Recently, a friend tagged me in her comments in response to a (rather vague) Facebook post that was essentially asking how we bring the fitness industry on par with “respected professions”, e.g., attorneys and physical therapists. I presume that the author of the initial post was asking a question about regulation and certification. It is an interesting discussion, but far too complicated for discussion on social media—especially since the question was not very explicit. So, I thought I would seize the opportunity to express some of my thoughts on the fitness industry.
I am a university professor of exercise science, so I prepare (or at least I try to prepare) graduates for a variety of careers relating to exercise. Forbes recently listed Exercise Science as one of the worst degrees for employment. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 50% of graduates will not find work in the field. I struggle with this, but I also appreciate that an Exercise Science degree is a great stepping stone to a variety of rewarding and well-paying career—albeit careers that require additional education. I try to encourage my students to pursue careers in medicine/health care (MD, DO, DC, PA, nursing, etc.) or rehabilitation (PT, OT, cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation, etc.). I also believe that strength and conditioning is a hot field for qualified students. These careers all require some level of board certification, so the licensure question for these is rather moot. This leaves the question: “What about the rest?”
I struggle with this question. For one thing, college is expensive and jobs like personal trainer and fitness leader do not pay well—for the vast majority. This means that the best will remain in the field and the rest will go on to other careers. For me, this means my responsibility is to prepare students for more than a vocation.
I believe Exercise Science is the best major for the health professions (e.g., pre-medicine, pre-physical therapy, etc.) because the focus is on healthy living and physiological function. While degrees like Chemistry and Biology can get someone into medical school (and not to say that physicians with these or other foundations can’t be good or even great doctors), they lack the human interaction. They lack the preparation in relating health (or lack thereof) to personal actions—specifically, physical (in)activity and diet. We are a heavily medicated society, in my opinion, because we treat symptoms rather than causes. We don’t look at the lifestyle practices that often lead to disease. Rather than address high blood pressure, for example, with diet and exercise, we are inclined to say “Take a pill.” I believe Exercise Science-focused medical professionals are the key to better healthcare.
Invariably, more of my students are pursuing fitness-related careers. I try my best to prepare them. I have found, over the years, that there is less of a need to teach them the specifics of how to exercise. The Internet and practical experience will teach much of that. Instead, I focus on the basic physiology and mechanics of performance and adaptation. I hope to impress upon them the ability to distinguish between good practices and the bull**** that is rampant in the fitness industry. I also try to inject the concepts of “well-centered fitness”. As well, my students hear all-to-often the phrase “opportunity costs”. I try to instill an understanding of what makes for effective exercise and how to prioritize (to use opportunity wisely and effectively) the exercise. For those who will likely change careers or be hired into other occupations, I trust that these same principles will apply.
This brings me to the state of the fitness industry. I was perhaps naïve enter into the field 33 years ago. I had worked for a Nautilus training center in Pittsburgh for much of high school and had the dream of one day opening my own gym. I knew nothing of exercise science until the summer before my senior year of a Geology degree when a classmate told me about the master’s program. (During my field experience in the gorgeous Greenbriar Mountains of West Virginia, I had opened up about my feelings that I didn’t see myself working as a Geologist and that I wanted to own a gym. Initially, I have wanted to be a mine engineer and switched to Geology with the thought of pursuing energy resource economics—until I was bored to near-death by my Economics course.) I explored the master’s program in Exercise Physiology and the course of my life changed. This lead to a number of years struggling financially, a brief run installing toilet partitions, and a PhD in Exercise Physiology. I have seen many aspects of the field, as an exercise physiologist in corporate fitness, in fitness sales, in management, as the owner of a sports performance training center, as well as a personal trainer in a variety of facilities—not to exclude as a consumer. I continue to track trends and observe the industry. I can’t say that I am always proud of the fitness industry. It seems to me that the focus, in most situations, in on marketing over science.
For many pursuing a career in personal training, I might more appropriately suggest an associate’s degree from a qualified community college program. These programs can effectively provide the essentials and adequately train professionals (still far better than the trainer who attends a weekend or week-long workshop and passes a certification exam). Unfortunately, for these, there are not many other options should personal training not pan out.
It is regrettable that some of the best trainers fall away from the field because they get overwhelmed by the cost of living and often college debt and the poor pay that comes working for someone else. Some remain, however, and learn what they can and break the shackles of working for someone else to start their own business. Many of these do quite well—as they should.
To the question of licensure for fitness professionals, I don’t believe this will solve the problems in the industry. For one thing, the industry is increasingly pressured to be creative and market trends rather than effective exercise. If I have learned anything in 33+ years, it is that we need to stick to the basics and the basics don’t “sell”. Licensure will not change the industry—other than weed out those who will be unwilling to invest the cost of maintaining a license. In the areas were licensure is justified—e.g., physical therapy and occupational therapy—it is already required or is regulated by the employer—e.g., cardiac rehabilitation in hospitals. For those that remain, I think it is important for the employer and consumer to set high standards.
Strength and conditioning (S & C) is a field that already has high-standard certifications that are respected, such as the National Strength & Conditioning Association’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) or the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association’s Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC). These, along with extensive experience, are required to become a collegiate S & C coach. Unfortunately, there are no high standards for sports performance training or high school coaching. Thus, it comes down to the consumer being aware. Parents and school districts have to be responsible to hire qualified trainers—to look at the education, experience, and certifications of the prospective coach. Certainly, experience as a collegiate or professional athlete are not alone sufficient.
Trends in fitness abound. Unfortunately, not all are worthwhile or effective. Indeed, many, if not most, are useless if not harmful. Few consumers know the difference. Thus, it is up to the industry to self-regulate. Regrettably, the fitness industry is highly competitive and, as a result, prone to do that which stands out rather than what is truly effective. Effective is boring, I guess. Practical and simplistic doesn’t sell. In reality, though, it is what works.
Choose your trainer wisely. Remember the basics. Understand the basic principles of specificity, overload, progression, and recovery. Understand the concept that opportunity costs and don’t put blind trust in a coach or personal fitness trainer. Do your homework. There are plenty of highly qualified professional fitness and S &C professionals.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!