Risk Factor Stratification

 Your material talks about ACSM risk factors in the Personal Trainer Manual on pgs 157-158, and in the Group Fitness Instructor Manual pages 150 – 151. A link to the online version of the chart is here:

 http://www.acefitness.org/pdfs/ACSM-CAD-Risk-Factor-Chart.pdf

Determining the need for dr.’s clearance is a three step process.

The first step is to look at the risk factors and adding up how many your client has. (family history, smoking, obesity, etc).

The second step is to look at the Initial ACSM Risk Factor Stratification and decide what the client’s risk level is (low, moderate, high) based on their total score from the first step.

The third step is to look at the ACSM Recommendations for Physician Supervision During Exercise Test/Medical Exam and Exercise Test Recommendation (Table 5.2 & 5.3 PT, Table 5.3 & 5.4 GFI) and decide what you are “doing” with your client. Are you testing them? Are you programming exercise? Moderate or Vigorous? That determines if you need a dr.’s clearance.

For Example…You have a moderate risk client (top row, middle column) you want to do a sub-maximal test on. According to the chart, a doctor’s recommendation is ‘not necessary’ before you proceed.

But…if you have a moderate risk client and you want to set them up with vigorous exercise, then a doctor’s recommendation/clearance is ‘recommended’ before you proceed.

Proper screening of a client is essential for safety reasons.

Other questions? You can contact an Education Consultant at 1-800-825-3636 x782.

April
Resource Center Coordinator