For 32 years, I’ve watched the fitness industry package hope into certifications. A weekend course, an online test, or a shiny new title promises to transform a personal trainer into a professional capable of managing clients with medical conditions. The illusion is powerful. Fitness professionals invest thousands chasing letters after their names, believing the more acronyms they collect, the more competent they become.

Please, do not think I or the Medical Exercise Training Institute is exempt from this situation. Our Medical Exercise Specialist certification has been in existence 32 years, and we’ve certified thousands of fitness professionals. So, I am complicit in this perpetuation of certification of competence. We are also guilty. 

But here’s the truth most don’t want to hear: certifications give the allure of competence, not the reality of it.

Competence in medical exercise training doesn’t come from passing an exam. It comes from consistent, structured practice. It comes fr...

Closing the Gap After Therapy -  A Step-by-Step Guide for MedExPROs

For decades, physicians have relied on physical therapy, surgery, or medication as the “next step” after injury or illness. But when those interventions end, many patients are left with lingering deficits—trouble climbing stairs, stiffness in their shoulders, difficulty with daily tasks. They’re discharged from therapy, but not restored to full function.

This is the gap that Medical Exercise Training fills. And it’s where you—the Medical Exercise Professional (MedExPRO)—become essential.

Your job is NOT to treat or diagnose, but to provide safe, progressive exercise programming that helps clients regain full function after therapy. But here’s the challenge: most physicians have never worked with a MedExPRO. They don’t know you exist—yet.

That means it’s up to you to make the introduction. And yes, that can feel intimidating. Many MedExPROs hesitate because they worry:

• What if the doctor brushes me off?
• What if ...

Master Your Practice: Why Systems Are Your MedExPRO Superpower

For Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs), success isn’t built on anatomy knowledge alone or even on your ability to design creative workouts. Those are important skills, but they’re not what truly drives long-term success. What separates sustainable, trusted, and referral-ready practices from those that struggle is one thing: well-defined systems.

If you want to elevate your practice, attract steady referrals, and earn recognition from medical professionals, then building and implementing robust systems is your next essential step.

What Exactly Is a "System"?

A system is your repeatable, documented, step-by-step process for delivering services. It covers every stage of the client journey—from first contact through long-term follow-up.

Think of it as your practice roadmap. A complete system defines:

• How you assess clients
• How you identify functional deficits
• How you set goals
• How you design and progress exer...

It's Here.....The Medical Exercise Specialist App

Your 24/7 Business Coach, Referral Engine, and Practice Builder
Only $19.99/month through August 23rd

Stop Struggling Alone. Start Building a Real Practice.

You became a Medical Exercise Professional (MedExPRO) because you wanted to help people with medical conditions regain their lives. But let’s be honest…

• You’re overwhelmed trying to figure out how to get referrals from doctors and therapists.
• You’re unsure what to say when you finally get in front of a physician.
• You’re constantly reinventing the wheel with program design, documentation, and progress tracking.
• You know your practice could grow, but you don’t have the systems, templates, or strategies to get there.
• You feel stuck—trained, certified, but not confident you can turn this into a full-time, profitable business.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

That’s why we created the MES App—to put 31 years of proven Medical Exercise Training experience in your pocket, av...

In Tip #41 of the MET 101 Tips eBook series, Dr. Mike tackles one of the most frequently asked—and crucial—questions for MedExPROs: “What should I charge for my medical exercise (ME) services?” His answer is rooted in experience, professionalism, and long-term sustainability for your practice.

Dr. Mike’s formula is simple but strategic:

• Find your local personal training rates—both for assessments and sessions.
• Charge 25% to 50% more for ME training sessions.
• Charge at least 50% more for your ME assessments than a standard personal training assessment.

Why the higher price tag? Because as a MedExPRO, you're delivering more than a workout. You’re investing in advanced education, communicating with medical professionals, and designing programs based on functional outcomes—not just fat loss or fitness trends. Your services are a vital extension of the healthcare system, and that added value must be reflected in your pricing.

Dr. Mike also makes a critical distinction between a sc...

August is here. Clients are trickling back from summer break. You’re waiting. Hoping and planning for a strong fall.

But if you’re like most MedExPROs I talk to, you’re also feeling frustrated—because despite all your certifications, passion, and hustle… something’s still not working.

Here’s the hard truth: 5 core challenges keep even the most skilled MedExPROs from building thriving, referral-ready practices.

Let’s see if any of these sound familiar:

🔹 Lack of Clarity

You started in fitness, added medical exercise… but now you’re juggling group classes, stretching sessions, post-rehab clients, and trying to be everything to everyone. The result? No clear identity. No consistent message.

🔹 No Medical Referrals

You’ve reached out to doctors, PTs, and chiropractors—but the referrals just aren’t coming. Maybe you get the occasional backdoor endorsement, but not direct, professional referrals.

🔹 Overwhelmed by Complex Clients

Clients with multiple conditions leave you unsure where...

This year marks 31 years since the very first Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) workshop. That single event sparked the development of a profession that has helped tens of thousands of clients around the world regain function, reclaim independence, and live stronger lives after rehab or in the face of chronic disease.

Over the past three decades, MedExPROs, including Medical Exercise Specialists, Post Rehab Conditioning Specialists, and Medical Exercise Program Directors, have done more than deliver great results—they’ve carved out a role that never existed before. They’ve brought clarity to the blurred lines between fitness and healthcare. They’ve earned the trust of physicians and therapists. And most importantly, they’ve changed lives.

Here are four major accomplishments MedExPROs can celebrate—and four more that must define the next decade.

🎯 WHAT WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED IN 31 YEARS

1. We Standardized Post-Rehab Exercise Protocols

MedExPROs took the guesswork out of exercise after ...

10 Essentials to Unlock Reimbursement

In today’s healthcare environment, Medical Exercise Professionals (MedExPROs) are more critical than ever—bridging the gap between rehab discharge and long-term functional recovery. But if you're still operating under a purely cash-based model, you're not just limiting your revenue—you’re also limiting your impact.

Insurance reimbursement is no longer off-limits. It's possible. It’s happening. And it’s one of the most powerful ways to grow your practice, reach more clients, and gain recognition from medical professionals.

But you need a system. And that’s what the Cracking the Code blueprint delivers. Below are the 10 essential steps every MedExPRO must follow to position their services for insurance reimbursement. These steps won’t teach you to file a claim on their own—but they’ll show you exactly where the path begins.

🔑 The 10-Step Reimbursement Blueprint for MedExPROs

1.  🧾 Verify Insurance Eligibility
   Don’t assume anything based on a clie
...

In Tip #40 of the MET 101 series, Dr. Mike dives into one of the most misunderstood and risky areas in medical exercise training: billing through a medical doctor (MD) or physical therapist (RPT) for services performed by a Medical Exercise Professional.

Dr. Mike warns MedExPROs about the "slippery slope" of indirect billing—a practice where a medical professional bills insurance for services that were actually delivered by a Medical Exercise Specialist, but without direct supervision. This isn’t a gray area—it’s insurance fraud, and it can jeopardize everyone involved, including your career. Dr. Mike shares examples such as MES professionals seeing clients at home or in a clinic while the doctor is absent, yet the provider still bills for the session. That’s a clear violation.

Instead, Dr. Mike explains the only legitimate way for a medical provider to bill for your services: you must be an employee, and medical professional must provide direct, on-premises supervision. If those two...

As part of our MES Week celebration, we’re proud to feature a powerful and insightful interview with Susie Duttge, a true Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) pioneer with 27 years of success in the field.

After starting her career as a professional photographer, personal trainer, and aerobics instructor, Susie dove into intensive MES training in 1995—a turning point she describes as the "fuel" that launched her journey. Inspired by her instructor and driven by an insatiable desire to learn, Susie opened her first facility, Fit for Life Rehab and Fitness Clinic, just months after completing her training.

In this exclusive interview, Susie shares the core principles that helped her build and sustain a thriving practice. Her approach? Put clients and patients at the top of the pyramid, deliver private, personalized care, and never compromise your commitment to functional outcomes.

She also opens up about how face-to-face marketing, including speaking engagements and one-on-one physician ...