How to Find a Personal Trainer that Understands Mobility/Injury Issues (and don't give you side eye)

dmschuh

So, I really need a personal trainer to help me get back into properly working out. I twisted my knee during kickboxing then over winter months fell on it. I packed on lbs because I stopped working out due to pain and then covid ...errr.. Docs now just say "lose weight, will improve" - yeah, won't even X-ray (ok I could do another rant about insurance companies dictating health care but will stay on point) -- I went to multiple personal trainers and explained I cannot kneel on my knee and stair climbers I cannot do currently -- can do normal stairs more slowly. Personal trainer does what? Floor core work meaning putting weight on my knee and f'n stair climber. I get the side-eye meaning they think I am lying about knee to do easier workouts, but that's not the case. I can do modified squats and lunges, etc. Has anyone had success finding a personal trainer that helps with and is knowledgeable about how to workout through injury without making you feel utterly humiliated? At this point I feel that all gyms just have the one or two basic programs with 20 somethings for personal trainers (who do not understand a 40+ body -- yep a personal trainer called me "elderly") and do not customize due to trying to scale for fee. Really frustrating, humiliating.

Cheesy567

Have you tried physical therapy? Rehabbing from an injury is really more of a specialist’s field, rather than a personal trainer who is used to a healthy individual.

EliseTK1

Cheesy567 wrote: »

Have you tried physical therapy? Rehabbing from an injury is really more of a specialist’s field, rather than a personal trainer who is used to a healthy individual.

I agree with this. If you’re looking for a trainer who can work around it while you do rehab, your best bet is a Corrective Exercise Specialist. You’ll likely have to ask around to see if any trainers have the certification. They can formulate workouts around your limitations/weaknesses. My husband used to do this and successfully worked with several clients after major accidents/injuries/illnesses.

katsmomma03

@kittygalore1111 I don't know if this will help you, but this guy named Donovan Green is on YouTube, and I know he offers memberships of some sort. I haven't joined him, (yet anyways) but I have subscribed to his channel and he does seem to understand that everyone has different abilities.
https://youtu.be/qIFSqpyYKhE

pridesabtch

PT and rehab are a definitely path to improvement as well as a great source for information, however any good personal trainer should be familiar with adaptive exercises. I used to teach and Active Older Adults classes and there are ways to modify most every movement to work around a bad knee. As well as exercises to strengthen it. Sorry you are having a hard time finding a good trainer. Maybe ask one of the physical therapists in the area who they would recommend. Good luck and don't settle!

Xellercin

pridesabtch wrote: »

PT and rehab are a definitely path to improvement as well as a great source for information, however any good personal trainer should be familiar with adaptive exercises. I used to teach and Active Older Adults classes and there are ways to modify most every movement to work around a bad knee. As well as exercises to strengthen it. Sorry you are having a hard time finding a good trainer. Maybe ask one of the physical therapists in the area who they would recommend. Good luck and don't settle!

They *should* but I have met shockingly few who have any qualification to handle significant injuries.

I quit using trainers decades ago and just stick with physical therapy. My spouse is perfectly healthy and has also switched to just physical therapy and is actually seeing better results.

No shade to the great trainers who I'm sure exist and have extensive training beyond what typical trainers do, but I've personally never encountered one who I felt was educated enough to keep me safe.

cwolfman13

In my experience, PTs employed by a commercial gym are typically not great. Not that there aren't any good ones, but I'd say they are very few and far between. Many of them are pretty new to the field and have little education other than their certification...they're often green and just getting started in their careers. They don't make much money, so you're not going to get the best. The best personal trainers I've come across are self employed and either lease space from a gym or have their own space. They're also more expensive.

You'd want to look at other education besides their basic certification. For example, my buddy who is a PT owns his own gym along with his wife. He has an associates degree in nutrition, a bachelors degree in exercise science and a masters degree in kinesiology. He also has several certifications beyond his basic PT certification. He and his wife are outstanding PTs and work with a variety of clients from collegiate and professional athletes to middle age Joes like myself to the elderly in their 70s and 80s and everything in between. I don't workout with him anymore due to the expense, but I trained with him for about three years and I have a couple of limitations due to older injuries and it was never an issue to work around those. I also worked with him during a rehab period for my back for which I was also seeing a physical therapist...also not an issue. They're actually opening up a larger facility soon and will be employing a physical therapist to help assist with those issues.

Monice1224

Hi,

I can not put pressure on my leg / knee for walking or exercising due to a replacement surgery that was done. I am in the process of having to build up the muscle strength in order to even lift my leg. I also have issues with my arms as well. All of these are the after effect of an accident in 2019. My therapy sessions at the hospital is only once per week but I need more than that in order to effectively use my leg / knee again for both walking and exercising.

I was following this gentleman on youtube for a while he worked in the medical profession before he retired last year. He is a certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor, he does live zoom work outs and he has work out videos on his youtube page. They are done at your pace and you can complete them in a chair as well I love his work outs and he doesn't make you feel bad.

You can look him up and read his info and maybe you can try it and see if it works for you. His name is Paul Eugene and that's how you would find him on youtube his website is https://www.pauleugene.com

I wish you all the best in your recovery, you will get there.