Tips for screening gyms

Many gyms are designed for the Spandex set — and aging baby boomers and other patients in need of therapeutic exercise may not be well served at these facilities. Here’s what to ask gym staff when you’re considering sending patients there:

— Do they screen people with health problems?

— Do they have an adequate emergency plan?

— Ask about the education of staff members who will have direct contact with patients. Do they have degrees in physical education, degrees in exercise science, or professional certifications?

— Are their trainers certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, or the American Council on Exercise?

— If the answer to any of these questions is "No," walk out.

Source: Carl Foster, PhD, Professor of Physiology, University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse.