Prior to the initial visit, a patient referred for exercise prescription will fill out a comprehensive exercise history form, focused on the following:

• Previous successful periods of exercise
• Previous unsuccessful exercise attempts
• Perceived past or current barriers to exercise
• Current medical conditions that may impact exercise tolerance
• Dietary habits
• Current access to exercise resources

The information from this history will help guide the subsequent time spent in the sports physician's office. 

The physical exam portion of the initial consultation will focus on the following:

• General flexibility
• Functional muscle strength and symmetry of muscle strength
• Joint health
• Cardiovascular fitness
• Evaluation of any other possible factors that might be limiting exercise capacity based on the screening history

On occasion, further testing to assess exercise tolerance may be undertaken, based on questions raised at the time of the initial assessment.  This might be done in our office or might be done off-site. 

Once initial evaluation and risk assessment is completed, the patient will return for a follow-up session to review findings and recommendations.  A suggested exercise plan will be presented to the patient, and patient feedback sought.  Once agreement has been reached, the patient will be discharged into a structured exercise program.  The degree of ongoing supervision and length of time to next follow-up will vary based on the individual needs of the patient.  At some point in time, an assessment of progress based on the individual patients needs and goals will be undertaken, and the program either advanced or redirected as appropriate.