What is a special population?
The NSCA Certified Special Population Specialist™ (CSPS™) credential was established in 2012 to address the fitness needs of individuals afflicted by chronic or temporary health conditions. Anyone interested in pursuing a CSPS must first understand the types of health conditions that require special exercise intervention.
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CSPS Certification
Certified Special Population Specialists (CSPS) are fitness professionals who, using an individualized approach, assess, motivate, educate, and train special population clients of all ages regarding their health and fitness needs, preventively, and in collaboration with healthcare professionals. Special populations include those with chronic and temporary health conditions.
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Articles for Special Populations Practitioners (Additional Content Available for Members)
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The Strength and Conditioning Journal provides a bi-monthly feature on exercise interventions for a selected special population group. Volume 34, Issue 2 highlights Parkinson's disease in a two-part series.
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All Conditioning Articles
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As males get older, they begin to experience losses in lean muscle mass. A recent study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research examined if a short-term heavy resistance training program in healthy older men could eliminate deficits in muscle mass and strength (ST) compared with healthy younger men. This article is a great tool for any personal trainer or special population specialist working with this clientele.
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All Weight Management articles
Spotlight
Special Populations Practitioner
"I love helping my clients with chronic conditions reach their goals, and my CSPS certification lets them know I have the background and expertise to get them there."
Tim Rickett, MA, CSPS, Head Fitness Trainer, Fort Collins Club