'personal trainers' are the 'ninjutsu masters' of the new millennia. Just as back in the '80s, everybody was teaching "Ninjutsu", today, anybody can get a paper from the Internet and proclaim themselves a Trainer.
Some methods to keep from getting seriously injured by a so-called 'trainer':
- Each trainer should do a thorough medical history with you, then check your form on several exercises, before actually designing a program for you. Most simply have a set program for EVERYBODY. Some of them say it's 'computer designed especially for you'. Look around, see if anybody else is doing the exact same workout or not.
- If you have an injury, or ailment, they should automatically refer you to a doctor and a physiotherapist. I've heard too many horror stories about some genius saying "Oh, well, we can work around that."
- They should be constantly receiving ongoing education in physical fitness, nutrition, and general health, so that they can sift through what's actually applicable to their clients, and what's the newest "Ice Cream Diet." Ask you trainer when the last time he attended a seminar, and ask for accreditable (is that a word?) certificates.
- Is this guy pushing supplements? If so, is he a trained nutritionist? On that note, a trainer shouldn't tell you what to eat, he should refer you to a nutritionist. I've heard too many suggest supplements that "We just happen to sell right here!"
- Is this guy able (or rather, willing) to provide references? If not, chances are that he's INJURED somebody.
- How often does this guy suggest you go to his gym, or he comes to you, or whatever? Basically, how many hours a week is this guy suggesting you work out? Is he after your money?
These are some things I've picked up on, watching family members get taken for rides by clods with steroid-built physiques, or by cookie-cutter fitness centers with bubble-heads in spandex.
If you have a trainer who fits the above, good. But nothing, NOTHING, beats educating yourself.