Summer is here and you are probably thinking that it’s time to get in shape. Working with a fitness professional / certified personal trainer is a great way to get started, maybe!
The human body is very efficient at adapting to stimulus (in the case of exercise we need to think in terms of force and time) in many ways. When speaking about exercise, our body will either “wear in” and adapt with positive results, or “wear out” by evidence of disinterest, excessive fatigue, joint and or muscular pain.
Exercise challenges a person’s central nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary and musculoskeletal system and can present more risk then benefit if not initiated and progressed appropriately. Therefore exercise should be based your current level of, health, ability, and directed toward meeting your needs and goals.
“Safe, effective, efficient, exercise recommendations should be based on scientific fact, not public opinion or historical continuity of information!”
When choosing a personal trainer, here are some important factors to consider:
- There are many types of personal training certifications currently available, and they vary greatly—from home study, online courses to University-accredited courses and nationally accredited certifications. In some cases, a certified personal trainer may have only studied textbook content, took an online course, or sat for a multiple choice exam. So be sure to ask your personal trainer if his/her education included practical, hands-on training inclusive of health assessments and exercise biomechanics.
- Ask if the personal trainer is certified by a nationally recognized and accredited educational program. One way to make sure you receive the benefits of exercise while lowering risk is to work with a personal trainer who is knowledgeable about the musculoskeletal system and its physiological, neurological and mechanical properties. Certified personal trainers should also have the skills necessary to measure blood pressure and resting heart rate and understand the fundamental principles of exercise biomechanics, medical terminology, medical conditions and concerns, exercise program design, nutrition, and psychology.
- Be sure your personal trainer logs exercise sessions and is able to modify and direct your program toward achieving your goals accordingly.
- Your initial impression of the trainer is important: Is he/she neat, courteous, a good listener, and does he/she answer all of your questions and concerns?
- Your personal trainer should be insured and have current CPR and Automated External Defibrillator certification.
It’s your body; the choices you make today are important for YOUR health.
