The CPRS certification is for the fitness and health professional looking to learn and truly understand the fundamentals of human movement, rehabilitation, exercise prescription, periodization training and offer post-rehabilitation training to post rehab clients. It is important to note the CPRS learns to identify those clients he/she can effectively work with, and those that must be referred to a medical professional. In addition, the CPRS is not trained to provide any form of medical treatment including physical therapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy care. CPRSs’ typically work in health clubs, personal training studios, physical therapy and chiropractic clinics, and sports medicine centers, as well as in clients’ homes.

Home Study Curriculum
Unit 1: Anatomy and functional anatomy behind human movement
Unit 2: Joint movements and actions
Unit 3: Understanding the kinetic chain
Unit 4: Foundation of Biomechanics and Biomechanics of movement
Unit 5: Musculoskeletal and Movement Screening  
Unit 6: Rehabilitation Principles
Unit 7: Foundation of Exercise and Exercise prescription
Unit 8: Foundation of periodization training
Unit 9: Common movement dysfunctions of the orthopedic, neuromuscular, CP/CV & special populations  
Unit 10: Scope of Practice of CPRS and Marketing Post Rehabilitative Service

Certified Post Rehabilitation Specialist(CPRS) Certification
The Certified Post Rehabilitation Specialist (CPRS) certification is for the fitness and health professional looking to learn and truly understand the fundamentals of human movement, rehabilitation, exercise prescription, periodization training and offer post rehabilitation training to post rehab clients. It is important to note the CPRS learns to identify those clients he/she can effectively work with, and those that must be referred to a medical professional. In addition, the CPRS is not trained to provide any form of medical treatment including physical therapy, chiropractic or massage therapy care.

CPRSs’ typically work in health clubs, personal training studios, physical therapy and chiropractic clinics, and sports medicine centers, as well as in clients’ homes.

The CPRS was designed to fill in the gaps that fitness professionals/personal trainers really need to understand prior to working with any client. These areas include understanding the following:

• Anatomy, functional anatomy and biomechanics behind daily and sport specific movement
• How each of the joints within our body move and their respective actions
• The parts of the kinematic chain and the synergistic affect from the ankle, knee, hip and lumbar regions
• Fundamentals of musculoskeletal and movement screening
• The principles of rehabilitation
• Foundation of Periodization Training and Program Design
• How to select and prescribe exercises and when to modify based on evidenced-based research
• Common movement dysfunctions of the orthopedic, neuromuscular, CP/CV and special populations and how to train clients based on science
• Understand the CPRS scope of practice and marketing post rehabilitative services completing the rehab triangle

What are the Benefits?

• Understand the basic anatomy and functional anatomy and how it relates to daily and sport-specific movement.
• Have the knowledge of the entire kinematic chain, including joint movements and biomechanics of movement.
• Understand the foundation of exercise prescription and periodization training and be able to design programs for post rehabilitative clientele that is evidenced-based, safe with practical application yielding optimal results.
• Develop post rehab services for over 40 medical conditions that include common injuries to the spine that include; cervical and lumbar degenerative disc disease(DDD), cervical and spinal stenosis, cervical and lumbar fusion, lumbar sprain, cervical and lumbar disc herniation (back pain), cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, and osteoarthritis; common shoulder injuries that include shoulder impingement, rotator cuff repair, shoulder bursitis, and common knee and hip conditions that include ligament injuries(MCL, LCL, ACL, PCL), patellofemoral syndrome(PFS), total knee replacement(TKR), ITB syndrome, total hip(THR), and many others.

• Be able to perform a human movement assessment and musculoskeletal screening on the post-rehab client.
• Understand the impact of exercise on common medical conditions.
• Understand the role and scope of practice for the fitness professional when working with post-rehabilitation clients.
• Identify warning signs or red flags that indicate the client is in need of evaluation or treatment from a licensed medical professional.
• Develop an effective post-rehab marketing program to establish relationships with medical professionals in your community
• Differentiate yourself as a the specialist  who possesses advanced knowledge, skillset and experience, after passing multiple rigorous competency tests
• Once completed, you will earn an advanced certification that will be recognized locally, regionally and nationally as a specialist in movement, rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation training

Requirements

• Hold a degree in health or fitness related field (i.e. exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology, physical therapy assistant or similar).
• Perform a minimum of 100 hrs. of observation in a physical therapy, sports medicine or health and wellness clinic prior to taking the CPRS exam.
• Complete all the units accompanying the Certified Post Rehabilitation Specialist Track.
• Pass the Post Rehabilitation Training Specialist Certification with a score of 75% or better.
• CPRS certification must be renewed every two years by completing 15 hours of continuing education courses taught by a licensed medical professional. 

Earning The CPRS Credential

• Student must complete each of the ten separate courses where each has an accompanying video, study workbook and quiz.
•  Successfully earn a 75% score on each examination that accompanies the particular course.
• Online examination: Complete a comprehensive 125 multiple-choice examination that tests the students understanding and application of the related material.
• Finally, attend a three-day seminar that consists of two-days of review and the third-day of testing. Final testing consists of three oral case studies as well as passing a successfully practical examination.

Skills assessment portion

• Oral examination: consists of a mock case, where the student must define anatomically the dysfunction, biomechanical implications, discuss pathophysiology and mechanism of injury, as well as create a simple exercise program. The exercise program consists of precautionary exercise, one contraindicated exercise, three core exercises, and foundation exercise training.
• Practical examination: involves evaluating a client, taking a history, posture analysis, static and movement assessment, and corrective exercise.

HOME