How to Run a Consultation

What information do fitness professionals need before leading someone through an exercise plan?

There are three stages to a consultation:

1. Paperwork.

2. Static Measurements.

3. Dynamic Measurements.

Each stage requires gathering different types of information.

Paperwork

There are seven stages to paperwork:

1. Personal Details.

2. Health Commitment Statement (HCS)

3. Informed Consent (IC).

4. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

5. General Practitioner Referral (GPR) (if appropriate).

6. Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ)

7. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART) Goals.

Personal Details include name, date of birth, address and contact information.

The HCS clarifies expectations for an appropriate balance of responsibility between both parties.

The IC is for getting permission before conducting a healthcare intervention on a person.

The PAR-Q is a health-screening tool for determining the safety or possible risks of exercising based on health history, current symptoms, and risk factors.

The GPR is for checking with a doctor, if appropriate, before starting an exercise plan.

The PAQ is a screening tool for determining the training history and training preferences of the client.

The SMART is a mnemonic of criteria for setting goals.

Static Measurements

There are four static measurements:

1. Body Mass Index (BMI)

   1. Formula: Weight (kg) / Height (m²)

   2. Average: 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m²

2. Blood Pressure (BP)

   1. Formula: Systole pressure / Diastole pressure in millimetres of mercury (mmHg)

   2. Average: <120 / <80 mmHg

3. Resting Heart Rate (RHR)

   1. Formula: Beats / 1 minute

   2. Average: 60-100 beats/min

4. Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR)

   1. Formula: Waist Circumference (cm) / Hip Circumference (cm)

   2. Average: 0.9 (men) and 0.85 (women)

The BMI is the relationship between a person’s weight and their height squared, and is a rule of thumb used to broadly categorize a person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.

The BP is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels, mostly resulting from the heart pumping blood through the circulatory system.

The RHR is the number of times the heart beats per minute (bpm).

The WHR is the dimensionless ratio of the circumference of the waist to the circumference of the hips.

Dynamic Measurements

There are six basic movements to assess during dynamic measurement:

1. Squatting

   1. Example: Basic Squat

   2. Body Segments:

      1. Feet flat.

      2. Knees aligned with feet.

      3. Neutral spine curves.

      4. Shin/Torso angle match.

      5. Parallel (or greater) depth.

      6. Forearms parallel with torso/shin.

2. Lunging

   1. Example: Forward Lunge

   2. Body Segments:

      1. Lead foot flat.

      2. Lead knee aligned with foot.

      3. Pelvis/Shoulders horizontal.

      4. Torso Vertical.

      5. Rear Knee 1 inch from ground.

      6. Ability to return in one step.

3. Pushing

   1. Example: Basic Push-Up

   2. Body Segments:

      1. Head alignment neutral.

      2. Neutral spine curves.

      3. Body travels as one segment.

      4. Hands placed under shoulders.

4. Pulling

   1. Example: Standing Cable Row

   2. Body Segments:

      1. Head alignment neutral.

      2. Neutral spine cures.

      3. Shoulder height level.

      4. Shoulder excessive tension avoided.

      5. Arm alignment maintained.

5. Hinging

   1. Example: Deadlift

   2. Body Segments:

      1. Ability to hinge at hip.

      2. Feet remain flat.

      3. Neutral spine curves.

      4. Shoulders held over bar.

      5. Bar reaches mid-shin.

      6. Bar proximately 1 inch to body.

6. Rotating

   1. Example: Quadruped Reach

   2. Body Segments:

      1. Head alignment neutral.

      2. Neutral spine curves.

      3. Shoulder height level.

      4. Hip height level.

      5. Shoulder blade winging avoided.

      6. Balance maintained, weight shift avoided.

The dynamic measurement is a tool for setting a baseline from which the client may progress in their technique.