Exercise physiologist helps Hanscom achieve fitness goals

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  No matter what their individual fitness goals, members of the Hanscom community hoping to achieve optimum health have an ally in Craig Brickl, 66th Medical Group exercise physiologist. 

Mr. Brickl, a certified exercise physiologist and health fitness instructor, can assist individuals in achieving their fitness goals, rehabilitating injuries, accommodating physical disabilities and preventing diseases by evaluating their physical fitness and capabilities and creating programs tailored to each individual's needs. 

Mr. Brickl measures a person's beginning physical condition by giving a MicroFit assessment. The MicroFit evaluation measures standard fitness components, such as vital signs, blood pressure readings, height, weight and body fat measurements and strength and flexibility, Mr. Brickl said. 

"We do this to get a baseline measurement when people are starting a program, and use it to track their progress. You can get a measurable outcome with this kind of testing -- I encourage everyone to come back every four to six weeks to get a follow-up assessment to see if they are on track with their program and progress with their program objectives," he said. 

A large portion of Mr. Brickl's clients are military members who want to improve their physical training test scores. 

"My background is in cardiac rehabilitation, so I'm really interested in how we can improve the strength of the heart and lungs. That works well with this position, because the aerobic component of the military's physical training test is half of the composite score. A big part of my job is to help people who are not meeting the PT test standards be able to pass the test," he said. 

"I try to put together an overall aerobic training program where we calculate target heart rate range. We follow the F.I.T. principle. F.I.T. stands for frequency, intensity, time and type. We go by those guidelines to put together an effective aerobic training program and a strength training program that are safe and effective." 

Safety is a priority for Mr. Brickl who also designs programs for individuals who want to stay fit and modify their exercise routines to rehabilitate or work around injuries or disabilities. He frequently works with servicemembers whose health care providers have identified conditions on their profiles, he said. "I meet with them and make recommendations for specific types of activities for people who are recovering from injuries, whether it's a joint problem, asthma condition, or any type of condition a provider has identified." 

Another component of Mr. Brickl's position is education and disease prevention. "We spend a lot of time with education and intervention, making people aware of how they can develop an effective cardiovascular program so they can not only pass their annual fitness tests, but also stay healthy in the aging process and reduce risks of diseases like specific forms of cancer, diabetes, stroke and heart disease," he said. "We focus on structure and function and movement and ways to improve the strength and function of the heart and lungs. It's a preventative approach to health promotion and health care -- trying to adapt with an effective exercise and fitness program." 

Although Mr. Brickl works primarily with active-duty servicemembers, appointments and assessments are also open to civilian employees and contractors. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call (781) 377-6560 or e-mail Craig.Brickl@hanscom.af.mil.