Medical Exercise Training is the development of safe, effective, structured, protocol based exercise programming for clients with medical conditions. MET uses strength training, flexibility training, cardiovascular training, aquatic training, balance training, functional conditioning, lifestyle education and MET assessments to manage clients. MET does not provide any aspect of medical treatment or diagnostic services; nor should it be used to replace the services provided by a licensed medical professional (i.e. physical therapists, massage therapists, dieticians, athletic trainers, chiropractors, nurses and/or physicians). MET is based on the utilization of functional outcome measures (FOMs) to determine the effectiveness of the exercise program. The FOMs include:

 FOMs are universally understood by both the medical community and fitness industry and are easily used to determine the improvement in the client's overall level of function. The use of FOMs by medical exercise...

There are 52 essential skills every medical exercise professional (MedXPRO) must be competent and confident in performing. Below you will see a list of skills as well as a link to complete our MedXPRO Skills Checklist. Please when completing this checklist, consider as you provide your level of proficiency with each skill, "would your performance of the skill, if reviewed by a licensed medical professional, fall within the 4 grading categories we provide:

Level 1 - Never performed: You have never performed the stated task and have no experience with this type of skill.

Level 2 - Familiar with: You are familiar with the stated task; but you would need more experience and practice to feel comfortable and proficient in this type of skill.

Level 3 - Experienced in: You have performed the task several times, you feel moderately comfortable functioning independently, but would require a resource person nearby.

Level 4 - You have performed this task frequently; you feel comfortable and...

The MET Assessment Series continues Sunday, September 25th @ 10am ET with the KNEE. Learn to perform a medical exercise assessment of the knee using goniometric techniques, muscle testing and some special testing procedures. This workshop is not designed to diagnose nor treat any condition. You will learn to thoroughly assess the MET client to determine if he or she is appropriate for MET and develop an effective exercise program. Go to www.METAssessmentSeries-Knee.com for registration and details.

The MedXPRO Network welcomes Susie Duttge, MES and owner of Fit For Life Rehab and Fitness Center of Lake Bluff, IL to our member spotlight. Susie has built a practice consisting of medical exercise training and physical therapy services. Watch the video to learn how she did it. This is a segment from our MedXPRO Network. We have other spotlights to help you build your practice. For more spotlights go to www.MedXPRONetwork.com.

In this episode of the Medical Exercise Specialist Podcast Dr Mike and Darwin discuss three issues important to MedXPROs: licensure, certification and accreditation. Dr Mike compares and contrasts the three and their impact on medical exercise training. 

The Medical Exercise Training Assessment Series continues August 28th @ 10am ET with the Elbow/Wrist. Learn to perform a medical exercise assessment on the shoulder using goniometry, muscle testing and some special testing procedures. This workshop is not designed to diagnose nor treat any condition. You will learn to thoroughly assess the medical exercise training client to determine if he or she is appropriate for MET and develop an effective exercise program. Go to www.METAssessmentSeries.com for registration and details.

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Medical Exercise vs. Physical Therapy

Medical Exercise is the use of exercise to help individuals manage medical conditions after they have completed physical therapy or other rehabilitation programs. The physical therapist treats the patient’s functional limitations resulting from a disease, injury, or surgery. They use various treatment modalities, including manual therapy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound in treating the patient.

The Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) does not diagnose or treat the individual. The MES uses strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercise to help the client address functional deficits that remain after the client has completed rehabilitation. The goal of Medical Exercise is to achieve positive functional outcomes while helping the client improve their long-term health, function, and wellbeing.

Medical Exercise vs. Personal Training

Personal Training provides clients with supervised exercise...

Hey Medical Exercise Specialist! What is the most important skill you possess as a medical exercise profession? Is it your ability to come up with creative exercise programming? Is it your understanding of dozens of different methods to strengthen the bicep, the quadricep, or the hamstring? Is it your ability to use the foam roller? Is it your understanding of anatomy? Or is it your ability to perform a thorough and effective assessment of the medical exercise training client? Which one is it?

I've taught the Medical Exercise Specialists (MES) around the world since our first MES workshop in July 1994. This is our 28th year and we are seeing a change in the medical exercise training client. This is due to the reduction in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic services. With clients receiving less rehab services, they now arrive at your medical exercise doorstep in need of more specific and challenging exercise management for their medical condition.

Let's continue outlining our Advanced Medical Exercise Specialist Virtual Workshop. We will use case studies to teach and apply the advanced MET skills and techniques taught in this course. We will start with Mrs. Jacobs' case study: 

The AMES will give you the ability to identify and use:

• Red Flags
• Vital Signs
• Functional Outcome Measures
• Muscle Testing
• Goniometry
• Balance and Gait

These components are used to determine if the client is appropriate for exercise (should be referred back to physical or occupational therapy or a physician) as well as the basis for a safe and effective MET program. These MET skills are just a few of the more than 52 reviewed in the AMES Virtual workshop. These skills will help you make the transition from personal trainer to Medical Exercise Specialist. Go to www.AMESVirtualWorkshop.com to register. Register now.....only a couple seats are left!