OUR MAN CHEK

FOR YOUR READING ENJOYMENT:

A few quotesby our favorite Corrective Exercise Savior, (high performance kinesiologist...whatever), Paul Chek from PFP article July 2004.: The SCIENCE (or lack there of) of Exercise Selection

The client, a nurse, suffering from chronic low back pain (MY FEEDBACK)

"before selecting any exercises for Sally, we must determine her capacity for anabolic, (tissue building) rebound"

"Principle 3: Begin with the Most Complex Exercise"… "this in turn influences both client retention and word-of-mouth marketing"

(yeh, sort of like learning to ski on a double black diamond)

"Due to an overbearing influence from both the bodybuilding and machine manufacturing industries, both trainers and PT's opt for machine based, floor-based and/or isolation exercises when most clients can comfortably handle exercises that are both more functional and biomotor rich." (functional for who and what goal?)

"...where functional tasks are involved, meaning the client is unsupported and self-balanced, we will reap the greatest reward in the shortest amount of time"(unsupported? Uhh, earth, gravity; ever heard of them?)

"She mustimprove her functional strength when bending over an operating table. Bending and lifting are essential in transferring patients. A free-standing bent-over row would be the natural choice"

"This exercise easily lends itself to acute exercise variable manipulation, (WHAT!)so that both strength and endurance are easily achieved"

"We need to be aware of possible reactions from the BO Row given that she has low back pain" (no kidding Sherlock)

"The exercise is performed in the supine position so it is non-compressive" (not on this planet genius)

"Let's assume that she needs SI joint stability. We may decide to use exercises such as the belt squat" (good idea, artificial means of stabilization are always the way to magically stabilize the SI joint)

"...so by applying force in an open chain, with her upper body, she is overcoming resistance and moving it. Her lower body applies force to the floor, which doesn't move, therefore the chain is closed for the lower extremity" (this guys really, really needs to take a look at what closed and open chain actually mean and were intended to describe)

"..if she were able to perform the BO row on a wobble board, she would now open the chain for the lower extremity during force development" (so, the wobble board magically made this exercise open chain? And, only during force development?)

For those of you unaware of this man, he has made quite a reputation for himself as a leader in the fitness industry. Although some topics he has investigated, discussed and presented very well, articles such as this come out which totally make you wonder where he is coming from, and question the validity of his purpose. Consistency in relaying information founded on scientific principles instead of self-interpretation, (and in this case manipulation), is imperative when educating and sharing knowledge. My aim in pointing out inconsistencies such as those found within this article, is not to belittle the author, but to bring awareness to the fact that just because someone has a bunch of letters behind his or her name, been in practice for years, has a booming business with elite clientele, or can throw out fancy words that confuse the average listener, does not make them an expert. Being able to analyze the information objectively for truth and interpret with self-perspective makes you a leader instead of a follower.

AWARENESS > PERSPECTIVE >SKILL

Bill Leavitt BA, RTSM, MATTh
Fitness Alliance, LLC
816 916-7557