A CHEK Practitioner bridges the gap between a Personal Trainer and Physiotherapist or Osteopath that looks at the entire human being as a holistic entity.
If you imagine that a trainer is at one end of the spectrum prescribing health and exercise programs and a Physio is at the other end, rehabilitating chronic injuries and providing therapy, a CHEK Practitioner will bridge the gap between these two respected professions. Through an understanding of how our body systems integrate, on a physical, mental and emotional and chemical level, the CHEK practitioner addresses all of these where many do not and prescribe a health and exercise program based on these factors and the goals of the client.
The CHEK system is educationally based, combing many skills taught from other professions and integrated into a system that seeks to find the cause of injury, dis-ease and health, yet each Practitioner applies his or her specific skills to best suit the needs of the individual. CHEK Practitioners are specialists in corrective exercise and high-performance fitness conditioning. At Tom Smith Health and Performance, a combination of massage and manual therapy is used along side personal training and nutrition consulting for people with sports injuries and chronic low back pain.
Many therapists and trainers offer various forms of treatment regarding an injury or complaint but rarely get to the cause of the problem as they normally only apply the techniques they learn in their respected professions. A CHEK Practitioner seeks to address the cause and not just the symptoms the client has and when needed refers out to other practitioners to aid health and rehabilitation.
What is the CHEK Approach?
The approach I teach is based on the Corrective, Holistic, Exercise, Kinesiology system devised by Holistic Health Practitioner Paul Chek who originally trained as a Sports Massage Therapist, Neuromuscular Therapist (NMT) and trainer of the US Army Boxing Team.
This system or approach is designed to address the person as a whole and analyzes the client’s body from head to toe including diet, lifestyle and factors that can create more stress in the body. Stress has many faces and the accumulation of stress in the body may determine the amount of exercise, rest and or lifestyle changes the client needs to take in order to recover from pain or reach the goals they desire before they simply burn out!
The CHEK Institute is an elite educational and corrective exercise centre based in Vista, California. It is recognised as the world leader in functional and rehabilitative exercise conditioning amongst health and fitness professionals. Clients ranging from injured workers to professional athletes, see a CHEK practitioner and Exercise Coaches for individual evaluations and personal trainer programs.
CHEK Practitioners are taught to recognize the signs and symptoms of disorders that may impede successful rehabilitation, and then to network with appropriate professionals to achieve the desired outcome. The practitioner is not expected to help everyone or claims to help everyone and so they will refer out to other health practitioners when needed such as a Chiropractor, Osteopath, Physiotherapist, Doctor and people with specific skill sets.
The Coaching Model for Successful Rehabilitation
A CHEK Practitioner is schooled in the use of a coaching model for successful rehabilitation. The traditional “treatment” model focuses on specific alleviation of pain and treatment by the practitioner to “fix the spot that hurts.”
The self empowerment of the patient/client with the knowledge that the problem for which they are seeking resolved belongs to them and therefore they must take full responsibility for achieving their goals.
Give a man to fish, you will feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time
Rather than allowing a therapist or a trainer just give therapy or exercise, at Tom Smith Health and Performance, he actually TEACHES you how to stretch, exercise and the warning signs that you are not well fed, rested and hydrated.
Those patients/clients who complete programs developed by a CHEK Practitioner are frequently more informed and capable in the exercise arena than many Personal Trainers are today!
The Holistic Health and Fitness CHEK Program
Evaluation
The comprehensive evaluation is the starting point for all corrective exercise and conditioning programs. This focuses on the specific needs of the individual. Tom Smith will evaluate the following areas to accumulate the information necessary to design your individual, highly specific program:
- History of injury
- Exercise history
- Posture & Gait
- Joint range of motion
- Core stability
- Joint Stability
- Flexibility
- Functional movement patterns
- Current nutritional habits
- Coordination
- Muscle balance
- Lifestyle assessment
- Strength
Program Design
After an evaluation, Tom will consider your findings and how they affect the attainment of your goals. He will then carefully design your own unique corrective or performance personal trainer program, taking into consideration your schedule and equipment availability. You will also be counselled on lifestyle modifications that will be extremely helpful in helping you reach your goals.
Program Instruction
You will be personally guided through each specific stretch and exercise that has been developed for you to progressively obtain your goal. Since his programs are very comprehensive, and individualized, plus many of his clients travel long distances to benefit from his expertise, each program will be typed up with notes for your convenience.
Program Progression
A re-evaluation every 4-6 weeks is generally recommended and Tom designs your follow-up program to meet your current level of ability. He is committed to helping you achieve your goals within your own parameters.
Program Coaching Packages
CHEK Practitioner coaching packages are available where clients see Tom on a regular weekly or twice weekly basis in order to ensure consistency and good form. Commitment to this structure has yielded the best results for many clients, ensuring that they progress quicker and safely.
Investment Schedule
A complete Program includes a comprehensive evaluation, program design and program instruction. The amount of time spent varies based upon the needs of the individual. A formal evaluation report may be written at your request.
Request a call back today and allow Tom Smith Health and Performance help you acheive your goals quicker, be it back pain and spinal rehabilitation, better health or to maximise your performance in the gym or your favourate sports.