A MANDATORY FIRST STEP FOR ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM IS A MEDICAL SCREENING. A PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM SHOULD CONTAIN FLEXIBILITY, DYNAMIC STRENGTH, AND CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ENDURANCE EXERCISE ELEMENTS; AND SHOULD BE DEVELOPED SYSTEMATICALLY TO ENSURE WELL-BALANCED OVERALL CONDITIONING; AND SHOULD CONTROL THE INTENSITY, DURATION, AND FREQUENCY OF EXERCISE. DEFINTIONS OF CONDITIONING PRINCIPLES ARE GIVEN. THERE ARE THREE PHASES IN EVERY WORKOUT, A GRADUAL WARMUP TO INCREASE CIRCULATORY RATE AND LOOSEN MUSCLES; AN INTENSE EXERCISE PERIOD OF CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ENDURANCE AND/OR DYNAMIC STRENGTH ROUTINES; AND A FINAL PERIOD OF GRADUAL COOL-DOWN OR TAPER-OFF PERIOD. GOALS SHOULD BE REASONABLE AND CONCENTRATE ON DEFICIENCIES. A SIMPLE TEST FOR FLEXIBILITY IS THE TOE-TOUCH TEST; FOR DYNAMIC STRENGTH, A ONE-MINUTE BENT-LEG SIT-UP TEST; AND FOR CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ENDURANCE, THE 12-MINUTE RUN/WALK TEST. IN DEVELOPING EXERCISE ROUTINES FOR CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ENDURANCE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY BE PROGRESSIVE AND CONSIDER AGE, SEX, AND INITIAL FITNESS LEVEL. THE FINAL STEP AFTER DEVELOPING THE SPECIFIC FLEXIBILITY, DYNAMIC STRENGTH AND CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ENDURANCE LEVELS IS TO DEVELOP AN EXERCISE WORKOUT CHART. PERIODIC REVIEW SHOULD ALSO BE CONDUCTED TO SEE IF INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ARE BEING MET. TABULAR DATA AND LINE DRAWINGS ACCOMPANY THE ARTICLE. (MJW)