Wise Words of Fitness: Is your personal trainer "fit" to train you?

Fitness

Nope I'm not talking about physically fit instead I'm referring to credentials, experience and expertise that he/she has achieved to train you safely and effectively. With such a large number of certifications it is hard to know which one is better than others. Furthermore, this territory is still unregulated in the United States, which means that anyone can have a "certification" program without a standard number of hours or a specific curriculum.

So how do you know that you are in good hands? In order to make an informed decision before you shell out your hard-earned money, ask questions... interview your personal trainer candidate just like any person would interview for a job. Ask about certification but most importantly, ask about additional studies or complementary continuing education that he/she may have taken. Certification courses are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of training; personal trainers must continue to study to become proficient in areas such as anatomy,
kinesiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics and injury prevention.

Ideally, your personal trainer would have completed college work or have an undergraduate degree in a related area, but this is not mandatory. Ask about references or testimonials, and about success stories with other clients who may have a similar profile than yours (back pain, knee injuries, post-rehabilitation, etc); this is critical for special populations.

Ask your personal trainer about insurance... this is a bit out of the ordinary but it is paramount that he/she has some coverage for liabilities in the event of an injury, better safe than sorry. Note that personal trainers do not diagnose problems, they are not doctors and should not treat injuries or prescribe rehabilitative work, this is outside of their scope unless they hold advanced certifications, and even then, they are still bound by limitations and ethical rules here.

Be wary of anyone pushing supplements... personal trainers can only recommend nutritional programs based on the food pyramid, anything else falls under the realm of a nutritionist.

So as you can see, there are a lot of things that personal trainers should not do, but once you find the right one, he/she can have an immensely positive impact on your health and your fitness. A conscientious personal trainer will be a partner, a person that genuinely cares about your progress as this will translate into his/her success. Personal trainers should take into consideration your medical history, your current occupation and your lifestyle to find the right mix of exercises that will work for you; additionally, they should be able to articulate a progression schedule so you can graduate to working out on your own... this is counter-intuitive as their income depends on more business but ultimately this is the right thing to do! These are the keepers!

Good luck with your search!

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