Exercise Therapist/Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor

EXERCISE THERAPIST/PERSONAL TRAINER/GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

MN Spine and Sport | Woodbury, Minnesota

Reports To

Clinic Director / Office Manager

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Employment

Full-Time

Department

Clinical Rehabilitation

Updated

August 2026

Location

Woodbury, MN

Position Summary

The Exercise Therapist supports MN Spine and Sport's rehabilitation-focused model by guiding patients through individualized exercise programs, assisting with therapeutic modalities, reinforcing patient education, and creating a seamless, high-quality patient experience. This role blends clinical rehabilitation, movement coaching, fitness instruction, patient engagement, and operational support. The ideal candidate is energetic, dependable, detail-oriented, coachable, and passionate about helping people move better, feel better, and live better.

Our standard: Every patient receives purposeful coaching, appropriate progression, clear education, and an unsurpassed experience at every visit.

Core Responsibilities

Clinical Rehabilitation and Patient Education

• Guide patients through individualized exercise and rehabilitation programs prescribed or approved by the treating provider.
• Teach proper exercise technique, breathing, positioning, tempo, dosage, progression, regression, and the purpose of each exercise.
• Monitor patient response during rehabilitation and promptly communicate pain increases, unusual symptoms, safety concerns, or changes in function to the treating provider.
• Reinforce provider recommendations regarding home exercise, injury prevention, recovery expectations, activity modification, and long-term self-management.
• Prepare, document, and deliver accurate home exercise programs through the clinic's approved patient-engagement platform, confirming patient understanding before departure.
• Support multiple patients efficiently while maintaining individualized attention, safety, professionalism, and a positive coaching environment.
• Track assigned patient outcomes, exercise adherence, program completion, and other rehabilitation metrics requested by the Clinic Director.

Therapeutic Modalities and Clinical Support

• Set up, monitor, and complete approved therapeutic modalities according to provider orders, training, manufacturer guidance, and clinic protocols.
• Modalities may include Class IV laser therapy, PEMF, spinal decompression, electrical stimulation, compression therapy, and other services adopted by the clinic.
• Assist with acupuncture needle removal under direct supervision and only after completing clinic training and demonstrated competency.
• Complete shockwave therapy training and competency requirements within the first year of employment, or sooner if assigned.
• Explain the basic purpose, expectations, and safety instructions for assigned modalities without diagnosing, changing the plan of care, or practicing outside the role's scope.
• Document completed exercises, modalities, patient response, and required clinical information accurately and promptly within the approved workflow.

Performance, Fitness, and Movement Lab

• Lead or support small-group fitness classes, personal training, performance sessions, and wellness programs as assigned and within the employee's training and credentials.
• Coach participants in safe movement, strength, mobility, endurance, balance, and functional performance using appropriate progressions and regressions.
• Collaborate with providers and the rehabilitation team to help patients transition from formal care to independent exercise, fitness, and performance programs.
• Monitor participants for form, fatigue, pain, and safety while maintaining alignment with MN Spine and Sport's movement-first rehabilitation philosophy.
• Contribute ideas for new classes, recovery programs, wellness services, and performance offerings that support patient and community needs.

Patient Experience and Product Education

• Build encouraging, respectful relationships and create an inclusive environment for patients of different ages, abilities, backgrounds, and fitness levels.
• Use clear, motivating communication that promotes confidence, consistency, and patient ownership of recovery.
• Educate patients about approved home-rehabilitation tools, supports, exercise equipment, and wellness products that may help them follow their care plan.
• Recommend products when appropriate to the patient's needs and within clinic guidelines.

Clinic Operations and Administrative Support

• Maintain clean, organized, stocked, and patient-ready rehabilitation, treatment, fitness, and shared clinic spaces throughout the day.
• Complete assigned daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning, organization, and safety tasks according to clinic standards.
• Inspect exercise and modality equipment weekly for cleanliness, function, damage, and safety, and report concerns promptly.
• Support patient flow and front-office operations during peak periods or staffing needs, including scheduling, payment collection, professional phone communication, and general patient assistance.
• Learn and accurately communicate basic clinic information, including services, memberships, promotions, scheduling expectations, copays, deductibles, and payment policies, while referring complex insurance questions appropriately.
• Follow the Clinic Director's direction for clinical and rehabilitation duties and the Practice Manager's direction for administrative and non-clinical responsibilities.

Patient Engagement and Practice Growth

• Consistently invite satisfied patients to share feedback through online reviews, testimonials, and other approved clinic channels. 
• Educate patients about quarterly referral contests and encourage patient referrals when appropriate. 
• Support and implement company initiatives, promotions, patient engagement campaigns, and practice growth efforts. 
• Communicate new clinic policies, procedures, technology features, services, treatment options, programs, and classes using approved messaging and materials. 
• Assist patients with using new scheduling tools, mobile app features, forms, communication platforms, and other clinic resources. 
• Identify opportunities to connect patients with relevant services, treatments, classes, or resources based on provider recommendations. 
• Direct clinical questions to the appropriate provider and administrative or financial questions to the appropriate team member. 
• Reinforce MN Spine and Sport’s mission, values, and standards while maintaining a positive and consistent patient experience.

Marketing and Community Engagement

• Create or participate in weekly educational exercise, movement, recovery, and wellness content for social media, video, photography, and clinic communications.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure content is accurate, professional, consistent with clinic campaigns, and aligned with MN Spine and Sport's brand.
• Participate in community events, fitness expos, workshops, outreach activities, and referral-partner initiatives as assigned.
• Represent MN Spine and Sport professionally and communicate the clinic's evidence-based, rehabilitation-focused approach accurately.

Teamwork, Training, and Professional Development

• Participate actively in required team meetings, weekly check-ins, internal training, continuing education, and professional-development activities.
• Complete assigned competency training and maintain required certifications within established timeframes.
• Seek feedback, demonstrate continuous improvement, assist teammates when needed, and contribute to a culture of accountability and becoming 1% better every day.
• Follow all MN Spine and Sport policies, safety procedures, privacy requirements, role boundaries, and standards of conduct.

Required Qualifications

• Education or hands-on experience in exercise science, kinesiology, rehabilitation, athletic training, strength and conditioning, personal training, group fitness, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to teach and supervise exercise safely, explain movement clearly, and adapt coaching to individual needs.
• Excellent verbal communication, interpersonal, organization, and time-management skills.
• Patient-centered mindset with enthusiasm, empathy, professionalism, and a genuine interest in helping people improve function and confidence.
• Ability to learn and use electronic health records, home-exercise platforms, fitness technology, and standard office software.
• Ability to manage multiple patients, tasks, and priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Current CPR/AED certification, or ability to obtain certification within 60 days of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in exercise science, kinesiology, athletic training, health and wellness, or a related discipline.
• Current personal training, strength and conditioning, corrective exercise, or group fitness certification from a nationally recognized organization.
• Experience in a chiropractic, physical therapy, sports medicine, rehabilitation, fitness, or multidisciplinary healthcare setting.
• Experience leading group classes, personal training sessions, community education, or exercise-related social media content.

Competencies and Professional Expectations

• Patient-first coaching with sound judgment, attention to detail, and appropriate escalation of clinical concerns.
• Integrity, grit, reliability, adaptability, and accountability for assigned responsibilities.
• Commitment to modern science, evidence-informed rehabilitation, and continuous learning.
• Ability to build valued relationships with patients, teammates, providers, and community partners.
• Consistent professionalism, confidentiality, inclusivity, and respect for role boundaries and provider direction.

Physical and Work Requirements (with or without reasonable accommodation)

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and frequently bend, reach, squat, kneel, push, pull, demonstrate exercises, and use fitness or rehabilitation equipment.
• Ability to safely assist patients with positioning, exercise, mobility, and equipment setup within established training and clinic procedures.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to work scheduled clinic hours and participate in occasional classes, community events, meetings, or training outside regular patient-care hours.

Measures of Success

• Safe, accurate, engaging, and individualized delivery of prescribed rehabilitation and modality services.
• Strong patient understanding, adherence, confidence, satisfaction, and functional progress.
• Accurate and timely exercise-program delivery, documentation, outcome tracking, and communication with providers.
• Clean, organized, fully stocked, and safe rehabilitation and treatment areas.
• Reliable achievement of assigned clinical, operational, content, class, and community-engagement expectations.
• Positive teamwork and consistent alignment with MN Spine and Sport's core values and service standards.

Opportunities for Growth

MN Spine and Sport invests in team development. Exercise Therapists who demonstrate strong clinical skills, leadership, initiative, reliability, and alignment with clinic standards may be considered for expanded responsibilities or advancement, including:

• Exercise Therapist Team Lead or Clinical Team Lead.
• Movement Lab class lead, personal trainer, or performance coach.
• Community fitness, marketing, or patient-education coordinator.
• Trainer, onboarding mentor, program developer, or contributor to new wellness and performance initiatives.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Practice is an equal opportunity employer. This means that the Practice will base its employment decisions on merit, qualifications, competence and business needs as determined by management, and without regard to an employee’s protected category, or an employee’s association with a person in a protected category. 

Job Description Disclaimer

This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected for this position. It is not intended to contain a complete list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Responsibilities may be added, removed, or modified at any time based on patient needs, staffing, operational requirements, and the needs of MN Spine and Sport.

At-Will Employment

Employment with MN Spine and Sport is at will. This means that either the employee or MN Spine and Sport may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without advance notice, and with or without cause, subject to applicable law. Nothing in this job description, or in any verbal or written statement, policy, procedure, or practice, creates an employment contract or guarantees employment for any specific duration. The at-will employment relationship may only be changed through a written agreement expressly stating the change and signed by the employee and an authorized representative of MN Spine and Sport.