Exercise induced injury and group fitness

Injuries – Please be careful! One of the main types of clients that we attract are those with a pre-existing injury often sustained from poor quality personal training.

There are many good quality trainers out there but you need to do your research.

People are entrusting their bodies to a so-called ‘fitness professional’ to be subjected to unnecessary, inappropriate or unsafe exercises that result in not only acute but life-long injuries!

The fact is that exercise can be safe and all you need is an exercise program designed for you that focuses on posture and functional movement.

There is no need to overload on weight and, in fact, I will go as far as to say there is no actual need for anyone over the age of 40 (or even younger) to be performing burpees, deadlifts, chin-ups and definitely not box jumps!

Group fitness classes What you must do if partaking in this sort of exercise modality is take care in selecting the right type of class for your needs, abilities, fitness level and age.

There are so many options out there for you, which is fantastic, but again I stress to you to be careful with your selection.

Through no fault of your own, the fitness industry itself fails the consumer with very poor screening processes to help identify your pre-existing health conditions.

It also pretty much gives you a “liability release” to sign and clear the trainer(s) and/or business of any negligence or wrongdoing if you are injured, sustain a heart attack or worst of all – you die!

I recently attended a F45 class for the very first time (not here in Southbank) and the liability release was something else:

“I fully understand that I may injure myself as a result of my participation in the workouts and I hereby release the Released Parties from any liability now or in the future for conditions that I may obtain directly or indirectly from participating in the workouts, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

These conditions may include, but are not limited to, heart attacks, muscle strains, muscle pulls, muscle tears, broken bones, shin splints, heat prostration, injuries to knees, injuries to back, injuries to foot, or any other illness or soreness that I may incur, including death”. It prompted me to write what is now my most read blog on my website.

I don’t want to instill fear into you and steer you away from group fitness classes, as many of them are fantastic!

But I do think it’s in your own interests to do your research and select a group fitness class or fitness alternative that is safe and right for you.

Remember that an injury is not fun and sadly I have seen too many people spiral into such things as depression all stemming from major injury through sport or exercise.

Justin Moran Owner - Just In Time PT