DVD's, a 589-page MES manual, an additional 287 pages of MES course handouts and 3 CD's. These CD's include Post Rehab Foundations, PREPS – Post Rehab Exercise Protocols and Post RehabWorks. If you are an independent learning, purchase the MES DVD workshop and view the DVD's using the written course materials. Once you have completed the program, you may take the MES Final Exam. Click here to order the MES DVD workshop.

What is the MES Study Group?

If you are not able to travel to the MES workshop, or spend 3-4 days away from your clients' and you do not have $900 to purchase the MES DVD workshop, then the MES Study Group is a great option for you. The MES Study Group offers combination the best of seminar/workshop and distance education. Learn at home via detailed live teleseminars with the leading post rehab educator – Dr Mike.

Here's how the MES Study Group works …

MES DVD modular concept consisting of nine (9) study group sessions. Requires a four (4) month commitment to complete MES workshop then take and pass the MES certification exam. You may enter the MES Study Group at anytime during the cycle.

• Register for the MES Study Group by paying the full tuition or by using our two payment option. Use either payment option to register for the MES Study Group and receive the MES course manual, all course handouts and participate in the MES Study Group (Click here for the detailed MES study group schedule).
• View the MES DVD modules in the comfort of your home or fitness studio.
• Participate in nine 90-minute MES Study Group teleseminars on Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings at 7:00p EST/4:00p PST, The founder and creator of the "Medical Exercise Specialist certification "Dr. Mike" will be the primary instructor for each teleseminar session. Each teleseminar reviews in detail the concepts included in the modules DVD's. This will allow you to receive the required skills and knowledge to pass the MES exam and begin "Bridging the Gap Between Health Care and Fitness". 
• Each 90-minute MES teleseminar is recorded and posted to the MES Study Group's members' area within 24 hours of the call. Only MES Study Group members will have access to this website. Case studies for each module will also be posted to the site along with the recordings.
• Within seven (7) days of the teleseminar, complete the MES home exam for the module and fax it to the AAHFRP office.
• If you select the $550.00 monthly installment payment, the second payment is automatically debited to your credit card, debit card or checking account in 30 days. You are free to study and learn the latest post rehab guidelines. Register for the MES Study Group by making the first $550 installment. Follow the link below to register.
• Once you have completed the MES Study Group and all the home exams are completed, you are ready to schedule your final MES exam.
• The MES Study Group is for the serious-minded only! Once you have joined the group, absolutely no refunds! No exceptions! We aim for a 100% SUCCESS RATE!

MES Study Group Schedule

The MES Study Group offers rolling admissions. You may enter the study group at anytime. You do not have to wait for the beginning of the next study group to enter. Enter during any module and simply participate in the study group until you complete all the modules. You may continue as a member of the study group indefinitely. Just make the four installment payments and participate in the study group as long as it takes to prepare for the MES exam. The MES Study Group is limited to 12 participants. Click here to register for the MES Study Group.

MES On-Site Workshop

You may attend the MES On-Site workshop. The 2-day MES workshop is intense and goes along with our MES Study Group. The MES Study Group serves are the preparation for the MES Onsite workshop. Each MES onsite participant must complete the MES Study Group. This ensures each onsite workshop participant has the necessary understanding of clinical anatomy and pathology and the Post Rehab Foundations so advanced medical exercise concepts may be introduced in the onsite program. The MES workshop reviews guidelines and startegies to manage a wide range of medical conditions using exercise. The MES workshop does not discuss utilzation of treatment modalities.  The combination of the MES DVD, MES Study Group and the MES onsite workshop will give you all the information you need to manage a wide range of post rehab clients and build a successful and profitable post rehab practice. Click here to register for the MES On-Site Workshop.