Biomechanical Analysis

Credibly expert knowledge of the science of Biomechanics and Human Movement is very important, and a basic requirement for providing individually tailored programs in personal training. Without biomechanical analysis before hand, truly ‘personal’ training is impossible!

All humans appear to move in a similar and virtually identical way, but in truth, this is not the case at all. Bending, stretching, flexing forward, rotating back, bending sideways, leaning in any direction and in fact, in every conceivable movement combination....we are all significantly different. The trainer must be able to observe and note these uniquely individual musculo-skeletal changes, as each person will have different responses to exercise and no two people are the same.

Biomechanical analysis is a process of skilled and meticulous observation. Take the following example. Planting down the foot in a certain mis-aligned way can cause referred reactions in the opposite shoulder and middle back, or immediately affect any arm movement that may follow. All these reactions could appear to be perfectly acceptable and even missed completely by thousands of personal trainers. However, to an appropriately trained Biomechanist, they are highly significant evidence of possible ongoing physical injury elsewhere, or simply that the exercise being performed is actually very unsuitable long term for the person performing it, although they will be aware of no discomfort or problem at the time!

Biomechanical  movement analysis should always be fully completed before even a finger is lifted in any form of exercise, as progressive and injury free exercise programming is dependent upon total familiarity with a client’s movement patterns and physiological make-up. Therefore, an initial comprehensive head to foot ‘range of motion’ (ROM) test is vital to the most basic personalised exercise prescription. Lack of expert knowledge in this field by the instructor produces a generalised and non-specific program and be very much aware that just because there is only the trainer and client present, a one-to-one situation doesn’t make it authentic personal training in the full and clinically accurate sense described above.

Furthermore, these exercise regimes, when lacking the basic ROM foundation, can literally escalate already existing hidden physical injury or create new problems, to thus actually cause the person to suffer sub clinical damage and of course, the trainer present, wouldn’t know of it either!

Sub clinical damage is musculo-skeletal damage that takes place continuously without the sufferer ever actually realising it, until such time as the unseen problems escalate to a point where they cause conscious, physical pain. It then becomes known as clinical damage, and will require remedial attention, extended rest periods or regressive changes in schedules in order to allow healing to take place. All this can easily be avoided if you ensure your trainer has in-depth knowledge in Biomechanics and that doesn’t mean a two week course in it!

This caution is of particular relevance to those who have suffered past trauma or injury, or who may be returning to exercise after a long period of absence. Anyone who has not exercised regularly at any time previously is particularly vulnerable, believing any pain or discomfort to be the natural result of a new physical activity.

To avoid common physical trauma from inadequately refined exercise regimes provided in sports centres, gymnasiums and health clubs, ensure that your prospective personal trainer has credibly competent levels of biomechanical expertise and as I said earlier, that’s not possible from a couple of weeks or a couple of months training in it! Without such skills, there is a much greater possibility that you could be encouraged to train using exercises that are actually ‘wrong’ for your body and suffer sub clinical trauma in the future.

Without a full ROM Test beforehand, to discover who you are physiologically and what exercise formats are right for your body, the term ‘personal’ in the personal training you’ll receive, simply isn’t clinically correct at all.

The choice is entirely yours, so you should carefully consider your wellbeing in even 5-10 years time. Do you really want to run the risk of possible musculo-skeletal traumas appearing, instigated by the ‘blanket’ exercise program regimes that could be given to any number of people of your, age, gender, height and fitness level?

Select someone who can guide you safely within your own unique capabilities and movement ranges with no possibility of hidden danger scenarios lurking just beyond the horizon. A personal trainer who has credibly advanced Biomechanics qualifications and skills should be what you’re looking for, as a professional who can detect and interpret the physiological significance and consequence of even your smallest movement as you exercise, will keep you safe now, and in addition, with your body not having to contend with the hidden obstacles of sub-clinical traumas, your safely acquired progress and improvements will probably be quicker too.