No matter your fitness level, whether you’re a complete beginner to a fitness routine or an experienced gym rat, working with a personal trainer is one of the best investments you can make for your health. But working with a personal trainer alone is not the answer. You need to integrate your circle of healthcare professionals into a holistic approach to your well being.
Who are the healthcare professionals you should include in your team? I recommend a combination of 5 practitioners you should consider including for optimum results and health benefits: Your doctor, that is to say your General Practitioner, as well as any medical specialists you have in your life; a Registered Dietitian or Certified Nutritionist; a Physiotherapist; a Chiropractor or Osteopath; and, of course, your Personal Trainer. So what roles do they play in your life, and how do they interact with each other?
Personal Trainer: Your personal trainer is there to help you optimize your workout, to get maximum benefit from the effort you put in. Instead of targeting a single muscle or small muscle group the way a physiotherapist does, your personal trainer will design whole-body exercises to help you meet your personal fitness goals as quickly and safely as possible, working several muscle groups at once. They will tailor your workout to your fitness targets, whether it’s strength training, you’re looking for definition, or you’re trying to get back in shape from a period of inactivity or an injury. Your trainer monitors your form and makes the appropriate corrections, they are an information resource to you if you have any questions about health and nutrition, and they monitor your pain levels as you exercise.
Doctor: The first thing anyone should do before embarking on a physical fitness regime is have a complete physical. Your doctor will do a series of examinations and tests, including blood work, to determine what type of workout your body can handle. ultrasounds.
Registered Dietitian/Certified Nutritionist (RD/CN): A RD or a CN can help you in your health plan in so many ways. They can help you determine any food sensitivities you may have that effect healthy digestion.
Physiotherapist: A physiotherapist has extensive knowledge of how your muscles, tendons, and ligaments interact with your body’s framework. Their treatment can work to prevent injury, treat injuries, or recover from past injuries in a manner that will prevent harm to other parts of your body.
Chiropractor/Osteopath/Massage Therapist: After an initial assessment of a new client, a personal trainer may recommend a visit to a Chiropractor, Osteopath, or a Massage Therapist. Posture issues that affect your spinal alignment, the balance of your pelvis, or create an uneven gait, for example, should be addressed before embarking on an exercise regime as they can cause problems down the road.