The process of fitness training, like all physical activities, carries an inherent risk of injury. Whilst every reasonable step can be taken to avoid them, injuries will always occur in the physically active. The personal training environment is no different. In fact, the inidicence of injury in a 1 to 1 personal training envirnment is very low. Movements and loading are controlled far more than they are ‘at home’ or in ‘the work place’. More often than not our clients come to us with injuries that they’ve picked up outside of our sessions. That said, it is not unheard of for a client to develop an overuse injury or acute injury during their time with us (we are good at what we do but we can’t guarantee no niggles!).
Personal training clients with inuries
So, how do we deal with personal training clients with injuries? A lot depends on the client. And here we are talking about head space. The athletic population are often very reluctant to stop training all together, whereas some clients view injuries as so serious that all physical activity must stop. Quite often the answer lays somewhere in the middle. As personal trainers that have worked with elite athletes we’ve helped many people return from injury. Training doesn’t have to stop altogether when injury strikes. It simply has to be modified, so think of it like having to re-route a car journey / travel plans because the car has developed a mechanical problem and they’ve closed the M40!
Reassurance the name of the game
For those that love being physically active and training getting an injury can be a bit emotional. No one wants to lose the benefits of the hard work they’ve put in. This is where personal training clients with injuries becomes about the mental support that we offer clients. Reassuring clients that their efforts haven’t been in vain and that they will be back to normal is key to keeping them on track. Firstly, clients need to know that they will get better. We are not medically trained but for some we may have seen enough to know what’s needed to get better and be able to offer some sound recommendations. For others, they need to seek medical advice regarding their specific injury rehab.
Take a look on the bright side
Every cloud has a silver lining, or so the saying goes. For the vast majority of clients there will always be a ‘work around’. Something that they can work on whilst they’re injured. When personal training clients with injuries it might just be a case of opening their eyes to it. Three days after breaking my leg I was back in the gym. The day after suffering a grade 2 calf strain I was performing heavy squats. Leg injury? A chance to work the upper body. Shoulder surgery? A chance to dial in the nutrition and hit some cyclic skill cardio. Giving clients a focus when they can’t do their usual training can be invaluable. Periods of injury can in fact be a blessing in disguise, an oppoortunity to focus on different aspects of health and fitness which mean a fitter healthier version of self once the injury has recovered.