Personal Fitness Professional - November/December 2008 - (Page 10)

clients/athletes) working with individuals is a must. On the ﬂip side, having no academic background may lead to the syndrome of ‘a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.’” What this means is that as a trainer who is trying to be the best they can be in helping their clients achieve their goals quickly and healthfully, it is best to continue your education. Many people, trainers, dietitians and physicians alike, consider themselves experts because they own a pair of running shoes and lift weights. This is not the case. Antonio continues, “If you feel uncomfortable or are admittedly ignorant of sports nutrition, then by all means do not dispense suggestions or advice beyond your competence. However, if you do your due diligence and educate yourself constantly in the ﬁeld, it would behoove you as a health professional to oﬀer your best advice or suggestion to your clients. It is not a prescription, but merely a suggestion. Bottom line for everyone interested in sports nutrition: Read, read and read. Read as much scientiﬁc and lay literature as you can.” And this advice goes for any trainer or sports nutritionist. Education does not stop with a mere certiﬁcation or college degree, it really just begins. The term “registered dietitian” doesn’t necessarily equate to “expert in the sports nutrition arena.” Sports Nutrition Certiﬁcations There are a variety of certiﬁcations, an ample amount of reputable textbooks and an endless number of seminars by qualiﬁed professionals. Continuing education is crucial for learning about any aspect of health, including sports nutrition. Attend all the seminars you can, read all the reputable information available, and consider a certiﬁcation that you believe is reputable. Geiser adds, “I see that these programs can help educate trainers so that they are better able to answer clients’ questions, but it also sends the wrong message to trainers, making them think that they are now qualiﬁed to oﬀer more than just general, basic advice. I believe that if a trainer is considering any of the certiﬁcation programs that are available, the ﬁrst criteria to consider is the education of the people involved in the program. They should primarily be those who are educated in nutrition and have an RD involved because then the trainer knows that that person has more than just a few nutrition courses within their core education.” Quality certiﬁcations are created to enhance the base knowledge a qualiﬁed trainer or dietitian already possesses and can absolutely enhance the credibility and skills of the trainer. They demonstrate that the trainer is seeking additional education and knowledge in all aspects of health in order to further assist their clients. Remember, though, it is crucial to consult with other health care professionals, such as registered dietitians, nurses, physical therapists, etc., who possess the appropriate background and knowledge to assist with complex medical issues. Moreover, establishing relationships with these professionals will enable trainers to expand their network and provide expertise regarding exercise prescription and conditioning and may even lead to additional referrals and clients. The ultimate health of a client sometimes requires collaboration across many health 10 NOV-DEC2008 · WWW.FIT-PRO.COM http://WWW.FIT-PRO.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Personal Fitness Professional - November/December 2008

Personal Fitness Professional - November/December 2008 Contents Letter from the Editor, Writers Your Scope of Practice Combating Youth Obesity Current Controversies The Balancing Act Product Profile Building a Base of Special Populations The Right State of Mind Mark Your Calendar The Equipment Dilemma Too Much To Do, Too Little Time Exercise Spotlight Holiday Gift Guide New on the Market Alyte Piedra

Personal Fitness Professional - November/December 2008

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