CBS News recently ran a report on unqualified personal trainers and the fitness industry's lack of regulation:
While the report is obviously focusing on very extreme examples, it also sheds light on an unfortunate and frightening "dirty little secret": without industry-wide regulations concerning the training and education of personal trainers, there is absolutely no assurance of professionalism, knowledge or even safety when it comes to hiring a "fitness professional."
Think about that for a moment: right now as you read this there are literally thousands upon thousands of people across the country that have entrusted their health and safety in a group of "professionals" that probably know just slightly more about health and basic human physiology than the people that actually hired them...and that is a terribly scary thing.
In the end, a fitness professional, just like any other professional, requires two basic qualities to be effective: knowledge of his/her field, and the ability to apply that knowledge. Until the fitness industry develops a standardization of knowledge-base and entry-level requirements, it will remain a terribly scary thing indeed.
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On a more personal (and positive) note, congratulations to my best friend Rochelle: she was just accepted to the City University of New York's Ph.D. program in Speech and Hearing Sciences (where I am currently finishing my own clinical doctorate in physical therapy). She is one of the brightest and most gifted people that I know, and there was never a doubt in my mind that she wouldn't be accepted!
While the report is obviously focusing on very extreme examples, it also sheds light on an unfortunate and frightening "dirty little secret": without industry-wide regulations concerning the training and education of personal trainers, there is absolutely no assurance of professionalism, knowledge or even safety when it comes to hiring a "fitness professional."
Think about that for a moment: right now as you read this there are literally thousands upon thousands of people across the country that have entrusted their health and safety in a group of "professionals" that probably know just slightly more about health and basic human physiology than the people that actually hired them...and that is a terribly scary thing.
So how can you tell a good trainer from a bad one? You can take a look at what I've written before about evaluating a trainer, and you can also check out what my friend (and excellent coach) Tony Gentilcore had to say about the subject on his blog at the Boston Herald
In the end, a fitness professional, just like any other professional, requires two basic qualities to be effective: knowledge of his/her field, and the ability to apply that knowledge. Until the fitness industry develops a standardization of knowledge-base and entry-level requirements, it will remain a terribly scary thing indeed.
***
On a more personal (and positive) note, congratulations to my best friend Rochelle: she was just accepted to the City University of New York's Ph.D. program in Speech and Hearing Sciences (where I am currently finishing my own clinical doctorate in physical therapy). She is one of the brightest and most gifted people that I know, and there was never a doubt in my mind that she wouldn't be accepted!
I'm SO proud of you, Rocks!
-Jonathan