CHAPTER 3: Communication And Teaching Techniques

Question 1

What are the four stages of early the client-trainer relationship?

Answer 1

1. Rapport:
   - making good first impressions
   - utilizing verbal communication
   - utilizing nonverbal communication
2. Investigation Stage:
   - gathering information
   - demonstrating effective listening
   - responding to difficult disclosures
3. Planning Stage:
   - setting goals
   - discuss and generate alternatives
   - formulating plan
   - evaluate exercise program
   - use motivational interviewing techniques
4. Action Stage:
   - setting up self-monitoring system
   - individualizing teaching techniques
   - using tell, show, do approach
   - providing feedback
   - using effective modeling
   - creating behavioral contracts

Question 2

What does a SMART Goal consist of?

Answer 2

1. Specific (clear; unambiguous)
2. Measurable (clearly measurable)
3. Attainable (realistic)
4. Relevant (to the client’s interests/needs/attributes)
5. Time-bound (timeline for completion)

Question 3

What information does a Trainer need to gather before beginning to plan a program for their client?

Answer 3

Client’s health and fitness data

e.g. test results, medical clearance, client’s goals, and exercise history

Question 4

What is a “process goal”?

Answer 4

A goal achieved by DOING

e.g. completing an exercise session

Question 5

What is a “progress goal”?

Answer 5

Something that is ACHIEVED

e.g. weight loss or a new PR

Question 6

What are some Fitness Indicators for SMART GOAL SETTING?

Answer 6

1. Emotional Health Indicators:
   (improved mood, energy, sleep…less stress, anxiety or irritability)
2. Resting Heart Rate:
   (Clients new to exercise usually experience a decrease in RHR within a few months of training)
3. Heart Rate During Submaximal Workload:
   (clients performing aerobic exercise on a given machine with a given load should experience a decrease in exercise heart rate)
4. Muscular Strength & Endurance:
   (Occurs fairly quickly within a few months of an exercise program. Resistance and reps are easily measured)
5. Walking Test:
   (timed walking test improvements)
6. Flexibility:
   (Slow to improve and should only be included if stretching is a regular part of the program)
7. Balance:
   (balance programs are increasingly popular among older adults)
8. Skill Level:
   (for sports; improved motor skills)
9. Medical Indicators:
   (resting blood pressure, blood lipid levels, blood sugar levels improve)
10. Bodyweight:
    (easily measurable, yet it’s a poor indicator of body composition. Slow weight loss is more likely to lead to long-term weight reduction)
11. Body Size:
    (e. g. waist measurements, the way clothes fit)
12. Body Composition:
    (skinfolds, dexa scan)

Question 7

How to set Health & Fitness Goals that motivates clients for Long-Term adherence?

Answer 7

1. Listen carefully to understand what client really wants to achieve
2. Help them define specific; measurable goals
3. Suggest additional goals
   (e. g. feeling energetic/less stressed)
4. Break 6+ months goals down into 8-10 week goals, and even further into weekly goals (certain # of sessions)
5. Record goals and track progress
6. Help client understand how the exercises and sessions will help them achieve their goals
7. Re-evaluate and revise goals periodically to prevent discouragement. The only way you won’t achieve your goal is if you give up!

Question 8

What are the 3 stages of motor learning?

Answer 8

1. Cognitive Stage
   
   • Clients try to understand the new skill
   • movements are uncoordinated and jerky
   • use “tell, show, do” method of teaching and give ample opportunity for practice
   • Don’t overwhelm them with too many new motor skills
2. Associative Stage:
   
   • Client begins to master new skill and is ready to receive more specific feedback
   • make sure they learn proper form
3. Autonomous Stage:
   
   • performing motor skills effectively and naturally
   • time for introducing new exercises or routines; repeat process

Question 9

What is Motivational Interviewing?

Answer 9

This refers to a method of speaking with people in a way that motivates them to make decision to change their behavior.

The goal is to create awareness that is sedentary lifestyle will likely cause health problems.

Some techniques are as follows:

1. Ask Probing Questions:
   Ask clients open ended questions about their daily activity levels, health concerns, and physical activity history with the intention of helping the client conclude that good health is important and physical activity is essential for good health
2. Listen Carefully:
   Listening carefully can help the personal trainer uncover valuable information and show clients they are respected, even when the trainer and client don’t see eye to eye
3. Provide Educational Information:
   Trainer should explain the dangers 730 lifestyle and the health benefits of regular physical activity
4. Keep Conversation Friendly
5. Build self-confidence:
   Identify areas of success, no matter how small. For example praise a client who currently walks their dog twice a day for five minutes, and suggest that perhaps they could start slowly increasing that time
6. Encourage Clients to Generate Ideas:
   If clients seem willing to make even the small changes, the trainer should let them take the lead in making suggestions that might work for them

Question 10

Preferred Learning Style Indicators:

Visual

Answer 10

Client Actions:

• watches intently
• prefers reading

Client Statement:
“Oh I see” or “Let me see that again”

Strategy:
-Demonstrations

Question 11

Learning Style Indicators:

Auditory

Answer 11

Client Actions:

• Listens Carefully
• Prefers hearing

Client Statement:
- “Yeah I hear you on that one” or “Say that one more time”

Strategy:
Question and Answer

Question 12

Learning Style Indicators: Kinesthetic

Answer 12

Client Actions:

• Touches or holds
• Prefers to be spotted

Client Statement:
- “I feel that” or “This doesn’t feel right”

Strategy:
-Hands On Supervision