Prior to administering pre-exercise evaluations/diagnostic tests, the trainer should do what?

Receiving written informed consent from the client is a critical step before administering pre-exercise evaluations or diagnostic tests. This process ensures that the client is fully aware of the risks and benefits associated with the evaluations they are about to undergo. It establishes a legal and ethical foundation for the trainer-client relationship, reinforcing the importance of transparency and trust.

Informed consent also allows clients to make knowledgeable decisions about their health and fitness journey, ensuring that they have the opportunity to ask questions and address any concerns they might have regarding the assessments. This step is particularly important in the context of personal training, where confidentiality, autonomy, and respecting client rights are paramount.

While other actions, like recommending a complete physical or compiling an exercise prescription, may be beneficial at different stages of the client’s fitness journey, they are not a prerequisite for conducting pre-exercise evaluations. Additionally, ensuring the session is paid in full is a logistical consideration that does not directly impact the safety or efficacy of the assessments.