By: Chris Parchmann and the Ageility Team
Designing fitness programs for older adults is a complex process. Ageility always tailors the training plan to clients’ goals. Several variables must be taken into consideration, especially when someone is training for a particular sport. Ageility personal fitness trainers begin this process at the first meeting with each person that generally involves a needs analysis. The needs analysis generally involves two components that include an evaluation of the requirements and characteristics of the sport and an assessment of the athlete.
Evaluation of the Sport
The first task of the needs analysis is to determine the unique characteristics of the sport. This information allows the Ageility personal fitness trainer to design a program specific to those requirements and characteristics. Although this objective can be approached in several ways, the following attributes of the sport should be given attention. Movement analysis that identifies movement patterns and muscular involvement. Physiological analysis to determine strength, power, hypertrophy, and muscular endurance priorities. Injury analysis that pinpoints common joint and muscle injury sites and contributing factors. Additional sport characteristics such as cardiovascular endurance, speed, agility, and flexibility should also be assessed.
Assessment of the Client
The second part of the needs analysis involves an assessment. Ageility develops a profile of the athlete’s needs and goals, conducts a variety of tests (i.e. strength testing), evaluates the results, and determines the best approach for the training program. The more individualized the assessment process, the more specific a program can be designed to each individual. An athlete’s current condition to begin a new or revised program is an important consideration when designing fitness training programs. This may include an evaluation of a therapist of any current or previous injuries that may affect the training. In addition, the individual’s exercise history that involves training that occurred before the new program is very important to understand the individual’s capabilities.
Ageility evaluates several factors in an athlete’s training program. The subsequent factors are often considered to determine training background. The type of training program helps to understand what the athlete has done in the past to improve fitness levels (i.e. resistance, long distance running, etc.). Information on the length of recent consistent participation in previous training programs. Level of intensity of past training programs communicates how training variables may be manipulated to induce improvements. The degree of exercise technique experience that comprises the knowledge and skill to perform exercise properly. Ageility compiles the aforementioned information to help classify the individual’s training status as beginner (Level 1), intermediate (Level 2), or advanced (Level 3) and modifies the program accordingly.
Ageility incorporates physical evaluation as part of a fitness assessment to gather information on areas such as muscular strength, balance, aerobic endurance, and flexibility. Testing is often related to the athlete’s sport, level of skill, and equipment available. The movement, physiological, and injury prevention analyses previously discussed provide direction in selecting assessment tests. Ageility compares testing results to normative data and past performance measures to determine the individual’s strengths and weaknesses. Based on these findings a training program can be developed to improve deficiencies, maintain strengths, and further develop physiological qualities that can enable the athlete better meet the demands of the sport. The following is an example needs analysis for an older adult tennis player provided by Ageility:
NEEDS ANALYSIS
*The following is an example and not meant to take place of a comprehensive exam. Please consult your physician before partaking in an exercise program.*
- Client
- Male / Female
- Age: 55+
- Competitive tennis athlete (league play)
- Goals
- Injury prevention
- Maintain or increase lean body mass and decrease fat mass
- Increase strength and power
- Increase speed and agility
- Increase anaerobic endurance
- Energy Systems
- ~70% Anaerobic, ~30% Aerobic
- ~1:2 Work to rest ratio
- < 10 seconds per point
- ~ 3 meters per shot (3 shots per point)
- ~ 3000 meters per match (< 1 hour to > 4 hours)
- Biomechanical
- Dynamic lower limb function
- Hip, knee flexion (~75°) and extension
- Dynamic shoulder function
- Large velocities through internal rotation
- Large range of motion through circumduction
- Trunk Rotation
- Common Injury Sites
- Rotator cuff
- Elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Individual Concerns
- Fatigued late in matches
- Arthritic joints
