PT's: Finding a right fit?

[chris_f]

Hey all,

I'll try to keep this brief as possible. My parents are in their mid-50's, and both work out 2 to 4 times a week at a gym down the street. They began working out 2 or 3 years ago to help ease lower back pain and maintain their figures as they aged.

The last PT they had, about 2 years ago, was terrible. He pushed them like they were body-builders in their mid-20's, and his insistance that my mom put up lots of weight on the leg-press actually CAUSED her back problem.

As a result, they're very leary of trainers, and tend to stick to machine work only. They're thinking of purchasing a home-gym, and would also like to hire another PT to learn some new excercises and/or routines.

Are there any particular certifications, qualifications, and other qualities to look for in a personal trainer to make sure you're getting someone who will be knowledgable, credible, and fit your needs?

Also, I'm trying to steer them away from a home gym that locks you into one-plane of motion for excercises. My dad and I have gone back and forth on the full range of motion debate, as he feels it is safer to use a limited range of motion (he used shoulder press as an example), so that you don't "over-extend" your muscle and hurt yourself.

Any help or advice anyone can give would be great! Thanks in advance guys! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[dawong]

theres a thread like this in the "Fitness Forum" called "Finding the right trainer" or something like that. help that helps a little.

[GqArtguy]

Why dont you train them? I took a few weeks in the summer to show my mother (49yr old arthritis 5'3 and 180lbs) how to squat, deadlift, bench, row, etc. Once she learned the proper form she was able to workout alone when I went back to school. Shes feeling a lot better and doesnt hurt as much and has lost about 15lbs in a few months along with tons of partitioning.

[chris_f]

Why dont you train them? I took a few weeks in the summer to show my mother (49yr old arthritis 5'3 and 180lbs) how to squat, deadlift, bench, row, etc. Once she learned the proper form she was able to workout alone when I went back to school. Shes feeling a lot better and doesnt hurt as much and has lost about 15lbs in a few months along with tons of partitioning.

That's a great suggestion, and I've thought of it, but they disagree with a lot of what I suggest about switching to free weights and such. As I mentioned, my dad is an advocate of using limited range of motion, and without a certification, my word holds less weight on the subject than a "real" trainers would.

[GqArtguy]

Perhaps give them articles by trainers that talk about free weight or have them sign up for a newsletter, or hell ask JP if they can call him [img]smile.gif[/img]

[chris_f]

"or hell ask JP if they can call him [img]smile.gif[/img] "

haha, yea i'll look into that. I know i've read either a newsletter or a rant by AC about the benefits of free-weight training and how he's had 70 year olds squatting before. If i could get my hands on that.... hmmm

Thanks again for your advice and help Gq... i'll figure something out!

[chris_f]

Gq: I asked my mom today, and she was, surprisingly, thrilled at the idea of me training her! Thanks for the suggestion.

One more question though: Her and my dad are pretty dead-set on getting a weight machine of some-sort for the house. Any suggestion on what would be the best bet? I'd like to avoid the traditional weight machines, i think. Maybe a bowflex-type machine, which allows for multi-plane movements?

[DKing]

Definatly go for a bowflex type over the usual total gym kind of thing.

Good luck training them.

Danny

[chris_f]

Well... It's a lost cause

When my mom agreed to let me train her, she didn't realize I wanted her to use free weights and such. She says she just doesn't like the way free weights feel. She's afraid she'll "drop a dumbell and kill [her]self!"

She also wonders how I work my "inner and outer thighs" if I don't use the abductor and adductor machine! Oh well...