Baby Boomers and Beyond (ages 45-62+)!

in a most enjoyable and employable manner. Applying these materials to senior programs should make a
remarkable improvement in the training outcomes.
Wayne L. Westcott, Ph.D., CSCS
Fitness Research Director
South Shore YMCA
Quincy, Massachusetts
SrFit – Table of Contents
• Introduction – Physical inactivity is a major health risk to people of all ages.
• Aging: What Is It? – A look at chronological vs. biological age, and a detailed look at how aging
affects every organ system.
• General Diet and Nutrition – General information on things like trans-fats and fiber, and also a
discussion of the effects of aging on the nutritional health of older people.
• Lifestyle Modifications, Risk Factors and Disease – A look at different lifestyle and chronic
diseases and in-depth explanations of risk factors and the positive changes that people should
be making.
• Health Assessment, Evaluation and Fitness Testing – Who needs to consult a doctor; health
assessment tools, and fitness testing specifics for older adults.
• Flexibility – Guidelines specific to seniors and exercises to increase flexibility, and specific
programs for different purposes.
• Endurance – Guidelines specific to seniors and a discussion of exercises to increase
endurance, along with a special section of “alternative exercises” suited to special
circumstances such as water exercise, lack of equipment, and the need for the client to be
seated.
• Strength Training – Guidelines specific to seniors and exercises to increase strength, with the
focus on exercises that incorporate the balance ball, resistance bands and dumbbells.
• Chronic Diseases and Exercise – Exercise considerations when designing programs for clients
with specific chronic diseases.
• Low Back Pain, Posture, and Balance – A discussion of each of these areas, with specific
exercises to fight low back pain, improve posture and balance.
• Lifetime Sports: Golf, Tennis and Swimming – Specific exercises that will improve your client’s
game (and make you their hero!), along with information on getting clients involved in the
Senior Olympics.
• Motivation – Identification of exercise barriers for older adults, the six stages of exercise
adoption, and understanding ageism.
• Building Your Business as a Personal Trainer of Older Adults – Insights and in-depth information
resources aimed at helping you build your business as a personal trainer of older adults;
including recommendations for business, marketing and publicity tools from experts in those
fields.
• Web Links – Links to articles, Fact Sheets and resources from organizations like the National
Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging. Also links to files containing forms
like the health assessment form and physician cover letter that were discussed in SrFit.
• SrFit Virtual Appendices - A wealth of online resources provided in PDF file format.