Description

Course Prerequisite

The completion of this specialization course, and the passing of its corresponding competency assessment, leads to a Certificate of Specialization as a Medical Fitness Specialist. All of the online courses on MedFit Classroom which lead to a Certificate of Specialization are considered advanced level education, and are meant to be taken by fitness professionals who have previously acquired education and experience as a professional within the health and fitness industry.

In order to receive the Certificate of Specialization*, upon completion of this course you will be asked to provide proof of the following:

1. Evidence of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in fitness or health related field AND/OR possess a certification from a nationally-recognized certification, NCCA or ANSI/ISO accredited program AND
2. Evidence of professional liability insurance AND
3. Evidence of 3 years of relevant work experience.

*Any student may purchase and complete this course to receive a certificate of completion. In order to receive a Certificate of Specialization, you must meet the requirements above.

Course Overview

• Prologue
• Lesson 1 – Chronic Disease and the Benefits of Exercise
• Lesson 2 – Scope of Practice and Health Risk
• Lesson 3 – Rapport and Psychology
• Lesson 4 – Postural and Movement Assessments, & Corrective Strategies
• Lesson 5 – Cardiorespiratory Assessment
• Lesson 6 – FITT
• Lesson 7 – Coronary Heart Disease
• Lesson 8 – Hypertension
• Lesson 9 – COPD and Asthma
• Lesson 10 – Diabetes
• Lesson 11 – Hyperlipidemia
• Lesson 12 – Body Composition, Overweight and Obesity
• Lesson 13 – Metabolic Syndrome
• Lesson 14 – Cancer
• Lesson 15 – Pregnancy
• Lesson 16 – Core, Balance, and Gait
• Lesson 17 – Common Shoulder Dysfunctions
• Lesson 18 – Common Dysfunctions of the Distal Arm
• Lesson 19 – Common Hip Dysfunctions
• Lesson 20 – Common Knee Dysfunctions
• Lesson 21 – Common Dysfunctions of the Lower Extremity
• Lesson 22 – Low Back Pain
• Lesson 23 – Arthritis
• Lesson 24 – Osteoporosis
• Lesson 25 – Business Application
• Competency Assessment
• Epilogue: What To Do Next
• Appendices

Course Delivery and Assessment

This is an online course; all materials are delivered virtually. This course is delivered through a written course manual and video narrated slide presentations. Comprehension of the material will be measured via a mandatory, multiple-choice item, competency assessment requiring a minimum of 80% correct responses in order to pass.

Renewal of Specialization

The Medical Fitness Specialist Certificate of Specialization will be considered valid for a period of two years. To keep the certificate current, you must complete 10 hours of continuing education, on relevant subject matter, and formally renew the certificate prior to the date of its expiration. As with many certifications and specializations in our field, professionals should anticipate some costs to continuing education and renewal of this certificate.

A fitness professional holding current this Certificate of Specialization is encouraged to list themselves as a Medical Fitness Specialist on the MedFit Network (MFN). Being listed on the MFN, and having this additional qualification is a true differentiator, and one that greatly improves the chance of receiving a referral from the MFN when consumers search the MFN directory in their area.

MedFit Classroom CEUs

This course provides 10 CEUs toward renewal of MedFit Classroom fitness specializations.

Continuing Education Credits

This course is approved for credit by:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE) to provide 1.9 CEUs
• canfitpro to provide 4 CECs.
• International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) to provide 20 CEUs.
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) to provide 1.9 CEUs

If your certifying body is not listed, you will be provided with a Certificate of Specialization at the end of the course that can be used to petition your certifying body for credit.

About the Course Author

Dan Mikeska’s mission is to improve population health and to increase the quality of life by connecting education, medicine, and fitness. This goal can be achieved by providing an educational pathway for fitness professionals who want to become respected members of the healthcare community, prompting clinicians to prescribe exercise, and encouraging patients to enlist the services of a qualified fitness professional.

Dan’s philosophy centers on the fact that human movement is a complicated and coordinated effort between your muscles, skeleton, and metabolism, and everyone is different. Knowing how each of the systems of the bodywork, independently and in concert, is essential in the development of an effective fitness program.

In addition to a doctorate degree in Health Science and a master’s degree in Human Movement, Dan has some of the most sought after certifications from The National Academy of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, the Cancer Exercise Training Institute, and the Exercise is Medicine credential from the American College of Sports Medicine.

His education and vast experience have given him the opportunity to work with notable organizations such as Life with Cancer and 2Unstoppable, as well as teach fitness and wellness classes at Northern Virginia Community College. He is currently adjunct faculty for A.T. Still University’s master’s of Kinesiology program, and is a member of the Industry Advisory Council for American Public University’s Sports and Health Science program.