 Posted 16/11/2009 19:48:13
|
|
|
|
| I've noticed quite a few people comment that gym staff don't seem to know enough to help them so I thought I'd share my experience, as a gym user and from discussions with friends in the fitness industry. Someone working as a fitness trainer in a gym learns - the purpose of various pieces of equipment, and various exercise, and how to make proper use of them
- how to plan an exercise programme
- what they need to know about a client
- how to build up a relationship with a client in order to motivate them
- how to deal with accidents and emergencies during exercise
- basic anatomy / physiology and the effects of exercise
- health and safety
It's a wide curriculum and for many people it covers the early steps of a progression into leisure management. It prepares gym staff to deal with the majority of gym users, and to identify people who might have problems. For some of us, that's probably as much as we need but others may need more informed advice specific to osteoporosis. I came across a document http://http://www.csp.org.uk/uploads/documents/OSTEOgl.pdf endorsed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and NOS, but for someone not familiar with training techniques there's a fair bit of jargon. For someone who's never been to a gym, there might be some value in having a session with a physiotherapist beforehand, to discuss what type of exercise and equipment is likely to help. I know I've found physios more knowledgeable than doctors on the subject of exercise - have others found the same?
|
|
|
Posted 16/11/2009 20:52:08
|
|
|
|
Very interesting pdf thanks. I've downloaded it to my computer to keep for future reference. It concurs with what I have personally found. Noticed this on page 27
"One study carried out by Kerr et al 36 concluded that post-menopausal bone mass can be
significantly increased by a strength regimen that uses high load, low repetitions but not by an
endurance regimen that uses low load, high repetitions. This suggests that peak load is more
important than the number of loading cycles in increasing bone mass in early post-menopausal
women."
I was directed to that very study here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8822346?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=2 on a weight lifting discussion forum I'm on as I do high load with low repetitions (SuperSlow/Slow Burn). I've downloaded and printed that study too to show my consultant.
Very important that trainers at a gym know the best exercise regimes for people with osteoporosis. This was stressed clearly too at the NOS members Day last year in a talk given about exercise. If a person gets a GP exercise referral to a gym that gym will be a local authority one where the trainers are properly qualified as it is only to them that GPs can refer. Not that all qualified trainers are aware of the kind of information in that physio document - several trainers I've met have been aware of the value of load rather than repetitions, but one was not and even told me high impact exercise was good ! Thankfully I knew otherwise but not everyone with osteoporosis will know what's best for them and may trust to uneducated trainers 
Anne
Osteoporosis - Strontium Ranelate, Dekristol vitamin D3 20,000 IU/week, weight lifting, walking and vibration platform exercise, alkaline loaded diet, vitamin K2 MK-7 100mcg/d, K2 MK-4 5mg/d. Diabetes - Repaglinide, low carb diet and exercise. Congenital heart defect - Omacor and CoQ10
|
|
|
Posted 17/11/2009 20:02:37
|
|
|
|
| That makes sense as low load / high rep training works on cardiovascular fitness, while high load / low reps works on muscle strength so presumably stresses the bones as it puts pressure on the muscles. As regards trainers, have you had a look at the NVQ syllabus? The levels a typical gym instructor might obtain guide them towards following their gym's process when it comes to checking for disabilities. It doesn't provide much understanding of the interaction between disability and exercise. This isn't a criticism of the course, just a reflection of the fact that it isn't intended to provide that sort of specialist training. I've never found GPs particularly knowledgeable on the subject of exercise, though others may be luckier. I think it makes sense for someone with osteoporosis to check whether their gym trainer has had any education on the subject, even after a GP referral. I've just had a look at the NOS booklet on exercise - there isn't much on weight training. Maybe there would be some value in a booklet which could be used by the osteoporosis sufferer and made available to gyms.
|
|
|
Posted 05/01/2010 16:53:21
|
|
|
|
| Hi all. I am 68 and I have been going to the gym for 5 years. I am in a wheelchair. I am very fit and it keeps my weight down. the people are friendly and helpfull. I cant walk so its my way of keeping fit I go twice a week and I love it Fee
Feebe D
|
|
|
Posted 28/02/2010 16:43:19
|
|
|
|
where can you get the book on OP and excersise?
Jilly
|
|
|
|