Why Your Next Trainer Should Be A Physical Therapist
Key Points:
A physical therapist’s scope of practice will almost always include everything a trainer can do and more
Many PTs have advanced training in exercise science that can be invaluable to clients
A PT can help clients work around injuries, know when to stop doing an exercise, and incorporate rehab into their program
Scopes of Practice
Within the fitness field, there is a huge degree of variation in knowledge and skill between different professions and practitioners. A lot of people aren’t aware of these differences, and a little education can go a long way to finding the right fit.
Individual personal training certifications require tests as administered by the company selling the certification; testing material is highly variable. Physical therapists must pass a national board exam and each PT must demonstrate nationally-recognized competencies.
Nearly all PT programs include graduate-level classes in exercise science, neuroscience, cardiopulmonary, and musculoskeletal specialities. So a PT can take you from acute (or chronic) injury to 100% function (and beyond) and clinically assess any limitations throughout the process.
Fitness Forward Physical Therapy
So a PT’s scope includes everything a trainer can do and more - further, the bar to become a PT is much higher. But is a PT at least as good, if not better, at what a trainer does?
In short, they definitely can be, but this will vary between individual trainers and clinicians. After all, lots of PTs only work in a hospital, pediatric, or neurological rehabilitation settings and may not be familiar with prescribing or coaching higher-level exercise.
Here are some qualifications to look for in a fitness-forward PT:
Fitness certification: These are your gold standard fitness-forward PTs, ones who combine a PT’s healthcare expertise with a fitness and coaching background
Examples: CSCS, USAW, CFL, NASM-CPT
OCS or SCS: An Orthopedic Clinical Specialist or Sports Clinical Specialist is 1) an expert in the kinds of problems that can halt your fitness journey, 2) well-versed in rehabilitation and injury prevention in active populations
ATC: Similar to an OCS or SCS, a PT who is also an athletic trainer has spent a good deal of time working with athletic populations and can use that experience on your behalf
Personal Fitness Achievements: It has been shown innumerable times that Physical Therapists that personally make and reach fitness goals for themselves are better practitioners simply because they’ve been in similar situations and experienced the process! You should expect any healthcare practitioner to practice what they preach…right??
9 times out of 10, PTs with one or more of these certifications will bring more to the table than your average trainer.
Clinicians with these certifications are also more common than you think. Some PT’s even operate out of gyms (both private and commercial) so that they can be more accessible. Look around at your local PT clinics and gyms to see who might be available to you.
If you can’t find someone, reach out to us! I specialize in the best-of-all-worlds expertise that makes fitness-forward PTs valuable members of your healthcare team.
Better Tools for Better Outcomes
PTs also have an edge over trainers with regard to the data we can collect and how we use that data to help our clients.
Everyone in the fitness space needs to be able to help motivate clients, troubleshoot, help design and achieve goals, and keep clients accountable. PTs have access to all of the tools and resources that trainers use to do this.
PTs are also formally trained in patient and client management. Nearly every PT program requires courses in motivational interviewing, improving patient compliance, and effective goal planning. Personal training certifications may include material on these topics, but usually not on the level of graduate-level education.
Fitness-forward PTs in particular can also use advanced screening tools to help keep you healthier for longer. Some tools, like the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), are specifically designed for use by allied healthcare professionals, like PTs*.
(*These screening tools are not 100% accurate and a good clinician will not rely on them alone, but they can help us design more personalized programs. PTs can also use these tools to account for their clients’ symptoms, if any, and build rehab directly into their programming.)
So whether you struggle with staying motivated to exercise, have some nagging knee pain, or are worried about avoiding injury while exercising, a PT can account for all of those in a way that trainers cannot.
Some trainers can help with some of these issues, but it is outside of a trainer’s scope to diagnose or treat pain or symptoms of any kind. Good trainers should be comfortable referring you to a rehab expert as needed.
Better Tools for Better Outcomes
A fitness-forward physical therapist can slot in basically anywhere a personal trainer can, but the opposite is very much not the case. Not every PT has the background and training to help you with your fitness goals, but there’s almost certainly one accessible to you.
Set yourself up for success by starting the next leg of your fitness journey with someone who has the clinical and performance expertise you need to accomplish your movement goals and stay healthy for longer. Talk to a PT about your fitness goals and lay the groundwork for a lifetime of success!
