While the gentlemen in this picture look hale and hearty, I am willing to guess that if they are still alive today, they are probably dealing with one or more chronic health conditions. The CDC defines chronic health conditions as those “that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.” At Home Senior Fitness works with clients who are 55 and older, and nearly all of my clients deal with such conditions. How does it affect the way that we train and what results can be expected?
At the 2024 IDEAfit / ACSM Health and Fitness Summit in February, I took a course offered by Dr. Carol Ewing Garber entitled, “Prescribing Exercise to Clients with Chronic Diseases: A Cast Study Workshop.” Garber is Professor of Movement Sciences and Education and Chair of the Department of Biobehavioral Sciences at Teachers College (which is incidentally two blocks from where I attended Seminary in New York). The course looked at different hypothetical cases of individuals of various ages and backgrounds living with different chronic conditions. We worked together to determine the best course of action for training the individual to bring them to greater levels of fitness and health.
Over the years as I have worked with older adults, I have found myself in the same kind of “workshop,” just not in a large hotel with dozens of other people. It is, rather, a one-on-one with myself figuring out what would be most effective and what to avoid. I have had clients come to me with long-time diagnoses like atrial fibrillation (A-fib), dementia, and Parkinson’s Disease. I have also had clients come to me with new diagnoses like epicondylitis and camptocormia (look both of those up!). When we aware of such diagnoses, it is necessary to take into account how not to worsen a condition as well as what exercises might improve it. Many of these conditions I learned about when I was studying to become a personal trainer, but others required me to do research. I have even reached out to a client’s physical therapist on occasion for guidance. These chronic conditions cannot simply be ignored.
Garber’s class was a good reinforcement for me. It reminded me of the importance of understanding where my clients are (not just physically either) so that I can meet them there and then make a difference. If you or someone you loved is diagnosed with a chronic condition, make sure your fitness professional knows about it, knows what it is, and knows how to work with it. Personal trainers can be allies with doctors and therapists in building a better quality of life while living with a long-term condition.
Kosher Fitness 