HEA 230 - Personal Trainer Fundamentals

4 credit hours - Five hours weekly; one term.
Explore the principles of exercise science and learn how the body responds to physical training. Apply knowledge of physiological adaptations and response to exercise to design training programs for clients, students or athletes to help them achieve their sports and fitness goals. Examine the physiological assessments used to evaluate the components of fitness, including posture, flexibility, balance, core function, cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength/endurance. Learn how to facilitate rapport, adherence, self-efficacy and behavior change in clients. Lab fee $15.

Prerequisite(s): HEA 101 or permission of the Academic Chair.

Note: Successful completion of course prepares student to sit for a nationally accredited Personal Trainer Exam. Fees for the exam will be the responsibility of the student. Typically offered at MC; fall and spring terms.

Course Outcomes:

Explain key anatomical structures that are relevant to exercise science, including parts of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, digestive and endocrine systems.
Explain and apply the major principles of exercise science, including muscle physiology and cardiovascular adaptations to training.
Demonstrate and perform various methods of assessing cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and balance.
Apply physiological principles and various methods of training to develop cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and/or endurance and flexibility.
Demonstrate the ability to individualize exercise programming for the apparently healthy adult and special populations.
Demonstrate the proper use of commercial fitness equipment, proper exercise technique and form, and appropriate spotting techniques for clients.
Utilize information attained in a health screening to evaluate clients for safe participation in an exercise program.
Utilize results of fitness assessments to design safe and effective exercise programs based on client needs and goals.
Explain the relationship between nutrition and physical wellness/performance and be able to identify areas of improvement in a client’s nutritional intake.
Describe behavior change strategies and methods used to enhance and maintain motivation to exercise.
Describe and analyze major health conditions and injuries as they are affected by exercise.
Explain current issues from the media that pertain to health and be able to articulate the significance of each issue from a physiological perspective.
Identify and describe the role and responsibilities of a certified personal trainer.