The Foundation of a Thriving Medical Exercise Practice

Building a successful medical exercise practice goes beyond simply providing exercises; it requires a systematic process focused on client well-being, collaboration with medical professionals, and demonstrable effectiveness. This client-centric approach, known as the "Medical Exercise Process", is meticulously outlined in the Advanced MES Manual, providing medical exercise professionals with a comprehensive resource to establish this system within their practices or businesses. The Medical Exercise Process, as detailed in the manual, serves as the foundation for delivering exceptional care, attracting referrals, and ultimately building a thriving practice.

Initial Client Interaction:

A new client's journey often begins with an inquiry, perhaps driven by a medical referral, online research, or recommendations. During this initial contact, the focus should be on understanding their needs and determining if medical exercise is...

Medical exercise training (MET) is rapidly growing, driven by an aging population, rising healthcare costs, and the increasing recognition of exercise as medicine. As a Medical Exercise Specialist (MES), you have a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives while building a thriving practice. However, success in this field requires more than passion; it demands a strategic approach grounded in the "10 Building Blocks" of a successful medical exercise practice.

The AMES Manual provides a comprehensive guide to these pillars, offering extensive insights into specialization, niche development, and the importance of structured client management systems like the 6-Point MET Client Management System. It emphasizes the critical role of functional assessments, effective communication with medical professionals, and robust documentation processes. Additionally, it highlights the need for marketing strategies to attract clients, build referral networks, and ensure...

Medical Exercise Training (MET) stands as a dynamic and evolving field within healthcare and fitness. As the need for specialized exercise programs for individuals with medical conditions increases, so does the demand for competent and successful MET practitioners. To thrive in this exciting field, it is essential to establish a solid foundation upon which to build a flourishing practice. The sources provide insight into six key characteristics of a successful MET practice, forming a blueprint for success for aspiring and established MET professionals:

1. Clarity: Define Your Vision

Successful MET practices begin with a clear vision. Without a well-defined understanding of what you want your practice to look like, you'll struggle to develop effective systems, marketing strategies, and specialization areas. Ask yourself:

• What specific client populations do I want to serve? Focus on two or three areas of specialization to establish a strong reputation.
• What type of practice...

Running a successful medical exercise (ME) practice takes more than just certifications and knowledge. It requires a set of habits that ensure you deliver top-quality services while building strong relationships with clients and medical professionals. In MET101 Tip 34, Dr. Mike shares eight key habits that all successful ME professionals possess:

• Define Your Role: Make it clear to medical professionals and clients what your role is in the healthcare continuum.
• Document and Report: Consistently document your findings and report to healthcare providers to ensure a professional approach.
• Follow Up: Regularly check in with clients and healthcare providers to monitor progress and address any concerns.
• Assess and Reassess: Continuously assess clients to ensure they are progressing towards their goals.

• Progress Clients: Set new goals and avoid stagnation. Once clients plateau, consider shifting them to personal training.
• Motivate Clients: Help clients push through discomfort while...

As a Medical Exercise Specialist (MES), you’re dedicated to helping clients achieve better health and function through exercise. But to build a truly successful practice, technical skills alone aren’t enough. One of the most critical components of your success is effective marketing. In a competitive industry, marketing helps you reach the clients who need your services most, communicate your unique expertise, and establish a reputation that attracts referrals from healthcare providers. When done right, marketing creates a solid foundation for long-term growth and success.

1. Attracting Your Ideal Clients

The clients who will benefit most from medical exercise services may not know you exist—or even know what a Medical Exercise Specialist does! Marketing bridges this gap by raising awareness about your specialized services. Whether through social media, a website, or local outreach, marketing helps you communicate who you are, what you offer, and how you can...

Elevate Your Career with the Advanced Medical Exercise Specialist (AMES) Workshop

Join us for an immersive 2.5-day workshop designed exclusively for experienced medical exercise/fitness professionals eager to elevate their expertise. The Advanced Medical Exercise Specialist (AMES) Workshop is your gateway to mastering the art of managing chronic medical conditions through precise exercise programs. The AMES Workshop is the hands-on segment that compliments the Advanced Medical Exercise Specialist Training Series. 

Why AMES Workshop?

As the demand for medical exercise training surges, the need for highly skilled professionals is more critical than ever. The AMES workshop is meticulously crafted to advance your capabilities, offering deep insights and hands-on experience in assessing and applying exercise techniques tailored to chronic conditions. This workshop sets the stage for you to become a leader in the medical exercise field, ready to meet the challenges of...

This is "MET 101 Ebook Tip 8," Dr. Mike delves into the critical role of strength training within the broader context of medical exercise training (MET). This post highlights the key points discussed in the video, offering valuable insights for both fitness professionals and individuals interested in enhancing their wellness through exercise.

Key Points from MET 101 Tip 8:

Integration of Strength Training: Dr. Mike emphasizes that strength training, while vital, is just one component of MET. It should be integrated with other functional components like proprioception, power, stability, and endurance for a holistic approach.

Clinical Anatomy and Pathology: The understanding clinical anatomy and pathology in developing conditioning programs for clients with medical conditions IS CRITICAL. Dr. Mike outlines the three levels of anatomy, stressing the application of pathology to basic gross anatomy.

Personal Anecdotes: The video includes personal stories, such as Dr. Mike's friendship...

Navigating the World of Medical Exercise Training: MET 101 - Tip 4

In the fourth tip of the MET 101 series, fitness professionals are guided through the diverse landscape of client types they may encounter in their practice, emphasizing the critical role of comprehensive assessments and the importance of experience in medical settings.

Key Insights from MET 101 - Tip 4:

• Diverse Clientele: Fitness professionals may work with clients having a range of conditions, from neurological disorders like strokes, MS, and Parkinson's to cardiovascular issues and musculoskeletal disorders.
• The Importance of Observation: Gaining experience through observation hours in sports medicine, physical therapy, chiropractic settings, or rehab facilities is crucial.
• Comprehensive MET Assessments: Before initiating any exercise program, conducting a thorough medical history interview and assessment is vital. This includes evaluating strength, function, flexibility, endurance, stability,...

In the third installment of the MET 101 ebook series, Dr. Mike brings to light an essential aspect of Medical Exercise Training (MET) - its focus on function. This video is a crucial watch for professionals in the medical exercise field, offering deep insights into the evolving landscape of healthcare and the role of MET in enhancing functional recovery.

Understanding the Focus on Function in MET

Addressing Residual Functional Deficits: With insurance carriers reducing the number of physical therapy sessions, many clients are discharged before reaching optimal functional levels. MET steps in to manage these residual functional deficits.

The Function Wheel: Dr. Mike introduces the 'function wheel,' which encompasses nine key components of function, including range of motion, flexibility, strength, coordination, power, joint stability, endurance, proprioception, balance, and cognitive capabilities.

Impact of MET on Various Conditions: The video highlights how exercise can...

Case Study Friday

Medical exercise training is managing medical conditions using ONLY exercise. It's not just giving a client with a medical condition(s) an exercise program. As a medical exercise and medical fitness professional are you simply giving the client exercise or are you developing, managing, assessing, and progressing the client based on your assessment? Medical exercise training management is about the client intake, assessment, forms, exercise program, progression, reassessment, documentation, and communication. 

Our case study client is Mrs. Jacobs. She is 79 y.o. and underwent a left hip replacement via anterior approach 4 months ago. She can use a walker independently and climb stairs independently. She has a history of knee arthroscopy, hypertension, high cholesterol, and congestive heart failure. She becomes SOB after 20 minutes of standing due to fatigue. She has follow-up appointments with an orthopedist in 10 days and her cardiologist at the...