Is anybody else's body put together wrong or is it just me?!
LittleJem01
Posts: 51 Member
OK, so I've recently joined a gym for the first time in years and I've really been enjoying it, but I had a free session with a personal trainer last night and it's really made me worry! He carried out a quick physiognomy assessment and basically said that everything about my body apart from my shoulders and upper back is put together wrong (my head tilts to the right, my pelvis is elevated to the right and has extensive posterior tilt, knees are internally rotated, ankles roll inwards and toes point out) and all of this puts me at very high risk of injury. He did say that he can give me excercises to do that will help to mitigate some of these issues, but that's not part of the free assessment and there's no way I can pay £200/month for a personal trainer. I was wondering whether anyone on here could offer any advice on what I should focus on, or maybe point me in the direction of research I could do for myself as I haven't got a clue where to start!
I know I have a long way to go to achieve proper fitness and I really wanted to get into running and lifting but now I kinda feel like my body is set against me before I even properly start, so any advice you guys can offer would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I know I have a long way to go to achieve proper fitness and I really wanted to get into running and lifting but now I kinda feel like my body is set against me before I even properly start, so any advice you guys can offer would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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wow that's a new one...money grab...run far away from that trainer...if you were put together so wrong I am sure a doctor would have noticed before this...0
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wow that's a new one...money grab...run far away from that trainer...if you were put together so wrong I am sure a doctor would have noticed before this...
Yep, this! I can't believe someone could say that to you. Surely someone would've noticed by now?!
Sounds like it's just a posture thing.0 -
Most likely he is after your money. If you are concerned and want to be on the safe side, get an appointment with a dr or physiotherapist (the personal trainer will not fix anything anyway). I had once a yoga instructor suggest that there was something wrong with my foot and one ankle rolling inward and I ignored him. After all I have been running for years, and never noticed anything myself. It turns out he was right and he was seeing the first signs of a problem that later did cause an injury which has been troubling me for months now. Since the trainer pointed several issues in your case and then tried to sell you an expensive program, I find it very unlikely taht there is a problem, but if you want to be 100% sure, visit a dr.0
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Sounds like he's trying to scam you. However, the things he pointed out can be legit physiological items. Now whether that puts you at risk for injury is debatable. Its very common to develop hip/pelvic tilt, an many people's knees are built different. Are you in any pain currently?0
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He's a personal trainer, not a orthopaedic doctor, physiotherapist, or physical therapist.
If you hadn't mentioned pounds, I would have asked if you ran into my ex - who is a trainer who likes to think he's qualified to do what that trainer did to you.
Everyone pretty much is put together "wrong".
I had PFS, tendonitis, anterior pelvic tilt, scoliosis, limited ROM in my right shoulder.
If you want a legitimate diagnosis and plan of attack, go to an ortho dr, physiotherapist, or physical therapist. They are the ones qualified to tell you what is wrong with your body and give you ways to fix it.
With a legitmate diagnosis, it's pretty easy to find the exercises to fix the problems0 -
What a rip off. After your money so walk away. I must admit there are 7 personal trainers in my gym and I trust 2 the others don't train their clients properly about form so they could end up being injured. The human body is complex and no one person is the same so sti worrying about this 'expert' he's a doofus0
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I think I have to agree with Stef...sounds like a money grab. None of us are put together perfectly and everyone has little body quirks, I'm sure, but it seems he sounds to me like a mechanic finding extra things wrong with a car to drive up the bill.
Anyone not learning proper form is at risk of injury, so a good trainer for form is never a bad idea when first learning to lift. 200 a month seems a little excessive, but not sure how many sessions that breaks down to. Where I am finding a private trainer is usually more budget friendly than buying a package through my chain gym. I do see one off and on and am doing a 10 pack for 400 with a trainer who is also a kinesiologist currently, but we've stretched those sessions over the whole winter and still have a few left. I also found another good trainer that has 10 packs for 250 at the gym she owns. It's important for me as I have some old injuries I don't want to make worse when I switch up my routines. Maybe look around a bit to see if you can find someone for at least a few sessions to learn proper form and make you feel more comfortable0 -
LittleJem01 wrote: »OK, so I've recently joined a gym for the first time in years and I've really been enjoying it, but I had a free session with a personal trainer last night and it's really made me worry! He carried out a quick physiognomy assessment and basically said that everything about my body apart from my shoulders and upper back is put together wrong (my head tilts to the right, my pelvis is elevated to the right and has extensive posterior tilt, knees are internally rotated, ankles roll inwards and toes point out) and all of this puts me at very high risk of injury. He did say that he can give me excercises to do that will help to mitigate some of these issues, but that's not part of the free assessment and there's no way I can pay £200/month for a personal trainer. I was wondering whether anyone on here could offer any advice on what I should focus on, or maybe point me in the direction of research I could do for myself as I haven't got a clue where to start!
I know I have a long way to go to achieve proper fitness and I really wanted to get into running and lifting but now I kinda feel like my body is set against me before I even properly start, so any advice you guys can offer would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Run far - Run fast!0 -
Wow never heard that one.
Did he do x-rays? No? Then he doesn't know what he's talking about. Find another trainer and hopefully that one will be more honest.0 -
If you're concerned, go to your doctor ... or to a chiropractor ... or to a physiotherapist.0
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See a chiropractor. He will be able to diagnose whether these 'issues' do exist, and work on getting your body back into alignment if they do actually exist.0
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Physiognomy is "the assessment of a person's character or personality from his or her outer appearance, especially the face."
Apparently, he assessed your personality and thought you'd be an easy scam. Find a new trainer.0 -
The pelvic tilt likely has to do with sedentary life and lots of sitting. It's not in common in the first world and can be addressed with exercise. Possibly corrective exercises if it persists. Some of the rest is simply the way you are built and assuming you don't injured your self in the mean time your body will strengthen its self appropriately to support those areas. Lots of injuries happen when people jump head long into a fitness regimen and make great progress quickly. Your muscles and cardiovascular system respond almost immediately to exercise compared to connective tissue. Take the same approach to exercise as everyone suggests for weight loss and you will more than likely be fine.0
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How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! -- Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.0
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deoliveiraf wrote: »See a chiropractor. He will be able to diagnose whether these 'issues' do exist, and work on getting your body back into alignment if they do actually exist.
God no, don't see a chiropractor. They're quacks.
If you really are concerned, see an orthopedist or a physical medicine MD, but if you're not in pain or your movement is not limited, you're fine. (I'm an RN by the way).
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Thanks for all the responses folks. I did wonder whether he was just picking up on minor things to frighten me into forking out the £s, but I'm such a novice at all this that I wasn't 100% sure. He did offer a cheaper alternative which was basically online coaching with no face-to-face contact but I don't really see the point of that; if I'm as wonky as he says then my form will need a lot of correction and he can't exactly fix that by email!
I suffer a bit with my lower back and have had sciatica in the past, also my knee joints do hurt when I squat with weight but that's about it.Sounds like he's trying to scam you. However, the things he pointed out can be legit physiological items. Now whether that puts you at risk for injury is debatable. Its very common to develop hip/pelvic tilt, an many people's knees are built different. Are you in any pain currently?
The doctor/physio/chiropractor suggestions are good; given that the consensus seems to be that he's a shark, though, I'll maybe see how I get on in the gym before I go down that road.
That made me laugh!! I can't remember the word he used in the summary, physiognomy sounded right in my head but clearly isn't it.......or maybe it was haha.Physiognomy is "the assessment of a person's character or personality from his or her outer appearance, especially the face."
Apparently, he assessed your personality and thought you'd be an easy scam. Find a new trainer.
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deoliveiraf wrote: »See a chiropractor. He will be able to diagnose whether these 'issues' do exist, and work on getting your body back into alignment if they do actually exist.
OP: Do not see a chiropractor. They can do more harm than good.
If you are concerned, see an orthopedic physician or physical therapist.0 -
Definitely see a doctor about these issues if you're truly worried. A lot of these things can be fixed with physical therapy exercises, and a physical therapist would be more equipped to assist you than a personal trainer.
I have over-stretchy ligaments in my knees (multiple doctors have told me so), and that makes me prone to knee problems (specifically IT band syndrome, but also tendinitis), but I do strengthening exercises and I run just fine. I also have weak muscles around my hips, so I have to do core and stability work to make sure they stay in place; when they slip out of alignment, it's awful! So I'm not put together 100%, but there are ways to strengthen those weak areas and continue on with running, lifting, whatever you want to do. A little misalignment here and there just makes us unique
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I use a McTimoney Chriopractor once or twice a year to correct similar issues. Very few people have a correctly aligned pelvis and if you consider this to be the foundation of your skeleton it makes sense that if your pelvis is skew whiff then you cannot be walking 'level'.
I need to go and see her now as I noticed in the gym that when doing squats the bar resting on my left shoulder is higher than my right. This usually indicates a skewed pelvis for me.
OK there will be many people on these boards who shout down my experience and tell me I'm a fool for parting with my money and that all chiropractors are charlatans but I know how much better I feel afterwards and can now tell when I need to see her. She charges me £40 for an hours session. Theres no 'cracking' or 'jerking' just gentle manipulation.
For what its worth, I would suggest finding one local to you and giving them a whirl. If they are professional they shouldn't charge more than about £50 for the initial consultation and £40 for subsequent ones.
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lishie_rebooted wrote: »He's a personal trainer, not a orthopaedic doctor, physiotherapist, or physical therapist.
If you hadn't mentioned pounds, I would have asked if you ran into my ex - who is a trainer who likes to think he's qualified to do what that trainer did to you.
Everyone pretty much is put together "wrong".
I had PFS, tendonitis, anterior pelvic tilt, scoliosis, limited ROM in my right shoulder.
If you want a legitimate diagnosis and plan of attack, go to an ortho dr, physiotherapist, or physical therapist. They are the ones qualified to tell you what is wrong with your body and give you ways to fix it.
With a legitmate diagnosis, it's pretty easy to find the exercises to fix the problems
This is why I think most personal trainers are toolbags.
No one's body is put together perfectly. One of my legs is longer than the other, one of my boobs is bigger than the other...
If what he told you has you concerned, make an appointment with your doctor for a checkup
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LittleJem01 wrote: »Thanks for all the responses folks. I did wonder whether he was just picking up on minor things to frighten me into forking out the £s, but I'm such a novice at all this that I wasn't 100% sure. He did offer a cheaper alternative which was basically online coaching with no face-to-face contact but I don't really see the point of that; if I'm as wonky as he says then my form will need a lot of correction and he can't exactly fix that by email!
I suffer a bit with my lower back and have had sciatica in the past, also my knee joints do hurt when I squat with weight but that's about it.Sounds like he's trying to scam you. However, the things he pointed out can be legit physiological items. Now whether that puts you at risk for injury is debatable. Its very common to develop hip/pelvic tilt, an many people's knees are built different. Are you in any pain currently?
The doctor/physio/chiropractor suggestions are good; given that the consensus seems to be that he's a shark, though, I'll maybe see how I get on in the gym before I go down that road.
That made me laugh!! I can't remember the word he used in the summary, physiognomy sounded right in my head but clearly isn't it.......or maybe it was haha.Physiognomy is "the assessment of a person's character or personality from his or her outer appearance, especially the face."
Apparently, he assessed your personality and thought you'd be an easy scam. Find a new trainer.
If you've got lower back pain, see a doctor. If your knees hurt when you squat, see a trainer who can help you correct your form.
Don't go back to this guy. No trainer should advertise the ability to "fix" your body.0 -
kristinegift wrote: »So I'm not put together 100%, but there are ways to strengthen those weak areas and continue on with running, lifting, whatever you want to do. A little misalignment here and there just makes us unique
Thanks, both of you, that's reassuringIf you really are concerned, see an orthopedist or a physical medicine MD, but if you're not in pain or your movement is not limited, you're fine. (I'm an RN by the way).
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Hold on guys, this might not be as much of a scam as you think. We haven’t seen LittleJem01’s movement patterns. The point the trainer may be making is that you have some muscle imbalances (we all do) and some mobility issues (we all do). There are exercises you can do to address these. But you don’t need a personal trainer to find them. There are plenty of resources online. I’d start with MobilityWOD.com.
Past that, really focus on form when you lift. Take videos from the front and side of each lift and evaluate it afterward. Never add weight if your form isn’t good. You may also want to take advantage of some of the stabilization balls and tools at your gym to ensure you’re building a more stable, balanced musculature to support the other exercise programs you want to do.0 -
I'm fairly certain you don't need to go to any doctor, but you definitely need to drop the "trainer"0
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Of course he can give you exercises to fix what's not wrong with you for an exorbitant amount of money.LittleJem01 wrote: »He did say that he can give me excercises to do that will help to mitigate some of these issues, but that's not part of the free assessment and there's no way I can pay £200/month for a personal trainer.
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He wants your money. Get a new trainer.0
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None of us can say whether or not there's any merit to what he's saying. Everyone's body is a little goofy in that we all have odd things to deal with and work around... imbalances, proportions, flexibility, blah blah blah.
IMO, if you need help with something, see someone well trained in that something. Back issues? See a chiro or physio. Need help learning a lift or how to use the equipment? See a trainer or gym staff. Need your house painted? Call a painter. etc.
Ultimately though, you'll have to make the decision based on how you feel as to whether or not anything is "wrong".0 -
Wow. No. You're not 'put together wrong'
Most likely you're out of whack a bit, which is common, but it's nothing that can't be corrected pretty quickly with some mobility work and a dogged focus on form.
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A trainer did the exact same BS to me at 24hr Fitness, telling me all that you mentioned was out of whack. It's part of their spiel to get clients to sign. "Only I have something you want (exercises to fix glaring physical errors which can hurt you) so pay me a lot of money and I'll give them to you, and you should thank me". Don't listen to them. Most 24 Hr type coaches are full of crap.0
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Thanks guys. A few of you have mentioned mobility exercises - would that be the likes of yoga or stretching? Sorry to sound thick but I'm a complete noob when it comes to all this and would be grateful for any pointers!0
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