Before I became a Medical Exercise Specialist (MES), my clientele was comprised mostly of seniors and some special population clients. I enjoyed success as clients achieved goals and felt better overall. As my popularity increased, I started receiving inquiries from client referrals that had conditions or symptoms that I was unfamiliar with. I became a little hesitant to work with some of the referrals because I was unsure of what I should or should not do with them. After taking several workshops and passing the MES certification, all my concerns and questions about working with these clients were addressed, and I truly feel confident about working with post-rehab and special population clients. (Most importantly, I now know when it’s inappropriate to work with individuals and when a referral to another health professional is warranted.) The MES course has been instrumental in my development as a fitness professional, while expanding my current knowledge about the function of the human body as it relates to exercise. If you’re a serious fitness professional and your goal is to set yourself apart from your peers by expanding your scope of practice to include post-rehab and special population clients, then MES certification is the course for you. It will bring distinction to your current practice, and allow you the opportunity to market your services to the other allied health professionals.

The Medical Exercise Specialist program and the exam were a great test of my knowledge and very challenging. The MES program has put us on the path to success and personal accomplishment. We thank you and I can’t get enough.

It has always seemed to me that PT serves the role to return an "injured" patient to or near the level they were before the injury occurred. On the other hand, the exercise physiologist's role is to take the average or normal person and help them to increase their level of conditioning beyond whatever "baseline" is for them. Clearly, there is a gap in knowledge and skills between the PT and the exercise physiologist. An exercise physiologist's basic academic training does not include significant knowledge and skills training in developing exercise programs for persons who have had a recent or previous musculoskeletal injury. Therefore, I sought a training of the MES variety because there is a gap between treatment to return to pre-injury level and exercise for improving health and well-being.

The MES training was particularly important to my staff seeing the average age of our membership is about 55 years. The growing segment, the over 65 population warrants knowledge in how to work with members or participants who have had or currently have significant musculoskeletal limitations but want to be active, healthy and continue to exercise. Following the training, the staff has become much more comfortable in identifying "red flags" that warrant specific exercise alterations or perhaps even, referral to their physician. In addition, the staff is far more comfortable designing the initial exercise prescription for the new member. The training has also allowed us to reach more of the population who need this specialized type of knowledge and care.

Our physical therapists, now feel more comfortable with the knowledge base of our exercise physiologists, dietitians and nurses. The physical therapists are more likely to refer patients to our fitness membership programs. Second, our staff members feel more comfortable in dealing with the day to day musculoskeletal concerns of clients and are able to more specifically adapt the exercise program as opposed to simply avoiding all exercise that affects a particular region. Finally, the staff will interact more effectively with members on a daily basis. This interaction will increase our ability to improve the functional levels of our current members and also reach potential members outside the center.

I highly recommend Dr. Michael Jones, the American Academy of Health, Fitness and Rehabilitation Professionals and the Medical Exercise Specialist training program to anyone interested in improving the quality of care, staff professionalism, knowledge, skills and the general health of their clients.

A number of years ago I was fortunate to take a Post-Rehab Conditioning Specialist course with Mike Jones. What he said not only made sense to me at the time, it was information I required to better accommodate the older group of clients I was training. I have been in the fitness industry now for twenty years and thanked him for taking the time to teach someone like me some of what he knew and to close the gap between medical and fitness. This is a huge undertaking and very important. ACE (who I am certified with) was beginning a Clinical Exercise Specialist program. Although I find the manual a great resource and ACE to be a good organization to be a part of, there were difficulties with the exam prep course that was offered to us in Toronto. In fact, those of us who took that first course decided not to pursue the program. I am very excited about my career path now I have taken the MES course. Dr. Jones is a terrific communicator and support. I applied what I learned immediately and I will continue to learn by way of the extensive information offered on the MES videotapes. Please keep going Mike!!

My name is David Gilks and I have been involved with the NAAHFRP for almost 7 years now. I first met Dr. Jones in Vancouver, BC Canada in 1996 at an “Essentials of Post Rehabilitation” course that he was running. On completion of the course, I realized that there was so much to more to know and that the all the Personal Training Courses I had taken had left me ill prepared for the reality of dealing with the gym going public. Over the next several years more courses were made available in my area and I took every one offered. What I had gained from these courses was a “panoramic view “on how to successfully deal with the myriad of post-rehab clients entering into the gym on the advice of their doctor. Prior to my meeting Dr. Jones and taking his excellent programs, I was only going through the motions, offering my clients little in the way of real, safe advice to ensure their success. At present, with the encouragement of Dr. Jones and his wonderful advice, I have develop a complex network with BC Forest Logging Rehabilitation Services, ICBC, WCB, BC Teachers Federation Human Resources Dept, BC Amateur Hockey Association, several law firms, many doctors, physiotherapist, and the list go on. I owe much of my success to Dr. Jones and the NAAHFRP and the fine programs that he offers. As it stands, I am now rated the top personal trainer in my area due to the excellent resources that I have been given and am finding new opportunities every day. Thank you Dr. Jones from the bottom of my heart.

As a certified personal trainer and MES hopeful, I am writing to you to express my sincere congratulations and appreciation for the programs your organization offers. As a graduate of one of the top exercise science programs in North America , I have gained more knowledge from the MES course than any sports medicine program I have completed at university. The information is compiled and taught in a thorough, concise and professional manner, and allows the healthcare practitioner to immediately apply what he/she has learned in a practical setting. For myself, my clients have already seen significant improvements in their various problem areas in a very short period of time as a direct result of the techniques I have learned.

I believe that continuing education is a key component in the athletic medicine field, and it is my opinion that Dr Jones and his staff have done a tremendous service for kinesiologists, personal trainers, physical therapists, and chiropractors to help their clients achieve as normal and active a lifestyle as possible. I will be starting a new position as a athletic therapist at a reputable physiotherapy and rehab clinic here in Toronto , which is the first step toward my goal of working with a professional sports club. Without AAHFRP, I don’t believe this would be possible. Thank you.

Dr Jones,

From the very first few minutes of watching the videos I began a learning process that has been very exciting! I really am enjoying the lecture format on video, it makes me feel part of the class but with the ability to rewind if I miss something or just want to hear it again to take better notes.

I just wanted to write to you and tell you what an excellent program I think you have put together. I can’t watch the videos fast enough.

I bought the program just as I was getting started as a Personal Trainer after leaving a very lucrative career as a Technology Project Manager. I work in a country club where my clients in my first 3 months have included one with a prosthesis, one with Alzheimer’s, one total knee replacement, rotator cuff issues and the list goes on and on.

Thanks so much, you will be hearing from me as I get closer to testing.

Greetings Dr Jones,

The videos are excellent!!

I have learned more from this course than any other courses I have ever taken. Your “three dimensional” anatomy far surpasses the typical one dimensional anatomy that is taught in most certification programs. Your knowledge and insights are thoroughly refreshing. This is the first time I feel that I have been given more than my moneys worth.

I am not that easy to impress. I am a Drug-Free For Life Professional World Bodybuilding Champion (1985). AAU Mr. Virginia 1980, Natural Mr America 1981, Natural Mr. North America 1981. I am a highly trained soldier and extensively decorated Viet Nam veteran. I have been around gyms for over 30 years.

I would have no reservation in recommending this course to anyone or any personal trainer who would like to enter into the advanced field of Medical Exercise. My clients are already benefiting from the workshop and I haven’t completed the course yet!!

Finally, there is a professional organization that can offer a comprehensive curriculum for those who would go the extra mile and endeavor to become a health care provider for the challenging, rewarding and lucrative field of post rehab and special populations.

Thank you Dr Jones!!

Dr Jones,

We are doing well here at St Joseph ’s Post Rehab. The local hospital’s Work-Injury department is sending us everyone who have been released from P.T. plus 3-4 other chiropractors are sending us everyone. Besides all their clients seeing progress with us, we do lots of additional marketing, and (with the head Doctor at the hospital) we trained his wife for free who had a back injury, she has made great progress, and lost 25lbs, so he loves us. We are averaging $30,000 a month. This month more, as of the 10th we were at $32,000.00. Thank so much for developing the program.