Health Promotion Programs and Exercise Programs.

Participatory fitness programs should include education on benefits of regular exercise and risks of a sedentary lifestyle, its impact on cardiovascular health and illnesses, its relationship with weight control and stress management, and aerobic activity options.

Discussion and practice of safe principles of exercise – warm up, cool down, frequency, intensity, duration, flexibility and strength components.  The wellness program follows guidelines by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Safety precautions should include the following -

o  Informed consent before beginning exercise with clear and complete written and verbal instructions of possible risk, purpose of exercise, exercise format to be followed, opportunity for questions, and a signed informed consent with date.

o  A screening/evaluation of participants to determine when medical evaluation is necessary for exercise such as the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q, see forms).

o  Measurements of blood pressure (BP) and resting heart rate are useful screening information to determine exercise readiness.

o  Participants who fail screening are medically referred and should obtain a written clearance from their doctor to exercise.    

o  The basic content of an group fitness program should include –     

Warm up   5 – 10 minutes

Aerobic exercise   20 – 40 minutes

Cool down   5 – 10 minutes

Exercise instructors should’ve education and training in exercise physiology, physical education, physical therapy or comparable discipline, or possess a current certification by a nationally recognized sports medicine or exercise association, and be CPR qualified.