Knowing Your Clients Physical Abilities

You're my new client, we talk, we meet, I MAY know what you've done on paper, but I have to see how your body moves with my own eyes. 
You see, if we are going to work together, there will be a 2-way street of communication.  I will understand, after talking with you, what it is you want, your goal.  But, the reality is, I can't formulate an effective plan until I see how your body moves and if you have the flexibility, stability and strength to get into certain positions.  This is another form of communication, you communicating through your movement and ability where we start with your exercise progressions. This is the KEY, you may be telling me one thing with your words, but your body movement may be saying another.  Movement always trumps words, unless those words are: that hurts, I can't or something doesn't feel right....  We immediately stop here.  These words require more information to be gathered.  That's when it pays to have an attentive, responsible trainer; one who can communicate.

I start my clients out with a Physical Screen and Posture Assessment.  This is my 1st meeting with a client in the gym. The screen and assessment is broken down into 4 parts and takes about 45 minutes to an hour.  I focus on the client's:

1. Flexibility/Mobility
2. Neuromuscular Efficiency (or Balance)
3. Stability
4. Functional Movement 

The answers revealed from this process allow us to intelligently begin a structured exercise program.  One where we can have structure to progress through. 

The structure follows around the basis of these Four Physical Pre-Requisites:

1. Flexibility: of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints so that we create a balanced body, one where we correct any current muscle imbalances. I must see that your body can get into proper positions.
2. Static and Dynamic Stability:  1st we develop a stable body in a fixed position, after we are proficient here, we progress to having stable body segments while moving.
3. Strength Development:  here we always start with bodyweight before we introduce an external load.
4. Power:  the fourth and final component, and one that never starts until we have demonstrated good ability with the other 3.  Power is a combination of strength and speed and necessitates flexibility, stability, and strength.

I follow this process with my General Training Clients, High Performance Clients, and Golf-Specific Clients.  I must know or have an understanding of my client's abilities.  This allows us to be SAFE, know where to realistically begin, and have a means to both quantify and qualify progress they've made with physical ability. 
This starts us on the healthy path of Good Movement with their body.  A body that will support the things they love to do.