< BACK

Gavin has a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies, (Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics
Major) and has more than 12 years experience in the fitness industry covering all aspects of the
business. Gavin also set up his own personal training consultancy Persona Personal Trainers
that specialized in home fitness training. He is now the Managing Director of The Studio
Persona, Australia’s gold standard for private fitness studios, based in North Sydney, and
offering both group training and personal training.

When designing a fitness training program, there is quite often more than one way to achieve
the same result. It is important as instructors to assess all options and consider the two
following factors:

What is the safest way to achieve the desired outcome?

What is the most effective way to achieve the desired outcome?

You then have to consider the concept of risk versus reward.

Does the potential risk of injury outweigh the benefits that can be achieved?

You may have to approach this same scenario but from a different angle. You may see
somebody performing an exercise with which you are not familiar and you feel may be
dangerous. In this case you have to analyse the exercise to determine the target area,
and then assess if it is the safest and most effective option for this member.

A major point to remember is that some athletes may need to perform exercises or activities
that would be contraindicated to general population clients but are a necessity due to them
being specific to the sporting action required. Examples of this would be a gymnast performing
multiple hyper range actions most notably extreme hyperextension of the spine. It is important to
note that there is a gradual conditioning process that allows the athlete to be able to perform
these exercises and that later in life they may experience some negative repercussions.
therefore it is important that a novice does not attempt these advanced activities.

A secondary cohort that performs actions that are contraindicated to general fitness populations
involves class situations. Two major groups are yoga and martial arts. These classes involve
some extreme ranges of motion and forced stretching that could compromise the safety of a
general population person, especially a client with exercise contraindications. For example,
a client with a bad back or knee participating in a yoga class could exacerbate or at a minimum
aggravate their condition.

If your client or member is looking to participate in a class that may involve contraindicated
movements for their condition, then inform them of the actions they should be careful of and
have them advise the instructor of their injury.