ISSA Fitness Case Study Instructions:

This section of your final exam provides you with an opportunity to apply all of the information you have learned throughout the course to the work that you will be doing as a certified professional.

You will be presented with two client profiles, and will be asked to design a 12-week periodized program for each client. In addition to describing the logistics of the program, you will also be asked to explain why you have designed the program the way that you have.

Approach these clients as you would approach a real-life situation. Your client should be able to take your program and put it into practice without having to contact you for explanation of what to do or why to do it.

Before you finalize your submission, make sure your program passes the following tests:

1. Is the training program that you are designing appropriate, safe, and effective for the client, given the client’s physical abilities and primary goals?

2. Could you defend your program from a legal standpoint? Who would be held liable if your client was injured during training because of either lifting too much weight or exceeding a certain heart rate?

3. Is your program justifiable from a business standpoint? Are you professional with your current clients? Would they refer their friends, family, or colleagues to you based on the guidance that you provide in your program design?

4. Imagine that YOU are the paying client. Would you feel that your money was well spent if you were handed the training program/dietary recommendations?

Case Study 1

Calculations: Calculate the client’s target heart rate using the Karvonen formula.

Training Program: Design full a 12-week periodized training program for the client described in the Client Profile. Be very specific as you design the training program. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your full comprehension of the information and concepts discussed throughout the course. List the types of exercise, duration, sets, reps, rest intervals, and so on.

Include the following in your case study submission:

• A description of your professional responsibilities as discussed in the stages of the drawing-in process (Unit 12)
• Discussion of any fitness tests, methods of evaluation, and data collection used to assess and evaluate the client’s needs
• Specific conditions that you have identified in the client profile
• A fully detailed 12-week comprehensive and periodized training program including specific exercises, sets, repetitions, suggested rest times, etc. Use an integrated approach in your program recommendations.
• Specific and detailed nutritional strategies and an explanation as to how the strategies will assist the client in meeting energy needs
• Explanation for your chosen assessment, programming, and nutritional recommendations. (Be sure to reference course concepts when discussing the rationale for your recommendations.

Keep in mind that a client should be able to take your program and put it into practice without having to contact you to clarify what you intended by your recommendations or to explain parts of your program.

Don’t forget your explanation for WHY you listed and recommended what you did. Reference the concepts and theories covered in the course. Be sure to address why the program and exercises recommended are appropriate for the specific client given the client’s history, current abilities, and intended goal(s). For example: if you are developing a program for a beginner client without any resistance training experience, explain how your program addresses the lack of experience, initial need for foundational development, process by which you would safely progress the client, etc. Tying your program to course concepts is a critical component of your case study.

Review the Client Profile below.

Client Profile: Steve Rogers

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Resting Heart Rate: 60 bpm

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 178 lb

Body Fat Percentage: 11%

Background and Goals: Steve is an avid runner and has been quite slim his whole life. He runs moderate- to long-distances three or four days per week. Running is his only physical activity. Steve has never been interested in resistance training because it is not his strong suit. Steve recently decided that he is tired of being skinny. He would like to put on some size and muscle before he travels back to his hometown for a good friend’s wedding in 12 weeks.

Case Study 2

Calculations: Calculate the client’s target heart rate using the Karvonen formula.

Training Program: Design a full 12-week periodized training program for the client described in the Client Profile. Be very specific as you design the training program. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your full comprehension of the information and concepts discussed throughout the course. List the types of exercise, duration, sets, reps, rest intervals, and so on.

Include the following in your case study submission:

• A description of your professional responsibilities as discussed in the stages of the drawing-in process (Unit 12)
• Discussion of any fitness tests, methods of evaluation, and data collection used to assess and evaluate the client’s needs
• Specific conditions that you have identified in the client profile
• A fully detailed 12-week comprehensive and periodized training program including specific exercises, sets, repetitions, suggested rest times, etc. Use an integrated approach in your program recommendations.
• Specific and detailed nutritional strategies and an explanation as to how the strategies will assist the client in meeting energy needs
• Explanation for your chosen assessment, programming, and nutritional recommendations. (Be sure to reference course concepts when discussing rationale for your recommendations.

Keep in mind that a client should be able to take your program and put it into practice without having to contact you to clarify what you intended by your recommendations or to explain parts of your program.

Don’t forget your explanation for WHY you listed and recommended what you did. Reference the concepts and theories covered in the course. Be sure to address why the program and exercises recommended are appropriate for the specific client given the client’s history, current abilities, and intended goal(s). For example: if you are developing a program for a beginner client without any resistance training experience, explain how your program addresses the lack of experience, initial need for foundational development, process by which you would safely progress the client, etc. Tying your program to course concepts is a critical component of your case study.

Review the Client Profile below.

Client Profile: Peter Parker 

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Resting Heart Rate: 80 bpm

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 252 lb

Body Fat Percentage: 29%

Background and Goals: Peter is a 28-year-old civil servant with a 9-to-5 desk job. He is 6’4″ tall and weighs 252 lb. He played football and basketball in high school and some intramural sports in college, but has not worked out or been very active since. His diet is sporadic and consists of mostly processed and prepackaged foods that are quick and easy to prepare. Peter’s goals are to lose weight, tone his body, and lead a healthier lifestyle. Based on Peter’s current lifestyle and existing exercise and nutrition habits, design a 12-week progressive training program to help him best achieve his goals.