Personal trainers with corrective exercise knowledge are perfectly positioned to become solid referral sources for medical professionals writes corrective exercise specialist Justin Price.
Almost every personal training client has some form of muscle and/or joint pain that prevents them from exercising to their fullest and reaching their ultimate health and fitness goals. In fact, the number one reason people seek the help of a fitness professional is to help them alleviate musculoskeletal pain (IDEA, 2013). The field of corrective exercise is booming as a result and personal trainers are working hard to incorporate pain-relief strategies into their client service offerings to meet this growing demand.
Working within your scope of practice
The explosion in corrective exercise is fuelled, in part, by a gap in care that has existed for some time between the services provided by physiotherapists/licensed medical professionals and the more dynamic exercise modalities personal trainers provide for these patients/clients as they increase their activity levels after recovering from injury. In most instances clients transitioning from medical care to fitness settings are not physically ready to engage in popular programs like CrossFit, boot-camp and HIIT training because while their initial symptoms of pain may have subsided, they still have underlying musculoskeletal imbalances that have not yet been corrected. However, it’s not only this gap in care that has corrective exercise thriving. Clients/patients with muscle and joint pain are typically anxious to begin (or return to) a program of vigorous exercise to regain their fitness or build an aesthetically pleasing body. Continual exposure to marketing and advertising images that promote the need to be young, sleek and “sexy forever” compel clients to rush headfirst into dynamic exercise programs before they have fully rehabilitated their old injuries or addressed their underlying movement dysfunction sufficiently. As such, the potential for re-injury and development of new injuries and/or reoccurring muscle and joint pain is inevitable.
That is where the savvy personal trainer steps in. Increasing numbers of fitness professionals have begun incorporating musculoskeletal assessments, movement screens and corrective exercise protocols with clients to ensure they are kept safe and injury-free as they work toward their fitness, sporting and aesthetic goals. As corrective exercise strategies become a mainstay in client programs, however, it is important for fitness professionals to understand that it is not their job to replace the role of physiotherapists and/or other medical professionals nor to treat or diagnose a client’s condition (The American Council on Exercise, 2010). When assisting clients with muscle and joint pain trainers should remain well within their scope of practice. Overstepping their professional bounds not only does clients a disservice, but it also diminishes opportunities for personal trainers and fitness professionals to build their reputation as sought after corrective exercise specialists providing distinct and unique skills not available elsewhere.
That being said, personal trainers are experts in muscles and movement. The acquisition of qualifications and knowledge in the field of corrective exercise enables fitness professionals to identify underlying musculoskeletal and movement imbalances that may prevent clients from exercising safely and effectively or that can lead to dysfunction/pain. The integration of corrective exercise strategies into business offerings allows these trainers to help clients transition carefully into regular workout programs and ensure people with past injuries and musculoskeletal imbalances are serviced appropriately. Corrective exercise expertise not only prepares trainers for their role in bridging the gap between physiotherapy/doctors, but also enables them to develop valuable referral networks with licensed medical professionals.
Building referrals with corrective exercise
Developing referral relationships with doctors, physiotherapists and other licensed medical professionals is highly beneficial for personal trainers because these allied health professionals are bombarded with clients who experience muscle and joint pain. Recent reports show that two out of the top three reasons people seek medical care is for assistance in alleviating chronic pain (Huffington Post, 2013). Medical professionals know people need to exercise on a regular basis not only to help prevent disease, but also because exercise is essential for combating the effects of aging, correcting musculoskeletal weakness, and preventing movement deficiencies that cause aches and pains.
Unfortunately though, once a medical professional has done their part to treat a person’s symptoms of pain and dysfunction, they typically make general recommendations to their patients regarding exercise such as “start exercising more”, “take up yoga” or “climb the stairs at work” rather than referring them out to qualified fitness professionals. Granted, these are helpful recommendations, but these general suggestions also leave it up to the person with musculoskeletal issues to navigate any barriers they encounter as they begin a fitness routine. More often than not, these clients experience continued movement dysfunction, more pain/injuries and they ultimately drop out of their exercise program. This is not only disheartening for the patient, but frustrating for the medical professional who believes the patient in pain is not doing their best to get well.
Personal trainers with corrective exercise knowledge are perfectly positioned to become solid referral sources for medical professionals dealing with these types of struggling clients. By demonstrating and communicating their specialty skills to allied health professionals, trainers can create and develop trusted referral networks (Price, 2010). Establishing oneself as the “go-to” person for recommendations and referrals from the medical community requires reaching out to these professionals to let them know who you are and what you can do. The fastest and easiest way to do this is to ask current clients for the names of their medical professionals and for permission to liaise with them in order to provide a more comprehensive approach to their health and wellness as they transition from the care of physiotherapists/doctors to participating safely and effectively in a program of regular exercise.
Conclusion
Personal trainers have an amazing opportunity to provide specialty services for clients with recurring muscle and joint pain. Obtaining the skills needed to help these people, and consistently applying and integrating successful corrective exercise techniques into client services, is the key to positioning oneself as a necessary and highly sought after professional in the field of corrective exercise.
REFERENCES
- American Council on Exercise. 2010. ACE Personal Trainer Manual (Fourth Edition). American Council on Exercise.
- Huffington Post. 2013. Most Common Reasons For Seeing A Doctor Revealed In New Study. Posted: 01/17/2013. huffingtonpost.com.
- IDEA. 2013. IDEA Fitness Programs and Equipment Trends Report. IDEA Health & Fitness Association.
- Price, J. 2010. The BioMechanics Method Corrective Exercise Educational Program. The BioMechanics Press.
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Justin Price, author of this article, is the creator of The BioMechanics Method Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification powered by Australian Fitness Network (Fitness Australia-approved). The BioMechanics Method is the fitness industry’s highest rated specialty certification with trained specialists in over 70 countries. To find out more about how to become a corrective exercise specialist in The BioMechanics Method so you can help people alleviate their pain, move better and exercise without limitations, click here.
