How to deal
with Lower Back Pain
A personal trainer’s role is more prominent in preventing and managing the client’s lower back pain. The first thing that a personal trainer should note is that there is no such thing as non-specific back pain. Each pain that the client suffers has a cause. A trainer who does not have this information will end up worsening the condition instead of alleviating it. On the other hand, knowledge will enable the trainer to concentrate on the specific motions, loads, and postures that will manage the condition if not heal it completely.
Several terms that are used in the medical world to describe back pain and they are “lumbosacral strain,” “non-specific back pain,” and “idiopathic back pain.” These terms mean that the client you are working with has not been through a competent medical assessment. As a trainer, it is crucial to work with a clinician who can guide you and your client through a self-assessment to expose the specific pain triggers. It will enable the trainer, clinician, and client to better understand which approach would completely alleviate the pain. At the same time, they will be able to know why one process cannot fit everyone. A proper assessment results in:
- Getting rid of pain triggers
- Creating a foundation for a movement that is pain-free
Injury mechanisms
As mentioned before, injuries don't just happen; they have a source. For example, when the spine is under load due to too much flexion bending, excessive squatting can cause an injury. That is why, as a trainer, you should always assess the hips and lower back. You should also avoid progressing your clients too quickly to the next exercise. Some exercises that will enhance strength fast, for instance, Russian twists, may not be good for there will be delamination in the disc annulus, which only means more tears.
Find out your
client’s training goals
Why did they come to you for personal training? Find out their goals, write them out, and choose exercises that align with their purpose. Ensure that you create a program that is healthy and pain-free
How to assess a client
Do not just stick to measuring the client’s range of motion because that will not give you any results. Find out the pain history to have a better understanding of the weak points. There should be a gentle pain provocation test to identify the pain triggers and avoid motions, postures, and loads that cause them.
A trainer and client should have verbal cues that will help describe the needed movement. There should be internal and external cues, and one should note that signals are specific to an individual. Internal cues are specific to muscle movement or patterns, while external cues refer to visual or sound alerts.
You should know when
to progress or regress
The aim is to help your client exercises without feeling pain. If this is not happening, then it is vital to stop. It could be advisable that you seek a second opinion or refer your client to another expert. It is especially true if the situation has gone beyond your skill level. A good trainer has a good relationship with competent clinicians who can assess their clients further.
Dealing with lower back pain as a personal trainer will call for your professionalism and broad scope of knowledge. It would be best if you also were a good listener. Help your client heal and become whole again. It will take time and take time to walk the journey with your client.
Great piece
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