Multiple Sclerosis Fitness Specialist

As a Multiple Sclerosis Fitness Specialist, you can work with clients that suffer from Multiple Sclerosis to help develop strength, flexibility, balance, breathing, and improve their quality of life. In this Specialization course:

• You’ll learn the causes, signs, and symptoms of multiple sclerosis along with traditional treatment and management techniques.
• You’ll obtain a working knowledge of the anatomy and physiology affected by multiple sclerosis, and how they are used during exercise.
• You’ll learn to design and prescribe a proper exercise program with progression for MSers and be able to cue proper technique and body alignment.
• You’ll earn the title of MS Fitness Specialist.

Course Length: 10 hours.

Course Authors: CarolAnn and David Lyons

Course Prerequisite: The Multiple Sclerosis Fitness Specialist certification is considered an advanced level education, and is meant to be taken by fitness professionals who have previously acquired education and experience as a professional within the health and fitness industry. In order for one to receive the Certificate of Specialization that is conferred upon those who purchase this MS Fitness Specialist Course, review all the content, and successfully pass the comprehensive assessment, one must be able to show proof that he or she has the following:

1. A current certification, or vocational credential, from a reputable certifying or credentialing organization, and within the health and fitness industry; OR
2. An associate’s degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university in the field of exercise science, kinesiology, physical education, fitness, or a related field; AND
3. A current CPR/FA/AED certification, and professional liability insurance.

Continuing Education: This course is approved by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) to provide 1.0 CEUs (10 hours).

Description: The completion of this Multiple Sclerosis Fitness Professional Specialization Course, and the passing of its corresponding competency assessment with a minimum score of 75%, leads to a Certificate of Specialization to work with clients who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

This Certificate of Specialization will be considered valid for a period of two years, and to keep it current, you must complete fifteen (15) topically relevant, continuing education hours, prior to the date of its expiration, and must formally renew the certificate. Professionals should anticipate and consider the cost of the required continuing education, as well a nominal renewal fee.

Examples of the types of continuing education hours that are applicable can include webinars, MedFit Tour Conference presentations (live or video), short-format online education courses, selected articles from credible publications, etc. These formats must include MS as part of the primary subject matter.

A fitness professional holding current this Certificate of Specialization is able to list himself or herself as a MS Fitness Specialist on the MedFit Network (MFN), within an active account profile. Being listed on the MFN, and having this additional qualification is a true differentiator, and one that greatly improves the chance of receiving a referral from the MFN when consumers visit the MFN web site, and are seeking a fitness professional with this specific educational background in their geographical region.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

CarolAnn, MS

Known as the trainers’ trainer, CarolAnn has become one of the country’s leading fitness educators, authors, and national presenters. Combining a Master’s degree in Exercise Science/Health Promotion with several fitness certifications/memberships such as FiTOUR, ACSM, ACE, AFAA, and LMI, she has been actively involved in the fitness industry for over 25 years.

She has executed her leadership and business skills within her career through various positions such as Wellness/Fitness Coordinator, General Manager, and Studio Owner. She specializes in teaching functional movement, pilates, yoga, TRX, HIIT, weight management, and behavior modification.  She is the creator and star of The Steel Physique Fitness on Demand series. She is a freelance health & fitness expert content provider for various companies and organizations such as eHOW.com and LiveStrong.com.  She is currently the Founder and Director of Education for Chiseled Faith, a Faith Based Health and Fitness Program for churches.

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David Lyons

In 2006, David Lyons was hospitalized and diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 47. David, a former bodybuilder and health club owner, exercised regularly and lived a healthy lifestyle. He was devastated by the diagnosis and frustrated by the physical limitations of his condition. His initial MS attack left him with partial paralysis, tightness, pain and numbness in his extremities and back. These common symptoms of MS come and go without warning. The multiple lesions in David’s spinal cord make it difficult for him to coordinate movements and they affect his balance. The lesions in his brain cause cognitive problems affecting his concentration. And the lesion by his optic nerve, at times, causes vision impairment and blackness when seeing out of his left eye. David also lives in a constant state of fatigue caused by this disease attacking his nervous system. While in the hospital the doctors told David he would most likely leave in a wheelchair and would not return to his normal workout routine. They also warned him that MS is a disease that most often progressively worsens and to prepare for his limitations as he ages.

So what does David do? Give up and sink into depression? Grab a walker to steady himself? Retreat to bed to conserve his strength? No… at the age of 50, he decided to compete in an NPC bodybuilding competition!

David knew he could not do this alone, so he assembled a team he calls The Challenge Team. David needed dedicated, talented experts on his side to make this challenge a reality. His doctors all told him that his pursuit of a bodybuilding title was sheer madness, especially at 50 years old. On August 22, 2009, David competed in his first competition where he was awarded an impressive trophy for Most Inspirational Body Builder.

David is the founder of the MS Bodybuilding Challenge and co-founder of the MS Fitness Challenge with wife Kendra. He has dedicated his life to helping people with MS understand and be educated on the importance of fitness in their lives.

He is an author and sought after motivational speaker, dedicated to helping others by sharing the lessons gained from his life experience.  His most recent book, Everyday Health & Fitness with Multiple Sclerosis was a #1 New Release on Amazon at its release.

He is the 2013 recipient of the Health Advocate of the Year Award; in 2015, he received the first ever Health Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Lifetime Fitness Inspiration Award in Feb 2016. In 2017, David received the Special Recognition Award from the National Fitness Hall of Fame.

 

Course includes 1-year of professional membership on the MedFit Network (MFN), for new members only [$169 value]. Instructions for creating your MFN account will be sent after course purchase. (Existing MFN members are not eligible to receive a free year of membership, but do receive a discount on this course. Check your MFN account for details or contact ivy@medfitnetwork.org.).

Note: It is highly recommended that you complete this course using a browser other than Google Chrome (e.g., FIREFOX). The Google Chrome browser automatically plays all videos in a lesson at the same time, which may be an extremely annoying feature for some, and for which, at the present, there is no easy fix in the Google Chrome settings.