Should Personal Trainers be regulated?

1. 85

   Sylvia Leongposted 14 years ago

   Should Personal Trainers be regulated?  Regulated, meaning that each Personal Trainer would be accountable to a governing organization that:
   - Accredits their education & examination levels
   - Binds them to specific standards of practice & to a code of ethics
   All for the purpose of protecting the public’s health.  What do you think?

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2. 87

   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   don't they require some form of certification?

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   1. 85

      Sylvia Leongposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Nope, anyone can call themselves a personal trainer.  However, the minimum to be a "certified" personal trainer is a 4 day course, a 2 hour written exam & a 30 minute practical exam.
      There is no regulatory or governing body that they have to answer to.

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      1. 85

         Sylvia Leongposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Currently, 26 regulated health professions in B.C. are bound by the Health Professions Act.  This includes registered massage therapy, but does not include personal trainers.  http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/leg/.
         
         Trainers should have a thorough education in anatomy & kinesiology & orthopedic pathology as well.  By understanding the causes & symptoms of injuries, they’ll be in a much better position to prevent them.  They should also be collecting a thorough medical history & be “charting” more than just sets & reps.
         
         What does Regulation of an industry do for the public?  For instance, a Registered Massage Therapist must abide by:
         •    The Health Professions Act
         •    The Human Rights Act
         •    The Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act
         
         The regulations & bylaws from Massage Therapy’s governing organization, among other important points, includes:
         •    The Registrant must act in the best interest of a patient.
         •    Only provide a treatment if the Registrant has a reasonable expectation that it will be of benefit to the patient.
         •    A Registrant shall maintain confidentiality of patient information.
         Would you want your Personal trainer bound to similar laws?  Of course you would!  It’s not if personal trainers become regulated, the decision is going to be when.
         
         Another benefit of being regulated is that eventually, extended health care plans may cover personal training.  Now that would be an improvement!

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         1. 61

            qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Sylvia:
            I'm a "gym rat."
            I've spent the greater portion of my life lifting weights and competing.
            I owned 2 small gyms and have trained too many people to count.
            I was never a certified personal trainer.
            Many years of "experience" and study have given me an understanding of kinesiology like no contemporary "certified" trainer that I have met, has
            At 65+ yrs of age, I still spend 5 days a week in the gym.
            I see so called, alledgedly trained, personal trainers working with clients and have to zip-my-lip in ref to their methods and lack of knowledge in ref to human kinesiology.
            Even tho I'm still an impressively strong "old? guy," I dare not offer a suggestion 'cause it'd be taken as being an insult to their professionalism.
            Their is nothing better than experience to make a trainer worth-his-salt.
            Qwark

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3. 80

   thisisoliposted 14 years ago

   I guess so. It probably doesn't matter too much until they start training someone recovering from an injury, or a pregnant woman.

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