Training the Older Adult Client – Part II: Key Corrective Exercise Patterns – The Hips
As we discussed in Part I of this series, we completed our very first full 3-day training certification: the Integrative Corrective Exercise Instructor™ certificate program.
In the 3-day intensive Integrative Corrective Exercise Instructor™ certificate program – designed specifically for those of you that work with older clients like we do in our clinic in Chicago – we covered the key concepts and principles of training older clients.
There are three keys we have found to be fundamental in helping improve the effectiveness of our training programs and help our older clients successfully work towards accomplishing their health and fitness goals.
These 3 concepts form the foundation of our Integrative Movement System Corrective Exercise Strategy™.
1. Awareness
Help your clients become aware of their current posture and movement habits. Our older clients have developed habits that dictate how they stand, sit, and move. These habits have been influenced by their medical history (traumas, injuries, surgeries), medications, occupation, level of activity and/or inactivity, beliefs, etc. The most important component to our corrective exercise program is to help increase our clients’ awareness of their current habits and educate them on how to develop more optimal posture and movement habits.
2. Attention-to-detail
The next most important component of how we use corrective exercise is attention-to-detail or paying attention to the simple things that can be often over-looked. Things like helping clients position their body a bit differently to reduce joint stress, choosing an exercise that allows the client to be successful versus one that overloads their joints, paying attention to how the client is breathing and providing them with an improved strategy are some of the simple things that ultimately can have a dramatic impact upon their overall success.
3. Appropriate Progressions
Use patterns that give your older clients the best opportunity for success. There is nothing wrong with pushing your client…as long as they’ve ‘earned-the-right’ or been progressed appropriately to successfully perform the higher-level intensity or pattern.
In this video and the next two videos to follow I’ll share with you 3 of the key corrective exercise patterns we use with our older clients.
Since we are stuck in Boston due to the storms in Chicago, I took advantage of the local hotel gym so I apologize in advance for the shoddy lighting and sound.
In the accompanying video (below), I’ll share one of our go-to corrective exercise patterns to improve gluteal function and hip mobility.
- By helping our older clients become aware of the factors that are within their control and helping them become more aware of their posture and movement we empower them for success.
- By paying attention to the simple things like alignment, breathing, and control we can help our older clients address many of the underlying issues that are leading to chronic tension, discomfort, and/or the loss of performance.
- By helping our clients ‘earn-the-right’ by appropriately progressing their patterns we empower them to safely and effectively work towards achieving their health and fitness goals.
To learn more about how to develop your confidence and expertise in working with older clients with chronic back tightness, degenerative joint disease, spinal stenosis, and to see if this program is right for you and your clientele, join us for our one-day events. We will be sharing these concepts in our one-day, intensive training – Corrective and Progressive Exercise for the Older Client: The Trunk and Spine-Level I.
We’ll be at the following locations this year doing our one-day training:
You can also click here to learn more about our one-day training workshops. You will leave this training with the tools and strategies you need to successfully work with and attract older clients. You won’t think the same about training this population after attending this workshop!
Click here to learn more about our 3-day ICEI certificate programs. We truly believe this is the absolute best and most complete training for working with the older adult client. If you attend our 3-day intensive program and don’t believe it will help your clients achieve their goals we will gladly refund your tuition. Therefore, there is no risk to you!
Dr. Evan Osar is the developer of the Integrative Movement Specialist™ certification designed specifically to aid the fitness professional establish themselves as an invaluable part of their client’s health care team. In addition to his chiropractic degree, Dr. Osar has earned national certifications through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and The Soma Institute – National School for Clinical Massage Therapy. He is the founder of Fitness Education Seminars, an education company with the mission of helping trainers and therapist recognize their role as a part of the solution to the health care crisis.
