Pre and Post-Rehab Fitness Programs
Recovering from an injury, surgery, or a health condition takes more than a standard workout. Maria Faires, RD, is a Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, Master Personal Trainer, and Registered Dietitian with 40 years of experience helping people move safely and confidently again.
Maria designs pre- and post-rehab programs for clients managing joint replacement, back and spine issues, osteoporosis, arthritis, and other medical conditions. Her programs bridge the gap between physical therapy and returning to an active life. As a Registered Dietitian, she combines corrective exercise, functional strength training, and nutrition support to help you rebuild strength, reduce pain, and get back to the activities you love.
Training is in person in La Conner, Anacortes, and the Skagit Valley.
You can view Maria's personal training certifications and full health and fitness qualifications here.
What Is a Medical Exercise Specialist?
A certified Medical Exercise Specialist undergoes extensive training and certification to safely and effectively design exercise programs for clients with specific medical conditions. Most personal trainers do not have this important qualification.
These conditions may encompass orthopedic issues like post-spinal surgery or joint replacement, neurological challenges such as post-stroke or Parkinson’s Disease, or metabolic concerns like diabetes and high blood pressure.
It's important to note that MESs do not provide medical diagnoses or treatments. Instead, they evaluate a client’s movement capabilities and select exercises tailored to their individual needs, taking into account any medical restrictions.
The primary goal of a Medical Exercise Specialist is to enhance movement quality, alleviate pain and limitations, and restore functionality, ultimately enabling clients to lead more active lives.
Essentially, an MES serves as a bridge between healthcare and physical fitness. In comparison, while most personal trainers may be adept at addressing common metabolic health issues like high blood pressure or diabetes, few are equipped to handle complex neurological or orthopedic conditions such as post-stroke or post-surgery rehabilitation.
Maria Faires, RD Training Education and Credentials: Medical Exercise Specialist and Rehab Fitness in La Conner, Anacortes and the Skagit Valley
- Bachelor’s Degree, Food and Nutrition; Whitworth University, 1987
- Bachelor’s Degree, Food, Nutrition and Dietetics; Cum Laude, Eastern Washington University, 1989
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Registered Dietitian. Passed the national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, 1989
- Certified Personal Trainer, American Council on Exercise (ACE), 2001
- Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist (ACE), now called Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, an advanced certification for those with a four-year degree. Recipients must understand the complex interactions between exercise and certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure and demonstrate the ability to work with individuals who have special clinical needs. She specializes in medical exercise training which is the development of safe and effective exercise programming for people with medical concerns. 2004
- CPR, AED, First Aid and Mountain Outdoor First Aid certified.
- Master Trainer - This is a distinction given to fitness professionals who have a college degree in a related field, who have over 10 years’ experience in the industry and undertake advanced training.
- Center for Science in the Public Interest member since 1990.
- Extensive experience designing and implementing exercise and nutrition programs for healthy and high-risk individuals.
