Cody Sipe

One of the next big trends in fitness is combined physical-cognitive training, which can benefit exercisers of all ages, whether they want to stay mentally sharp as they age or gain a competitive edge. Here are just a few fun low-tech ways to start introducing cognitive load into your exercise programs.

Baby boomers who once fueled the growth of the fitness industry in their younger years are now gravitating toward fitness-related activities, including athletic competition, in their later years. This presents a significant opportunity for health and exercise professionals who are interested in serving this population. Learn more about some of the unique characteristics of senior athletes and how to develop safe and effective training programs that help them reach their competitive goals.

People with knee or other joint replacements have different needs when it comes to exercise. Review these potential limitations they may have.

When you are training older clients, taking the time to identify your clients’ specific needs, likes and wants is a great way to help them make the connection between exercise and their daily lives, and can have a major impact on their commitment to exercise.

Do you have an accurate vision of what it’s like to train older adults? Many people harbor stereotypes about working with older populations, but most of these couldn’t be further from the truth. Learn about these common misconceptions and why training this often-underserved and overlooked population could lead to your greatest success.

Circuit training can be a great format for training older clients of all ages and ability levels, as it creates an environment of social interaction, motivation and fun, which is critical to engaging and retaining this population. Learn how to create effective functional circuits that address the wide-ranging needs and fitness levels of your older clients.

Two of the top three concerns for older adults are losing their functional abilities and cognitive abilities. Fortunately, many of the same exercise strategies and techniques that improve physical function are cognitively stimulating as well. Here are some effective training strategies for helping your clients improve both physical and cognitive functioning.

Did you know that muscle power is an important factor for aging well? If you are interested in implementing more power training into the programs of your older clients, here are some important guiding principles to consider, along with some fun and effective exercises that are appropriate for this population.

The same strategies that contribute to a healthy heart—eating well, staying physically active, keeping stress levels low, maintaining a healthy weight—can also contribute to a healthy brain. Learn about additional steps you can help your clients take, such as adding complex and novel movement patterns, to enhance brain health and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Improving physical function should be one of your primary objectives when working with your older clients. Because older adults vary widely in their physical abilities, conducting some initial functional assessments is necessary for you to be able to design the most effective programs for each client. Here are three assessments you can use to determine the types of training that you will want to include in each older client’s program.