Introduction: From Emerging Role to Essential Profession

The Medical Exercise Specialist (MedExPRO) is no longer a nice-to-have. You are becoming indispensable in the healthcare system. With aging populations, soaring chronic disease rates, and shortened rehab episodes driven by insurance limits, the gap between discharge from therapy and long-term independence is wider than ever.

Fitness alone cannot close this gap. Rehabilitation is too brief to sustain it. That leaves the MedExPRO standing squarely in the middle—the only professional uniquely trained to extend the continuum of care, manage function, and restore independence.

The big question is no longer “Is there a role for MedExPROs?” It’s “How soon will the healthcare system catch up to what MedExPROs already know—and will you be ready when it does?”

Jodie Hicks: A Case Study in Today’s Reality and Tomorrow’s Future

Jodie Today

At age 56, Jodie Hicks was discharged from physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery. Insurance...

Most Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs) are stuck in the same cycle:

• Working with medical clients but still running their business like a fitness practice.
• Begging for referrals from doctors and therapists who don’t take them seriously.
• Trying to document and communicate like healthcare professionals—but with no real systems.
• Wondering if insurance reimbursement will ever be realistic.

If this is you—you’re not alone. And it’s exactly why the MES Enterprise Cohort was created.

The Future Is Here—And It Won’t Wait for You

America is aging at an unprecedented pace. By 2030, one in five Americans will be over 65. Chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension are flooding clinics. Physical therapy visits are capped by insurance, leaving clients discharged but not done.

Doctors and therapists are desperate for trusted partners who can continue care safely and effectively. The question is: will they trust you?

If you don’t step forward with professional s...

Building a steady stream of medical referrals is the cornerstone of a thriving Medical Exercise Training practice. As a MedExPRO, your credibility and growth hinge not just on exercise knowledge but on how well you communicate with physicians, therapists, and chiropractors. Too many professionals fall into the trap of silence—avoiding outreach or documentation out of fear of “not knowing enough.” The reality is, medical providers don’t expect you to diagnose or treat—they expect you to be the expert in exercise. By mastering a clear, systematic referral process, you elevate yourself from “just a trainer” to a trusted colleague in the medical community.

Step 1. Make the First Contact – With Professional Clarity

• Use the introductory letters (physician, PT, chiropractor versions) as your foundation.
• Clearly define your role as a MedExPRO: non-clinical, outcome-focused, complementary.
• Attach a one-page service overview and sample documentation.
• Follow up within 5–7 days by phone or
...

For 32 years, I’ve watched the fitness industry package hope into certifications. A weekend course, an online test, or a shiny new title promises to transform a personal trainer into a professional capable of managing clients with medical conditions. The illusion is powerful. Fitness professionals invest thousands chasing letters after their names, believing the more acronyms they collect, the more competent they become.

Please, do not think I or the Medical Exercise Training Institute is exempt from this situation. Our Medical Exercise Specialist certification has been in existence 32 years, and we’ve certified thousands of fitness professionals. So, I am complicit in this perpetuation of certification of competence. We are also guilty. 

But here’s the truth most don’t want to hear: certifications give the allure of competence, not the reality of it.

Competence in medical exercise training doesn’t come from passing an exam. It comes from consistent, structured practice. It comes fr...

Closing the Gap After Therapy -  A Step-by-Step Guide for MedExPROs

For decades, physicians have relied on physical therapy, surgery, or medication as the “next step” after injury or illness. But when those interventions end, many patients are left with lingering deficits—trouble climbing stairs, stiffness in their shoulders, difficulty with daily tasks. They’re discharged from therapy, but not restored to full function.

This is the gap that Medical Exercise Training fills. And it’s where you—the Medical Exercise Professional (MedExPRO)—become essential.

Your job is NOT to treat or diagnose, but to provide safe, progressive exercise programming that helps clients regain full function after therapy. But here’s the challenge: most physicians have never worked with a MedExPRO. They don’t know you exist—yet.

That means it’s up to you to make the introduction. And yes, that can feel intimidating. Many MedExPROs hesitate because they worry:

• What if the doctor brushes me off?
• What if ...

Master Your Practice: Why Systems Are Your MedExPRO Superpower

For Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs), success isn’t built on anatomy knowledge alone or even on your ability to design creative workouts. Those are important skills, but they’re not what truly drives long-term success. What separates sustainable, trusted, and referral-ready practices from those that struggle is one thing: well-defined systems.

If you want to elevate your practice, attract steady referrals, and earn recognition from medical professionals, then building and implementing robust systems is your next essential step.

What Exactly Is a "System"?

A system is your repeatable, documented, step-by-step process for delivering services. It covers every stage of the client journey—from first contact through long-term follow-up.

Think of it as your practice roadmap. A complete system defines:

• How you assess clients
• How you identify functional deficits
• How you set goals
• How you design and progress exer...

It's Here.....The Medical Exercise Specialist App

Your 24/7 Business Coach, Referral Engine, and Practice Builder
Only $19.99/month through August 23rd

Stop Struggling Alone. Start Building a Real Practice.

You became a Medical Exercise Professional (MedExPRO) because you wanted to help people with medical conditions regain their lives. But let’s be honest…

• You’re overwhelmed trying to figure out how to get referrals from doctors and therapists.
• You’re unsure what to say when you finally get in front of a physician.
• You’re constantly reinventing the wheel with program design, documentation, and progress tracking.
• You know your practice could grow, but you don’t have the systems, templates, or strategies to get there.
• You feel stuck—trained, certified, but not confident you can turn this into a full-time, profitable business.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

That’s why we created the MES App—to put 31 years of proven Medical Exercise Training experience in your pocket, av...

In Tip #41 of the MET 101 Tips eBook series, Dr. Mike tackles one of the most frequently asked—and crucial—questions for MedExPROs: “What should I charge for my medical exercise (ME) services?” His answer is rooted in experience, professionalism, and long-term sustainability for your practice.

Dr. Mike’s formula is simple but strategic:

• Find your local personal training rates—both for assessments and sessions.
• Charge 25% to 50% more for ME training sessions.
• Charge at least 50% more for your ME assessments than a standard personal training assessment.

Why the higher price tag? Because as a MedExPRO, you're delivering more than a workout. You’re investing in advanced education, communicating with medical professionals, and designing programs based on functional outcomes—not just fat loss or fitness trends. Your services are a vital extension of the healthcare system, and that added value must be reflected in your pricing.

Dr. Mike also makes a critical distinction between a sc...

August is here. Clients are trickling back from summer break. You’re waiting. Hoping and planning for a strong fall.

But if you’re like most MedExPROs I talk to, you’re also feeling frustrated—because despite all your certifications, passion, and hustle… something’s still not working.

Here’s the hard truth: 5 core challenges keep even the most skilled MedExPROs from building thriving, referral-ready practices.

Let’s see if any of these sound familiar:

🔹 Lack of Clarity

You started in fitness, added medical exercise… but now you’re juggling group classes, stretching sessions, post-rehab clients, and trying to be everything to everyone. The result? No clear identity. No consistent message.

🔹 No Medical Referrals

You’ve reached out to doctors, PTs, and chiropractors—but the referrals just aren’t coming. Maybe you get the occasional backdoor endorsement, but not direct, professional referrals.

🔹 Overwhelmed by Complex Clients

Clients with multiple conditions leave you unsure where...

This year marks 31 years since the very first Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) workshop. That single event sparked the development of a profession that has helped tens of thousands of clients around the world regain function, reclaim independence, and live stronger lives after rehab or in the face of chronic disease.

Over the past three decades, MedExPROs, including Medical Exercise Specialists, Post Rehab Conditioning Specialists, and Medical Exercise Program Directors, have done more than deliver great results—they’ve carved out a role that never existed before. They’ve brought clarity to the blurred lines between fitness and healthcare. They’ve earned the trust of physicians and therapists. And most importantly, they’ve changed lives.

Here are four major accomplishments MedExPROs can celebrate—and four more that must define the next decade.

🎯 WHAT WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED IN 31 YEARS

1. We Standardized Post-Rehab Exercise Protocols

MedExPROs took the guesswork out of exercise after ...