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Who is a Post Rehabilitation Specialist?
To date, there is NO post rehabilitation certification that exists, includes or teaches the foundational knowledge and skillset behind human movement and rehabilitation like the CPRS.
By Chris Gellert, PT, MMusc & Sportsphysio, MPT, CSCS, C-IASTM, CPC
Background
In the United States there is approximately, 109 different fitness agencies that certify personal trainers to date. Within those agencies, there are a multitude of different certifications that exist. The Corrective Exercise Specialist(CES), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist(CSCS), and the Certified Health Fitness Specialist (CHFS), all have been around for years recognized as top certifications. What makes these certifications stand out? They stand out because of the content and material covered within the certification, rigorous testing demands and most of all, the science that supports these certifications.
Introduction
There is a new certification on the block. The Post Rehabilitation Specialist (CPRS) was created by Pinnacle Training & Consulting Systems in 2020 for a reason. To bridge the gap between health and wellness. To teach, stimulate and challenge personal trainers to understand the foundation science, functional assessments and application science behind movement. To date, there is NO post rehabilitation certification that exists, includes or teaches the foundational knowledge and skillset behind human movement and rehabilitation like the CPRS.
Components
The CPRS is delivered as a home study platform. Comprised of ten different home study courses that include:
Course 1: Anatomy and functional anatomy behind human movement
Course 2: Joint movements and actions
Course 3: Understanding the kinetic chain
Course 4: Foundation of Biomechanics and Biomechanics of movement
Course 5: Musculoskeletal and Movement Screening
Course 6: Rehabilitation Principles
Course 7: Foundation of Exercise and Exercise prescription
Course 8: Foundation of periodization training
Course 9: Common movement dysfunctions of the orthopedic, neuromuscular, CP/CV & special populations
Course 10: Scope of Practice of CPRS and Marketing Post Rehabilitative Service
Each course manual includes graphics, tables, and figures that enhance the learning of the material. At the end of each course is a practice examination, to test one’s knowledge and retention of material studied. In addition there are over 50 optional videos that can be watched that supplement the written material to enhance the learning experience.
Why become CPRS?
The CPRS is based on science, evidenced based research with practical application. The CPRS is nationally approved by the following: ACE 3.5 CEUs, NASM 1.9 CEUs, NATA-BOC 12 CEUs, NFPT 4 CEUs and NSCA 1.9 CEUs. The certification is comprehensive, challenging and most of all, has practical application that enables the CPRS to work with any client, safely, understanding the science behind the movement.
The Certified Post Rehabilitation Specialist (CPRS) certification is for the fitness and health professional looking to learn and truly understand the fundamentals of human movement, rehabilitation, exercise prescription, periodization training and offer post rehabilitation training to post rehab clients. It is important to note the CPRS learns to identify those clients he/she can effectively work with, and those that must be referred to a medical professional. In addition, the CPRS is not trained to provide any form of medical treatment including physical therapy, chiropractic or massage therapy care.
CPRSs’ typically work in health clubs, personal training studios, physical therapy and chiropractic clinics, and sports medicine centers, as well as in clients’ homes.
The CPRS was designed to fill in the gaps that fitness professionals/personal trainers really need to understand prior to working with any client. These areas include understanding the following:
- Anatomy, functional anatomy and biomechanics behind daily and sport specific movement
- How each of the joints within our body move and their respective actions
- The parts of the kinematic chain and the synergistic affect from the ankle, knee, hip and lumbar regions
- Fundamentals of musculoskeletal and movement screening
- The principles of rehabilitation
- Foundation of Periodization Training and Program Design
- How to select and prescribe exercises and when to modify based on evidenced based research
- Common movement dysfunctions of the orthopedic, neuromuscular, CP/CV and special populations and how to train clients based on science
- Understand the CPRS scope of practice and marketing post rehabilitative services completing the rehab triangle.
What are the Benefits?
- Understand the basic anatomy and functional anatomy and how it relates to daily and sport specific movement.
- Have the knowledge of the entire kinematic chain, including joint movements and biomechanics of movement.
- Identify the foundation of exercise prescription and periodization training and be able to design programs for post rehabilitative clientele that is evidenced based, safe with practical application yielding optimal results.
- Develop post rehab services for over 40 medical conditions that include common injuries to the spine that include; cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease(DDD), cervical and spinal stenosis, cervical and lumbar fusion, lumbar sprain, cervical and lumbar disc herniation (back pain), cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, and osteoarthritis; common shoulder injuries that include shoulder impingement, rotator cuff repair, shoulder bursitis, and common knee and hip conditions that include ligament injuries(MCL, LCL, ACL, PCL), patellofemoral syndrome(PFS), total knee replacement(TKR), ITB syndrome, total hip(THR), and many others.
- Perform a human movement assessment and musculoskeletal screening on the post rehab client.
- Identify warning signs or red flags that indicate the client is in need of evaluation or treatment from a licensed medical professional.
- Develop an effective post-rehab marketing program to establish relationships with medical professionals in your community
- Differentiate yourself as a specialist who possesses advanced knowledge, skillset and experience, after passing multiple rigorous competency tests
- Once completed, you will earn an advanced certification that will be recognized locally, regionally and nationally as a specialist in movement, rehabilitation and post rehabilitation training
Requirements
- Hold a degree in health or fitness related field (i.e. exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology, physical therapy assistant or similar).
- Or hold a national personal training certification from a national fitness agency such as i.e. ACE, NASM, NSCA, NFPT, etc.
- Complete all the units accompanying the Certified Post Rehabilitation Specialist Track.
- Pass an online examination and an oral examination with a score of 70% or better.
