Hiding Behind Smokescreens

[stef]

by Austin Baraki & Jordan Feigenbaum

An increasing number of strength coaches are delving into the “therapy” side of practice through additional education in anatomy, human movement, and injury management. Conversely, many young therapists are beginning to recognize the importance of strength training and the principle of progressive overload for long-term adaptation. These “hybrid” coach-therapists have a lot of potential, but many of them introduce unnecessary complexity by inappropriately blending the two approaches for general strength trainees.

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[grichens]

From the article: "that every aspect of their technique, exercise selection, and programming must be individualized. Otherwise, of course, we are using a 'cookie-cutter' approach to 'force-feed' certain movements and put 'square pegs into round holes.'”

I shudder to think what would happen if these assholes started populating the Department of Labor.

[chrisd]

I have been exposed to this in the training industry in the UK. There are an increasing number of certifications related to treating back pain and postural problems. At first I thought "Oh great, now I can use my mighty knowledge and powers to help people". Later I read an opinion piece by a personal trainer who pointed out that there is a difference between someone who has done a couple of weekends and a thirty question multiple choice exam and someone who has spent several years studying before specialising in one area and working with experienced practitioners for a couple of years. One of these people has M.D after his name and the other doesn't.

To my mind, the article stops short.

During my initial sports training, I was exposed to the world of postural assessment and correction. I felt that I had to do something about my terribly distorted frame before I got back to any serious training. I gave it a go for a while and then gave up when I couldn't seem to improve my scores on the various metrics used.

Then thankfully I found Starting Strength. Not only is it true that

When properly coached and loaded, the barbell lift simultaneously represents the screening test and the confirmatory test for all of its pertinent musculoskeletal issues.

The lifts are also curative. If the problem is an inability to hold the lumbar spine in a correct arch while deadlifting, the cure would seem to be deadlifting with an incrementally increased load while striving to extend the lumbar spine. Likewise, the press has done more for my impinged shoulders and thoracic curvature than any amount of stretching and rubber band work. My dreadful knee pain is pretty much gone.

The only downside so far, appears to be the need to replace clothing that I have outgrown.