Course Descriptions

Term 1 - Basic Exercise Science

The first ten weeks of the program focuses on creating and implementing exercise regimens for seemingly healthy adults free from orthopedic injuries interested in improving health-related fitness parameters. This program also prepares participants to take entry-level national certification exams for personal trainers and exercise instructors.

The two courses in this term are:

This lecture course covers physiological principles that lead to development of safe, relevant and effective exercise regimens.

This practical course gives students hands-on instruction in basic testing procedures for body composition, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, aerobic capacity and cardiovascular risk factor assessment.

The principles learned in Exercise Physiology will be applied to designing exercise programs and individualized workout sessions using a combination of mat work, calisthenics, resistance tubing, free weights and circuit training equipment. There is an additional gym fee for this course.

Term 2 - Advanced Personal Training

The second ten weeks of the program focuses on the physiological principles and hands-on skills needed to design and implement safe, relevant and effective exercise programs for populations with special needs (those with cardiovascular, neurological and metabolic diseases, as well as pregnant and older populations), for weight control or reduction, and/or athletic individuals seeking to enhance their performance beyond health-related fitness parameters.

The three courses in this term are:

This practical/lab course, which meets for the first five-weeks, focuses on the skills necessary for evaluating cardiovascular capacity using sub-maximal graded exercise tests. Application of results will be used to prescribe appropriate intensity level for exercise on a variety of cardiovascular exercise equipment utilizing common metabolic equations.

This lecture course meets for the second five-weeks and covers the guidelines for safe weight control and the principles underlying many of today's popular diet regimens.

Program Design with Intermediate to Advanced Exercise Prescription

This ten-week course is a combination or practical and lecture classes that cover the theoretical basis and application of common variations in strength training regimens. Functional anatomy, biomechanics and common injuries to the major joints of the body will be reviewed, as well as guidelines for clients with disorders such as diabetes and hypertension.

The practical/lab portion of the course gives instruction in intermediate to advanced level exercises using stability balls, balance apparatus, and alternate exercises that use body weight, resistance tubing, free weights and circuit training equipment.

Required participation in the Fitness Fairs we hold for the public at a local gym allows students to practice what they have learned on people outside of the classroom, an opportunity which accelerates the learning curve exponentially.

Basic Science Prerequisites

Prospective students who need 16 credits of anatomy and physiology can take the following classes through the Swedish Institute’s Massage Therapy Program:

Anatomy and Physiology I

This course is an introduction to human anatomy and physiology. It addresses homeostasis as an organizing principle of the body and covers the major systems, anatomical terminology, anatomical relationships, and the role of the skeletal system in movement and posture. The course introduces the basic chemistry necessary to understand life processes, elementary cell anatomy and physiology, metabolism, the histology of epithelial, connective, and muscle tissue, and the physiology of skeletal muscle contraction. The course includes lecture format presentations, examination of skeletons, video presentations of cadaver anatomy, and movement labs. 4.0 credits
Prerequisites: None

Myology and Kinesiology

This course is a detailed exploration of the human muscular system. It covers all the major muscles of the axial and appendicular segments of the body. The location, origins, insertions, actions, postural considerations, and how to place on the slack and stretch, will be presented for each muscle. This course consists of lectures, viewing of cadavers at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and in-class video presentations of cadaver prosections. 4.0 credits
Prerequisites: None

Neurology

This course is an introduction to the nervous system. It looks at the basic types of cells that comprise nerve tissue and the physiology of the nerve impulse, including the role of neurotransmitters in the transmission of impulses across the synapse. It will also cover the anatomy of the spinal cord, spinal meninges, spinal nerves, spinal nerve plexuses, terminal nerve pathways and points of endangerment and entrapment. The role of the brain in movement control and re-education, general and special sensory processing, pain, proprioception, posture, and equilibrium control is reviewed. The autonomic nervous system, its role in the regulation of visceral functions, and the relationship between visceral and somatic functions, is also covered. 4.0 credits
Prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I, Myology and Kinesiology

Anatomy and Physiology II

This course covers the endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems. The cells, tissues, and organs of each system are presented along with basic normal physiology. There will be a discussion of the role of each system in maintaining homeostasis and health. The effects of massage on the normal functioning of each system and correlations between Eastern and Western physiology will also be presented. Students will observe a cadaver presentation of the brain, spinal cord and viscera of the body at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. 4.0 credits
Prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I, Myology and Kinesiology

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