boundaries of a trainer
As personal trainers, we are hired to help clients achieve their personal fitness goals. We are there to motivate them, hold them accountable and achieve many things they might not have thought possible without our help.
However, with all that said, there are some areas that a personal trainer should not venture into with clients as it is “out of scope” of expertise.
Here are a few:
PAIN. A personal trainer should never attempt to diagnose or treat a pain issue. A client asking about a popping in their knee (with no pain) is very different than talking about a sharp pain in their knee when doing a lunge. Both of these should be handled with care and concern and certainly an adjustment to the workout (or completely stopping if the pain is too much) in order to give the client relief. They should be referred to a medical professional such as an Orthopedic doctor or Physical Therapist to check the client further and rule out anything serious. While a popping feeling or noise might be normal, it should be monitored and if it begins to develop any pain, should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
MEDICAL ISSUES. Any medical issues should be immediately addressed by an emergency professional or doctor and not an attempted diagnosis by a trainer. Should a medical issue arise during a training session the trainer might be required to render some aid until a professional can be summoned. All trainers are required to have CPR training and ideally First Aid. Check with your trainer to make sure that they are current with their certifications.
Trainers should always inquire, at the beginning of starting sessions, about any medical issues (past or present) that might be an issue in training. High blood pressure, Bradycardia or Tachycardia symptoms, diabetes along with other chronic issues can be a serious concern for some exercises.
NUTRITION. Nutrition advice is a gray area, but still falls into the same mode as Medical and Pain. Many trainers are certified in nutrition, but that is different than being a Registered Nutritionist or Dietician. As a Certified Nutrition Specialist, for example, I can talk to clients about nutrition and the overall understanding of how nutrition affects us, but I cannot write or assign specific nutrition programs for them. For clients seeking specific meal plans or dealing with certain nutritional requirements they need to seek the help of a professional nutritionist. Most personal trainers will (or should) have a qualified nutritionist that they can refer an interested client to.
PERSONAL ADVICE. Another gray area. As trainers, we are seen both as a fitness trainer and often as a therapist to our clients. This is where a personal trainer must remain professional and set boundaries. We are there to help them with their overall wellness, but we are not there to become a relationship/marriage counselor. The client, as well, is not there to be pursued by the trainer. They are there to be trained - period.
UNSOLICITED TOUCHING. A personal trainer, will from time to time, need to touch a client in order to help them understand how a particular exercise works or muscle it is activating. They should always ask for and get permission to touch the client prior to doing so and the touch should be done in a way that is quick and not invasive.
LANGUAGE/TONE. A trainer should always use professional language. Using a lot of profanities, yelling, getting in clients faces as a way to motivate them is not the best strategy. Some clients may like that or may not care, but the vast majority will likely find it off putting.
As trainers, we are entrusted to come into a clients life and often times work with them in very vulnerable situations, physically and emotionally. It is important that we respect every aspect of that relationship.