Personal Training; Past and Present

During the 1950’s and 1960’s gym members were predominantly men who were training for specific goals, such as increased size (bodybuilders), strength (power lifters), explosive strength (Olympic lifters), or a combination of all of these goals (athletes). As the 1970’s rolled around there was an increased interest in going to the gym and training to become fit. Not only had it become more socially acceptable but it provided a structured way to achieve health and social interaction simultaneously. Society was becoming more appearance-conscious and thus the number of new gym member increased to include a large number of people who were uneducated about training and the gym environment. People decided they needed to seek out the advice of an “expert” and at this time that was the person in the gym who had been working out the longest and in the best shape. These qualifications are only genetic based and not necessarily based on training knowledge. Although these people were probably able to provide good information on acute variables such as sets, reps, and so on, the understanding and application of human movement science (functional anatomy, functional biomechanics, and motor behavior) is something very different. Fitness programs at this time rarely met the individual needs, goals, and abilities of the client.

From the mid 1980’s to the present technology and automation in the United States began to take a toll on public health. In 1985 the international obesity task force deemed the prevalence of obesity an epidemic. Today, approximately 30% of adults are estimated to be obese. This carries over to the adolescent population, with 16% of teenagers considered obese. The American population is also living longer. This leads to the number of individuals developing chronic diseases and disability. According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, one in five adults report having doctor-diagnosed arthritis and this is a leading cause of disability.

Meanwhile, daily activities continue to decline. People are less active and spend less of their free time engaged in physical activity. Physical education and after-school programs are being cut from school budgets, further decreasing the amount of physical activity in children’s lives. This new environment is producing more inactive and non functional people.

EVIDENCE OF MUSCULAR DYSFUNCTION AND INCREASED INJURY

The National Academy of Sports medicine suggests that musculoskeletal pain is more common now than it was 40 years ago. This leads us to believe that decreased activity may lead to muscular dysfunction and, ultimately, injury.

Low Back Pain
80% of adults are affected by some for of low back pain. Research has shown low back pain to be predominant among workers in enclosed workspaces (such as offices) and people who sit for 3 hours or more at a time, as well as manual labor.

Knee Injuries
The incident of knee injuries is also a concern. It’s estimated that 80,000 to 100,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries happen each year. 70% of these are non-contact and occur between 15 and 25 years of age. This isn’t hard to believe because of the increased amount of obesity and lack of activity within this age group.

Chronic Diseases
Physical activity has been proven to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and lifestyle disorders. Some examples are increased triglycerides, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Musculoskeletal Injuries
In 2003 musculoskeletal injuries were the number two reason for doctor’s visits. 31 million of these visits were because of back problems, 19 million we because of knee problems, 14 million for shoulder problems, and 11 million for ankle problems.
It has become much more important in today’s society to focus on health and wellness. Many people realize that they need to exercise but not many people are putting those thoughts into action. With this growing population of untrained deconditioned individuals it is important to ensure that all components of their bodies are properly prepared for the stress that will be placed on them. Many training programs neglect the proper training for the musculoskeletal system including muscles of the hips, upper and lower back, and neck.

Current Training programs have shown that the intensity of activity needed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness of a sedentary adult may put them into a state of excessive overload. This shows that the musculoskeletal system is easily overtrained when it is deconditioned. Deconditioned does not only mean a person is out of breath or overweight, it’s a state in which a person may have muscle imbalances, decreased flexibility, or lack of core and joint stability. Most training programs do not focus on multiplanar movements (movement throughout different planes of the body). The key to integrated training is focusing on these multiplanar movements in a proprioceptively enriched environment. This environment is one that challenges the internal balance and stabilization systems of the body. For example, a single leg squat or single arm shoulder press.

The needs of the American population are ever changing and it’s a constant challenge to meet them. Today’s client is deconditioned because of a sedentary lifestyle and their bodies have been physically molded by furniture, gravity, and inactivity. They are not ready to begin physical activity and the same rate as someone could 20 years ago, and this is why training programs must change and advance from programs of the past. The new focus of fitness programs should focus on individual functional capacity.

When beginning the New Year’s resolutions this year, be careful not to overtrain your bodies especially if you have been inactive. Give your body a chance to adjust to what you are doing not only to achieve the best benefit and results but to insure your overall health and safety.