<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last week we discussed the whole ‘weak’ thing and how actually, just because something is appearing weak, doesn’t mean it actually needs strengthening, or at least maybe not right away. Think back to your clients with ‘weak glutes’... If you missed that post, <a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/why-strengthening-might-not-be-the-solution-to-your-clients-weak-glutes-or-weak-anything/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">make sure you check it out, click here</a>.</span>  </p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today I thought we would look at the world of injury. Injury can be a personal trainers nightmare. If a client is injured it means they often don’t train which, along with not doing the sessions with them, means they aren’t getting results and are less likely to come back and start training again once recovered.</span>  </p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But… what if our thought process around injury was wrong?</span>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What if simply stopping sessions and sending the client to see a physio when they get low grade back pain wasn’t the right approach?</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">You see, if you can keep clients training, or at least in a routine, then they are much more likely to get results. </span>  </p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So let’s consider this question first...</span>  </p>
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<h2><b>What’s The Definition Of An Injury?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So we are generally trained at L2/3 to send anyone with an injury away since it is not our remit, right? The problem is what our clients call an injury, might simply be a low grade ache or stiff back that needs some exercise. </span>  </p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Definition from the internet…</span>  </p>
<h3><b>Injury:</b></h3>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">an instance of being injured, she suffered an injury to her back </span></i><b>wound</b><b>, </b><b>bruise</b><b>, </b><b>cut</b><b>, </b><b>gash</b><b>, </b><b>tear</b><b>, </b><b>rent</b><b>, </b><b>slash</b><b>, </b><b>gouge</b><b>, </b><b>scratch</b><b>, </b><b>graze, laceration</b><b>, </b><b>abrasion</b><b>, </b><b>contusion</b><b>, </b><b>lesion</b><b>, </b><b>sore, trauma</b>  </p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In my experience, the term ‘injury’ is being attached to literally ANYTHING that hurts or is uncomfortable or long term.</span>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The term injury is being attached to ‘issues’ that are neither an ‘injury’ nor even anything ‘clinical’. There are a very high percentage of ‘issues’ that in my experience are simply poor biomechanics, for example. </span>  </p>
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<h3><b>What’s Does This Mean For Exercise Professionals &amp; Medical Professionals?</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well I believe it means 2 things </span>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">1). Exercise professionals (in most cases) could help more by prescribing exercises instead of just referring away.</span>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">2). Medical professionals often ‘fail’ when using clinical assessments and treatments for something that is simply biomechanical (ie nothing shows up on an MRI, they are told nothing is wrong but they still hurt)</span>  </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a huge problem with this because some professionals are being labelled as rubbish or not very good at their job when in fact they simply aren’t the right professional for the job. GP’s, physios and so on are getting a bad rap unnecessarily (Ok for some it may well be right).  </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What I mean by this is if your ‘injury’ isn’t in fact an </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">injury</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> then a professional that is skilled in addressing </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">injuries</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may well fail you in their methods.</span>  </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>When Niggles Become Injuries</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Low grade non-specific ‘niggles’ or ‘aches’ that are insidious and possibly recurring are often NOT an injury but they can become one if unaddressed. </span>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They are more often than not caused by a lifestyle factor that can be addressed by a fitness professional with an understanding of assessments and prescribing safe exercises to improve movement. </span>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This accompanied with some discussion about lifestyle can have the desired effect where clinical intervention has failed. This happens very commonly because the ‘issue’ is often not where they hurt! So treating the site of pain doesn’t actually solve this type of issue.</span>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You have to know where the issue stems from to be able to get the client moving better even though the area of the root cause may well not hurt at all!</span>  </p>
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<h2><b>So Where Does This Leave Fitness Professionals?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So fitness professionals wanting to confidently work within this demographic MUST gain the right skill set for insurance purposes. This would also give you a set of exercise techniques that are even safer, or less contraindicated than the standard strength moves we learn during our L2/3 education. This means learning about low-grade techniques that can, not only keep them moving but also, prepare them better for movement. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Biomechanic Coaches are experts in this field of assessment, preparation and quality referral. Not sure whether this is too brazen?</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">While a reciprocal arrangement with a physio might seem a challenge, we MUST be proactive in showing how much we can contribute to a multidisciplinary team by gaining specialist skills beyond L3 PT.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">While clients might automatically seek a physio for something that hurts, if we have close relations with these other professionals the clients is more likely to trust your recommendation of referral. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">We should also set the bar higher in terms of seeking to build relations with GP clinics for referral which is the whole point of this qualification. Now that CIMSPA are supporting the recognition of this role maybe seek their advice, help?</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Simply stopping training to let the ‘injury’ subside isn’t enough. We need to rebuild our clients' movement ability and confidence in moving safely and with special techniques.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">A perfect example of S.M.A.R.T goal setting here would be NOT smashing a client to the point of puking. It is vital that we consider the capacity for load with all our training programmes not matter what the level or ability.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">So from that first induction, we should be using compulsory preparation techniques and assessment tools with our S.M.A.R.T goals for confidence, safety and success.</span>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So remember this tick list:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Does the consultation bring up anything of concern?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who is the best person to deal with that?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you continue are you staying within your remit?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How do you know?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What tests can YOU do?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Could you gain more skills to help with identifying causes?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Can you forge relations with a multi diciplinary team?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Are you demonstrating a duty of care?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Is the clients' description of ‘weak’, ‘injury’ or ‘pain’ ambiguous?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What questions could you ask to find out?</span></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What an amazing world it would be if we ALL had a great referral network that enabled us to support our clients and offer a duty of care that is most appropriate for their needs.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">It is my belief that a very large portion of pain and ‘injury’ is actually remedied with the simplest intervention fit pros can provide - exercise!</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Yet it takes a confident professional to refer their client away to someone else.</span>  </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is also vital that we always remember that... </span>  </p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE DON’T KNOW</span></i>  </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So having a second, third, fourth opinion is not only vital, helpful and fascinating in terms of what we can learn from others views but also it increases the confidence of everyone involved. </span>    </p>
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<h2>Would You Like To Be Able To Reduce Your Clients Risk Of Injury &amp; Help Them Get Even Better Results?</h2>
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<p>Then <a href="https://biomechanicseducation.clickfunnels.com/biomechanics-coach-l4-low-back" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">click here to find out more about our Biomechanics Coach Diploma</a> and how it could help you become an even better personal trainer. Our diploma now includes a Level 4 Low Back Pain Qualification as well!</p>
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