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ACE Personal Trainer Manual, 4th edition

Chapter 7:

Functional Assessments: Posture, Movement, Core, Balance, and Flexibility

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Learning Objectives

 This session, which is based on Chapter 7 of the ACE Personal Trainer Manual (4th ed.), explains the importance of various functional assessments and outlines how to properly perform each.  After completing this session, you will have a better understanding of:

– How to set up a plumb line to conduct a basic postural assessment. – How to identify five key postural deviations.

– How to conduct various movement screens, including clearing tests.

– How to conduct key flexibility (muscle-length) assessments.

– How to evaluate balance and core function.

Introduction

 Sequencing a client’s assessments involves consideration of protocol selection and timing of the assessments.  The physiological assessments must be consistent with the client’s goals and desires, and with the discoveries made during the needs assessment.

 One primary objective of all training programs should be to improve functionality (movement efficiency).

Movement Efficiency

 Movement efficiency is the ability to generate appropriate levels of force and movement at desired joints while stabilizing the entire kinetic chain against reactive and gravity-based forces.

– All movement begins and ends from a static base, ideally a position where all body segments are optimally aligned.

– Since movement originates from this base, a postural assessment should be conducted to evaluate body-segment alignment.

– Additionally, movement screens that evaluate how posture impacts the ability to move should be incorporated.

Static Posture

 Static posture represents the alignment of the body’s segments.

– Holding a proper postural position involves the actions of postural muscles.

 Good posture is a state of musculoskeletal alignment that allows muscles, joints, and nerves to function efficiently.

– If a client exhibits...