How do you adjust your client's training plan?

1 Assess regularly

The first step to adjust your client's training plan is to assess their functional fitness regularly. Functional training assessment is a process of measuring your client's performance in various movements and tasks that are relevant to their daily life, sport, or occupation. You can use tools such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), the Y Balance Test (YBT), or the Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) to evaluate your client's mobility, stability, strength, endurance, balance, coordination, and power. You should conduct a functional training assessment before starting a new program, every 4-6 weeks during the program, and after completing the program.

2 Analyze the results

The next step is to analyze the results of your client's functional training assessment and identify their strengths, weaknesses, areas of improvement, and potential risks. You should compare their current scores with their previous scores, their baseline scores, and their target scores. You should also look for any asymmetries, imbalances, or compensations in their movement patterns. You should use the results to determine if your client has achieved their goals, if they need to modify their goals, or if they have new goals.

3 Adjust the variables

The third step is to adjust the variables of your client's training plan based on the analysis of their functional training assessment. The variables include the frequency, intensity, duration, volume, type, and progression of the exercises. You should increase or decrease these variables depending on your client's level of fitness, performance, and adaptation. You should also consider your client's preferences, feedback, and motivation. You should use the principles of specificity, overload, and variation to design a training plan that is tailored to your client's functional needs and goals.

4 Monitor and communicate

The final step is to monitor and communicate with your client throughout the training plan. You should observe your client's response to the exercises, such as their form, technique, speed, range of motion, pain, fatigue, and enjoyment. You should also ask your client for their feedback, such as their satisfaction, confidence, comfort, and challenges. You should use these information to make any necessary changes to the training plan or to provide encouragement, support, and education. You should also document your client's progress and achievements using objective and subjective measures.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?