YOUR PERSONAL TRAINER AND YOU
Questions to Ask for a Better Experience
Gym injuries are often overlooked because people may feel embarrassed about them, or they think it’s “weak” to report. A recent article in the New York Post stated that an Equinox Gym in Manhattan was sued because one of their personal trainers continued to have a patron exercise despite having been injured. The patron, David J. Walker, a former Green Beret Paratrooper, had a significant injury to his lower back. The trainer allegedly instructed Walker to use a foam roller on his lower back and rotate his legs in a semicircular motion. Walker complained of pain to the trainer, who encouraged him to keep going. Due to the pain he suffered and the worsening of his injury, he sued Equinox Gym. Any personal trainer who has a solid certification, such as those from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), or Fitness Institute International, knows you must do a thorough health history before training any client. This type of injury could easily have been avoided. If the complexity of the injury is outside the scope of the personal trainer’s knowledge and experience, the client should be referred back to their doctor to have a licensed physical therapist work the area of the injury.
To avoid this kind of injury, you should only hire a well-qualified personal trainer. There is a difference between certified and qualified. Here are a few questions to ask. ● What kind of certification do they have? ● How long have they been a personal trainer? ● Do they have experience with your demographic? ● Do they personally carry liability insurance? ● Do they have you fill out a personal health questionnaire? Do they go over it with specific questions? ● Do they take your heart rate when going over your health questionnaire? ● How much are you paying them? ● Do they have any recommendations from other clients? You are paying good money to get into better physical health. Why flush that money down the drain and hire someone inexperienced who could leave you in worse shape? Take the time to educate yourself about the type of trainer you need, then make the right choice for you.
MEME CORNER
My Favorite Green Smoothie Cooking With Ashley
Kick off the new year with this creamy, healthy green breakfast smoothie!
Ingredients •
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1 heaping tablespoon natural, salted peanut butter 1/2 - 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 medium banana, previously peeled, frozen and quartered
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1/2 cup mixed frozen berries
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
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2 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until creamy, adding more almond milk or frozen berries (or bananas) to thin/thicken, respectively. Serve immediately or freeze to enjoy later. Although it is best when fresh.
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(Recipe courtesy of minimalistbaker.com)
www.matthewkoneckypa.com
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