NASM-SFS study plan

Distinguish the SFS scope-of-practice boundaries from those of a licensed physical therapist, dietitian, and physician, listing at least five tasks that must be referred out

Define the terms scope of practice, standard of care, negligence, and informed consent as they apply to training older adults, and explain each in your own words

Summarize the physiological changes of aging across the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular systems, naming at least three changes per system

Explain how sarcopenia, reduced bone mineral density, and altered balance and gait mechanics raise fall risk in clients over 65

Describe two psychological considerations of aging (e.g., exercise self-efficacy, social isolation, fear of falling) and how each shapes program adherence

Compare the major physical activity and exercise guidelines for older adults and identify the minimum aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and balance recommendations

Explain how polypharmacy, arthritis, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes modify exercise selection, intensity, and monitoring for an older client

Select and justify screening tools for pre-participation health screening of older adults, including when medical clearance is warranted

Practice administering at least three functional assessments used with older adults (e.g., 30-second chair stand, 8-foot up-and-go, sit-and-reach) and record normative values

Interpret a completed health history and functional assessment to flag red flags that require referral or program modification

Design and rehearse a standardized assessment battery covering cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, balance, and body composition for an older adult

Explain the purpose, procedure, safety precautions, and scoring of each test in your battery so you could teach it to a colleague

Identify when a submaximal test is appropriate and when a maximal test requires physician supervision

Describe the components of an exercise session (warm-up, conditioning, cool-down) and the rationale for each in older adults

Explain how to progress or regress each training component using the principles of overload, specificity, and reversibility

Build an 8-week resistance training progression for an older beginner that specifies exercises, sets, reps, tempo, rest intervals, and progression criteria

Apply the OPT model or an equivalent periodization framework to sequence stabilization, strength, and power phases for an older client

Prescribe aerobic exercise using intensity markers (RPE, talk test, heart rate reserve) appropriate for older adults on beta-blockers or with limited mobility

Design a balance and mobility progression that moves from static to dynamic and from stable to unstable surfaces while maintaining safety

Write flexibility and range-of-motion prescriptions that account for joint replacement precautions and osteoporotic fracture risk

Adapt your 8-week program for three distinct profiles: a client with knee osteoarthritis, a client post-stroke with hemiparesis, and a frail client using a walker

Justify exercise modifications using joint-specific precautions, fatigue management, and fall-prevention strategies

Explain how to monitor exercise intensity and readiness to train using session RPE, pain scales, and recovery markers

Identify signs and symptoms that require stopping a session immediately and the appropriate response for each

Incorporate motivational interviewing and goal-setting techniques into a coaching script for a client with low exercise self-efficacy

Summarize current nutrition recommendations for older adults, including protein intake, hydration, fiber, calcium, and vitamin D, and explain the rationale for each

Explain how age-related changes such as reduced thirst sensation, decreased gastric acid, and altered taste and smell affect nutritional risk

Identify signs of malnutrition and dehydration in older clients and describe when to refer to a registered dietitian

Describe how to coordinate nutrition guidance with an exercise program without exceeding your scope of practice

Evaluate common supplement claims and fad diets marketed to older adults against the evidence and identify red flags of misinformation

Draft a business plan outline for an older-adult fitness service that identifies target market, service model, pricing, and delivery format

Explain how to build referral relationships with physicians, physical therapists, senior centers, and assisted living facilities while staying within scope

Describe ethical marketing practices for older adults, including avoiding exaggerated claims and respecting cognitive and sensory limitations in messaging

Identify the documentation, consent, and liability practices a trainer should maintain when working with older clients

Revisit your scope-of-practice sheet from week 1 and revise it with everything learned since

Complete a full-length timed practice exam under test conditions and score it by domain

Analyze missed items by domain and write a corrective note for each concept you missed twice or more

Re-teach the three weakest domains aloud or in writing as if instructing a new client

Review your week 1 through week 7 deliverables and consolidate them into a single study binder with an index

Build a final-week review checklist of high-yield facts, normative values, and referral triggers to revisit before exam day