Impostor syndrome among Medical Exercise Specialists (MES) is not uncommon. In this post, Dr Mike discusses how Impostor syndrome happens when MES professionals doubt their skills, even after extensive training. During client assessments, this uncertainty can cause MESs to rely too heavily on basic personal training techniques, ignoring important aspects of medical exercise assessments such as anatomy or pathology. Avoiding these crucial points prevents specialists from effectively using their advanced training.

Another common sign of impostor syndrome is avoiding communication with doctors, therapists, and chiropractors who refer clients. Professionals might fear being asked questions they can't answer, but these medical providers mainly want updates about the exercise plan and progress—not medical diagnoses or treatments. Clear communication with medical providers is important for building professional credibility.

Having certifications alone doesn't build confidence. Confidence gr...

The Essentials of Medical Exercise Business Workshop is Coming!!

Let’s be honest—most medical exercise and fitness professionals aren’t struggling because they lack exercise knowledge. They’re struggling because no one ever taught them how to run a business.

If you’re frustrated by inconsistent referrals, unsure of your pricing, overwhelmed with documentation, or avoiding conversations with physicians… it’s time for a reset.

If you’re a certified Medical Exercise or fitness professional working with clients who have medical conditions—pause for a moment and ask yourself:

• Am I consistently getting referrals from physicians and other healthcare providers?
• Do I know how much it really costs me to train a client—and am I pricing correctly?
• Can I take time off without revenue dropping to zero?
• Do I have documentation, intake, and follow-up systems that look and feel professional?
• Am I confident talking to physicians, billing for services, or promoting my practice?

If you feel e...

In this video, Dr. Mike reviews the major points that might keep your Medical Exercise Training (MET) practice from growing. He shares five common mistakes seen over 31 years of teaching Medical Exercise Specialists. He explains why it’s important to determine the types of exercise services you will offer and who your clients will be. Trying to help everyone initially might seem good, but it eventually leads to confusion and slows down your business growth. It’s better to pick clear specialties and know exactly who your clients are.

Next, set your prices based on facts and research, not on feelings or what your competitors charge. You must know your real costs and understand the local market to set fair and profitable prices. Dr Mike also notes the need for using practice management systems, which are tools that help with tasks such as scheduling appointments, billing, documenting your work, and communicating with clients. These systems make your business run more smoothly.

Dr. Mike ...

Medical Exercise Training (MET) is rapidly becoming a sought-after service among healthcare providers and clients with medical conditions. However, effectively integrating medical referrals and successfully navigating insurance reimbursement can pose significant challenges if your practice isn't structured properly. In our recent webinar, we reviewed the essential components required to consistently deliver medical exercise services, ensure compliance, and streamline insurance claim submissions.

During this Cracking the Code webinar, we covered critical aspects every medical exercise professional must master:

✅ Scope of Practice & Ethical Compliance – Essential guidelines to remain within legal boundaries while building credibility.

✅ Structured Client Intake System – Standardizing client onboarding, including crucial documentation to protect your practice.

✅ Standardized Assessments & Documentation – Conducting precise assessments that establish medical necessity and functional baselines....

Successfully positioning a Medical Exercise Training (MET) practice for insurance reimbursement requires the implementation of structured systems and adherence to professional standards. Without these foundational elements, MET professionals may struggle to demonstrate medical necessity, maintain compliance, and establish credibility with insurance providers and referral sources. The 12 core elements outlined here serve as the fundamental building blocks for creating a reimbursement-ready practice, ensuring smooth operations, effective documentation, and strong professional relationships.

Scope of Practice & Ethical Compliance

A fundamental aspect of a successful MET practice is a clear understanding of scope of practice and ethical compliance. MET professionals must operate strictly within their defined roles, which means assessing functional deficits and implementing structured exercise programs but never diagnosing or treating medical conditions. Any deviation from these guideli...

As I talk to medical exercise professionals across North America, it’s clear that the demand for medical exercise training is surging. With that growth comes an essential responsibility for medical exercise professionals to uphold rigorous standards in client assessment and management. Over the past 31 years, I’ve observed how a structured intake process significantly impacts the outcomes and client relationships in medical exercise practices. It all begins even before a client arrives—initial contacts via email, phone, or text must be systematically handled to determine the client’s needs, suitability for medical exercise training, and their medical diagnosis.

When a client attends their first session, it's crucial to perform a thorough verbal medical history interview, far exceeding the insights of a simple PAR-Q form. This detailed conversation helps uncover potential complications and clarifies the client's treatment pathway. Equally vital is the consistent checking of vital signs...

Elevate Your Medical Exercise Skills: The Key to Confidence, Credibility, and Business Growth

As a Medical Exercise Professional (MedExPro), your success depends on your ability to assess, manage, and guide clients with medical conditions safely and effectively. But how well do you really know your skills? Are you fully prepared to work confidently with medical professionals and deliver top-tier outcomes for your clients?

To build a thriving medical exercise practice, you must continuously refine and strengthen your skillset. That’s why we’ve created the MedXPRO Skills Checklist—a tool designed to help you self-assess your proficiency in key areas of medical exercise training.

Why Should You Complete the MedXPRO Skills Checklist?

This checklist is more than just a simple assessment—it’s a roadmap to mastery and professional confidence. It allows you to:

✅ Identify Strengths and Weaknesses – Understand where you excel and what areas need improvement.
✅ Increase Confidence – Knowing...

Medical Exercise Training (MET) is changing fast. As more people need help managing chronic conditions and recovering from injuries, the role of Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs) is more important than ever. But success in this field isn’t just about having great exercise knowledge—it’s about building credibility, running a strong business, and staying connected to the healthcare system.

To stay ahead, MedExPROs must focus on five key areas that will shape the future of MET. Mastering these areas will help you grow your practice, get more referrals, and create a long-lasting career in medical exercise training.

1. Use Standardized Guidelines and Track Client Progress

For MET to be taken seriously in healthcare, it must follow clear standards and track client results. Doctors, insurance companies, and other professionals rely on measurable data to decide if a service is effective. If MET lacks proper documentation, it won’t be recognized as an essential part of recovery and ...

Many Medical Exercise Specialists (MES) mistakenly believe that merely discussing a client's progress with physicians, chiropractors, or physical therapists constitutes a referral relationship. However, a genuine referral relationship involves medical providers actively directing patients to an MES through formal, written referrals, thereby solidifying the MES's role in the healthcare continuum.

Educate Medical Professionals

Many healthcare providers are unfamiliar with referring patients for structured exercise programs like Medical Exercise Training (MET). For instance, an orthopedic surgeon with over a decade of experience once admitted to an MES that he was unsure how to refer a patient to a structured exercise program. This underscores the need for MES professionals to educate physicians, chiropractors, and therapists about their services and the referral process.

Develop Custom Referral Pads

Creating quarter-sheet-sized referral pads can facilitate formal referrals. These pad...

Understanding CPT Codes 97530, 97110, and 97112 for MET Insurance Reimbursement

For decades, Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs) have struggled to gain recognition in the healthcare system. But now, with the rise of insurance reimbursement for medical exercise training (MET) services, a new era is unfolding. If you're serious about getting paid for the essential work you do, then mastering CPT codes 97530, 97110, and 97112 is critical to your success. These physical medicine codes, developed and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA), serve as the foundation for billing and reimbursement for MET services. Understanding how to accurately apply these codes ensures compliance, maximizes reimbursement, and solidifies your position within the healthcare continuum.

97530 – Therapeutic Activities (Dynamic Functional Exercise)

CPT 97530 covers therapeutic activities aimed at improving functional performance. This code is applied when a MedExPRO designs and implements st...