Health Questionnaires (PAR-Q)
The PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire) is a health screening tool that identifies clients who may need medical clearance before starting exercise.
Why PAR-Q Matters
Important: Reviewing PAR-Q forms before training new clients is a professional responsibility and protects both you and your clients.
The questionnaire helps you:
- Identify health conditions that affect training
- Understand any movement restrictions
- Know about medications that may impact exercise
- Have emergency contact information
- Document that you performed due diligence
How PAR-Q Works
Client Experience
- Client books their first session (or you request it)
- They receive a prompt to complete the PAR-Q
- They answer health and readiness questions
- Form is submitted for your review
Your Experience
- You see a Pending Review notification
- Open the client’s profile
- Click View PAR-Q to see responses
- Review and make notes if needed
- Mark as Reviewed when complete
PAR-Q Status Explained
| Status | What It Means | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Not Completed | Client hasn’t submitted the form | Send a reminder |
| Pending Review | Submitted but you haven’t reviewed | Review before their session |
| Reviewed | You’ve reviewed and approved | Ready to train |
| Expired | Form is over 12 months old | Client needs to update |
What’s In the PAR-Q
The PAR-Q+ 2025 questionnaire covers:
General Health Questions
- Heart conditions or symptoms
- Breathing difficulties
- Dizziness or fainting
- Bone or joint problems
- Current medications
- Pregnancy status
Medical History
- Past surgeries
- Chronic conditions
- Recent injuries
- Ongoing treatments
Follow-Up Questions
If a client answers “yes” to certain questions, they receive targeted follow-up questions about:
- Specific conditions
- Severity and management
- Medical clearance status
Reviewing a PAR-Q
Open the Client Profile
Go to Clients and click on the client with a pending PAR-Q.
View the PAR-Q
Click the View PAR-Q button or the PAR-Q status indicator.
Review All Responses
Read through each section carefully. Pay attention to:
- Any “Yes” answers to health questions
- Medications that might affect exercise
- Movement restrictions or injuries
Add Trainer Notes
Note any training considerations:
- Exercises to avoid
- Modifications needed
- Things to monitor
Mark as Reviewed
Click Mark as Reviewed when you’re satisfied. The client can now book freely.
Trainer Restrictions
When reviewing, you can add restrictions that:
- Appear in the client’s profile
- Remind you of modifications needed
- Are considered when using AI session planning
Example Restrictions
- “Avoid overhead pressing - rotator cuff injury history”
- “No high-impact exercises - knee replacement”
- “Modified core work - diastasis recti”
- “Monitor heart rate - beta blocker medication”
Medical Clearance
When to Require It
If a client reports:
- Heart conditions
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Recent surgery
- Serious chronic conditions
Best practice: Request written medical clearance from their GP before training clients with significant health conditions.
Recording Clearance
- Open the client’s PAR-Q
- Add a note about the clearance
- Note the doctor’s name and date
- Keep a copy of the clearance letter in your records
PAR-Q Expiration
PAR-Q forms expire after 12 months because:
- Health conditions change
- New injuries may occur
- Medications may be added or changed
- It’s best practice for client safety
When a PAR-Q Expires
- Client sees a prompt to update their form
- You see the Expired status
- They must complete a new PAR-Q
- You review the new submission
Reminders
The system automatically:
- Notifies clients when their PAR-Q is about to expire
- Shows expired status in your client list
- Prompts clients to update when booking
Viewing PAR-Q History
For each client, you can see:
- All past PAR-Q submissions
- Date of each submission
- Whether each was reviewed
- Any notes you added
This creates a record of health screening over time.
Privacy & Compliance
PAR-Q data is sensitive health information:
- Encrypted - Data is encrypted at rest
- Access controlled - Only you and authorised staff can view
- Audit logged - All access is recorded
- Client owned - Clients can request their data
- Securely stored - Complies with data protection requirements