We all recall the images and stories surrounding fitness pioneer Jack LaLanne. In his day, staying fit focused almost solely upon movement, muscle mass and clean nutrition. While these remain priorities for today’s fitness professionals, our ever-changing world of technology introduces us to new trends designed to facilitate the promotion of a more holistic approach to exercise, incorporating mental health as well. Read on to learn more about the exciting changes that await tomorrow’s emerging personal trainers and their clients.
The Data-Driven Approach
Technology seems to infiltrate and commandeer almost every professional and recreational realm these days. While perhaps challenging to grasp at first, sticking with the effort and getting onboard can provide a whole host of positive fitness-related attributes.
Below we list some of the more popular forms of data-driven programming ~
- Mobile Exercise Apps. With 850 million downloads last year, mobile fitness apps guided users to create flexible, customizable exercise programs that align well with wearable technology. A word of caution, however: not all of these downloads adhere strictly to industry evidence-based guidelines. Therefore, retaining one’s health and fitness professionals will always guarantee the best possible outcome for the user.
- Wearable Technology. A variety of fitness trackers, heart rate monitors and smartwatches offer feedback on physical activity, in real time. Many can also track health markers and more, encouraging positive behavior changes in users.
- Data-Driven Training Technology. These devices make use of real-time biofeedback, such as heart rate variability, which enables users to adjust workouts accordingly. In a desire to help promote safer workouts, these prove virtually essential for individuals living with conditions such as cardiometabolic disease.
- Persuasive Technology. This application demonstrates great potential for helping to promote physical activity. Persuasive technology aims to literally change individuals’ attitudes or behaviors through persuasion and social influence. Current research places most of its focuse on interactive and computational technologies such as video games, desktop computers, the Internet, and mobile devices. Another aspect of persuasive technology incorporates behavioral theories and human-computer interactions.
- Exergaming. Exergaming’s innovative approach strives to promote physical activity across many population demographics, including children. In one review, scientists explored the present and future status of exergaming as it applies to the health and education field, particularly among diverse populations. Their hypothesis panned out: researchers reported how the use of exergaming created opportunities for physical activity while touting overall wellness. With the ability to reach specific populations and deliver a message that exercise and fun do in fact correlate, children living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found positive fulfillment.
- Virtual/Augmented Reality. While requiring some specialized equipment, these workouts continue to top the charts as more workout junkies seek immersive fitness experiences. These workouts, while creative, fun and engaging, have created an opportunity for inclusivity as they increase the accessibility of fun fitness for individuals living with mobility issues. Along these same lines, technology promises the advent of cutting-edge augmented reality contact lenses, which could provide heads-up fitness displays during workouts. Companies continue to figure out the best uses and interfaces for this new brand of technology.
The Emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Genetics-Based Health
Artificial intelligence seems to have hit the ground running, touching every aspect of our daily lives as it passes through. AI-driven health devices as an industry expect to reach a value of close to $270 billion by 2025.
Artificial intelligence-powered fitness apps offer customized workout recommendations based upon one’s physical health levels, as well incorporating his personal fitness goals. These recommendations may include the type of workout, level of difficulty, number of reps, and/or length of workout.
The emerging field of factoring in one’s genetic make-up into exercise/wellness will continue its growth and expansion. The technology enables a participant to obtain a DNA analysis that provides personalized health and fitness recommendations based on unique genetic “fingerprints” such as metabolism, muscle mass, endurance response, and optimal nutritional plan.
Making Health Personal
Biohacking, biology practice aimed at improving health, performance, and well-being through strategic intervention, also offers promise for the year ahead. Nutrigenomics, one particular application of biohacking, focuses on how the food one consumes interacts with one’s unique genome. Using this type of biohacking, coaches and trainers will have the tools to map out and optimize how different nutrients affect the way their clients think, feel, and behave. More extreme biohackers go a step further by actually modifying their bodies, embedding magnets, chips, or computers under their skin.
The Old-School Approaches Continue to Thrive
As enticing as it seems to jump onboard with the latest technology in the fitness realm, keep in mind that in the coming year, those tried-and-true modes of exercise continue to have a significant stake in the game. Consider incorporating some of the ideas listed below, along with the newer applications ~
- Fitness Programs for Older Adults.These ongoing programs gain more momentum with each passing year, as our industry must respect the aging U.S. population. Exercise programs targeting strength and balance are vital. Many of today’s seniors deal with muscle loss and compromised gait/balance/stability. Seasoned professionals, who tend to work more frequently with an older demographic, can continue helping these seniors maintain independence and improve quality of life.
As the baby boomer generation ages, many companies are focusing on unique ways to help seniors stay mobile and fit. Virtual and augmented reality offers the possibility of exercising from any location, at any level, as these individuals face age -or health-related limitations.
- Exercise for Weight Loss.With global obesity rates continuing to rise, weight loss remains a high priority for many fitness programs. To help in this battle, traditional strength training continues its popularity. This practice, which includes lifting free weights and using proper technique, helps adults meet physical activity guidelines for muscle strength. While many adults today fail to meet government/health standards for physical activity and strength maintenance, structured strength programs can make fitness accessible and beneficial for all.
- Exercise for Mental Health.This method of training holds the potential to reduce anxiety, stress and depression. Many experienced personal trainers seek out specific certifications in mental health training, and the trend keeps rising.
- Functional Fitness Training.This form of training focuses on exercises that improve daily movement patterns, or activities of daily life (ADL). With such training, we can continue to benefit not only our country’s ageing population but also those needing rehabilitation.
- Health/Wellness Coaching. Tapping into the realm of behavioral science, motivational interviewing and empathy-based coaching, personal trainers can help clients build healthier habits as they transition to healthier lifestyle changes. Such coaching styles goes a long way toward building deeper and more meaningful client relationships.
Working Out Where We Work
The concept of worksite health promotion pairs a trainer with a corporation with the goal of offering its employees on-site fitness and wellness programming. The biggest advantage of this ideal revolves around having a set of clients in one place, available at relatively predictable times of the workday. Such a business connection forges community relationships as well as establishing stability of a trainer’s business.
Reimbursement for Qualified Exercise Professionals
The exercise industry continues to advocate for the expansion of “current procedural terminology” or “CPT” codes, in an effort to include fitness-related services as well as the recognition of trainers and coaches as “qualified exercise professionals,” or “QEPs.” Health care providers use CPT codes, maintained by the American Medical Association, to characterize the services they provide. This reflects the codes utilized in medical billing for insurance purposes. If the industry can succeed in getting qualifying fitness professionals classified as QEPs, it increases the likelihood that trainers could use such codes to the clients’ advantage. This two-pronged approach hopes to make it easier for fitness professionals to get paid for their services, as well as getting these services covered by clients’ insurance policies. Given the importance of physical activity to overall health, such recognition would represent a giant leap both for fitness professionals and the clientele they serve.
Stay Tuned to the Future
All of these ideals and technological advancements point to a perfect time for anyone considering a career in coaching or personal training to take that final step. With stable ideas on fitness still very much in play, and newer exciting methods on the horizon, the fitness industry shall continue to thrive for many generations to come.
References:
Cathleen Kronemer is an NFPT CEC writer and a member of the NFPT Certification Council Board. Cathleen is an AFAA-Certified Group Exercise Instructor, NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer, ACE-Certified Health Coach, former competitive bodybuilder and freelance writer. She is employed at the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis, MO. Cathleen has been involved in the fitness industry for over three decades. Feel free to contact her at trainhard@kronemer.com. She welcomes your feedback and your comments!
