Professional Skills
Even though we have reached 2011 there are still many misconceptions about health and fitness and even common media sources present incorrect information and partial facts. It is fascinating that sufficient evidence-based information exists to properly guide the decision making process and thousands of media platforms are available to disseminate the information to those that pursue it; yet many people follow antiquated advice and methodology including many fitness professionals. True this is not limited to the fitness profession as there are still some physicians for example, that suggest age-appropriate resistance training may stunt a child’s growth; but it seems to be a prolific in the fitness industry. When it comes to health and fitness most people do not know how to reach the goals they perceive as important and therefore it is up to those educated in the discipline to properly guide the public using safe and effective techniques in instruction and behavior management.
The first area of concern is within the basics of training instruction and programming. It is unacceptable that a professional hired for a role to help others to not be suitably versed in the proper techniques to elicit an effective adaptive response in a safe manner. When a personal trainer works with a client the first and foremost aspect of acceptable practice is that all the exercises a client performs under instruction are safe and correct in technique. Trainers that are still having clients perform presses or lat pull down behind the head, use supine leg lifts or straight leg throw downs, allow round back lifting or knee translation are acting negligently. Lack of knowledge in the training instruction being employed is the same as a knowledgeable person ignoring proper performance techniques. This is not to suggest that all trainers should be optimally proficient in every technique employed in the industry, but rather only utilize activities that they are properly qualified to instruct and well versed in the process.
Secondly, a trainer must require optimal biomechanics in an exercise throughout its performance or regress it to a level of difficulty that can be managed by the client in a safe manner. A trainer watching a squat or leg press where a client’s knees cross the toe or pelvis migrates posterior is unacceptable in personal training as it is detrimental to the client. Likewise, witnessing blatant momentum lifting, incomplete range of motion and compensatory malalignment leading to unsafe biomechanics is equally a compromise to professional practices. If the personal training industry is to gain a level of acceptance and maintain proper regulatory standards, certified personal trainers must practice at a professional level consistent with other professions in the allied health fields that stem from the movement sciences.
Another area of potential compromise to the profession is in behavior management. Personal trainers have an obligation to address health issues as a priority while promoting the personal goals of a client. With the proliferation of pre– and diagnosed cardio-metabolic conditions among the American population, personal trainers must recognize the risks associated with these pathologies and adjust physical activity and lifestyle behavior management to reduce the risk of physical limitation and premature death. Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are significant contributors to early and expensive mortality. Knowledge of guidelines and training modifications are necessary to accept working with these individuals, and with over 100 million known cases of disease; this is a relevant declaration.
Personal trainers managing dietary recommendations also need to understand their legal role and capabilities. This is particularly relevant for those working with clients with pre-existing disorders like hypertension as well as those who are pre-diabetic and obese. Recommendations of very-low calorie diets (VLCD), Pritikin level intakes of dietary lipids, and high-protein diets are beyond the scope of personal training and under the legal guidance of registered dietitians and physicians trained accordingly. Personal trainers certainly should understand the blood glucose dynamics of grazing, the importance of fruits and vegetables and caloric control, and likely the most important, portion control and unhealthy behavior tendency and pitfalls.Specific diet prescriptions are not appropriate however as development of one falls under the role of a Registered Dietician; it is outside the personal trainer’s scope of practice. Educating clients about nutrient balance, proper food sources, nutrient influence of health, and differentiating processed products from complex foods is relevant education from a personal trainer.
For personal trainers to reach the bar set by other professions there must be a personal commitment to one’s discipline and a willingness to earn an acceptable level of competency while in the pursuit of individual betterment and professional growth. One of the best methods is to use mentors and role modeling and identifying areas of need to become a better professional. Therefore, personal evaluation of one’s skills and an emphasis in continued education pursuits to strengthen weak areas and fill the gaps of one’s professional capabilities will promote the industry’s growth through increased professional competence.
