10 Jan 2014

Is Personal Trainer (PTr) necessary?

In a world of technology where information are at fingertips, human touch in almost every field are less required, including in fitness/health related field. People did not find that personal trainer (PTr) necessary as they can get all the information and technique to do exercise through internet without the needs of guidance from expert. Are you thinking the same?

Evidence Base

A study by Storer et al. (2014), shows that it is necessary to get PTr to have an optimal effect on health-related fitness rather than training along. Men aged 30-44 are selected as participant and divided into two groups. Members of a single Southern California fitness club were randomized to exercise with a PTr administering a non-linear periodized training program (TRAINED, N=17) or to self-directed training (SELF, N=17). Both groups trained 3 days per week for 12 weeks. The results shows TRAINED individuals have better results in dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), 1-RM muscle strength test, leg power test and aerobic capacity compared to SELF individuals. They conclude that "members whose training is directed by well-qualified personal trainers administering evidence-based training regimens achieve significantly greater improvements in LBM and other dimensions of fitness than members who direct their own training". 


Health-related fitness

In order to call yourself fit, you must have 5 health-related fitness components. According to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the 5 components are : 1) cardiovascular endurance, 2) body composition, 3) muscular strength, 4) muscular endurance, 5) flexibility. All these components are obtained through regular exercise and physical activity. To obtain an optimum results, the right frequency, intensity, duration and technique are required (ACSM, 2009). To use the combination of these entire principal, guidance from expert, which in this situation is PTr, is required. It is not something that you can learn in a day through internet.

The misconception

Malaysians are keen to have desired body shape and control their weight, but they did not realize that body composition is just one of the health-related fitness component. With this misconception, there are a lot of parties take advantage from it, hence so called "fitness/healthy supplement" are born, and many "short-cut" technique been introduce so that people can be in a good shape, but they forgot the elements of "healthy". In addition, they are harming their body from the inside without them knowing it.

As a conclusion, there are many principles of exercise must be followed in order : 1) to do no HARM to your body, 2) to obtain OPTIMUM RESULTS from exercise, 3) to enjoy a HEALTHY life in a right way. 

Abdul Hadi bin Ruslan
2014