| The Personal Trainer (PT) | | | | |
| | | | | First, a full assessment of your fitness and health |
| Who needs one? | | | | status. Then, an individualized training routine to |
| | | | | help improve your injury, quality of life and |
| Anyone who's healthy, injury-free and looking to | | | | performance. A biokineticist can also work to |
| get started, bust out of a training rut or just stick | | | | improve your posture and advise you on how to |
| to a routine. Most trainers will also be happy to | | | | sit at your desk to prevent back injury. She'll/he'll |
| train couples or small groups. | | | | supervise and modify your training, one-on-one, |
| | | | | for as long as is required. |
| What will you get? | | | | |
| | | | | But for a more budget-friendly version, ask her |
| A personal trainer will assess your fitness level | | | | him to design your program and get you |
| and goals, and then design and supervise a | | | | up-to-speed over a couple of sessions. Then you |
| program. She/he can also refer you to | | | | can follow the routine on your own, returning |
| appropriate health practitioners, if necessary. | | | | every few months for feedback or program |
| Some trainers will also be qualified to work with | | | | ‘upgrade'. |
| higher-risk individuals, like pregnant women, the | | | | |
| elderly, athletes or overweight clients. | | | | The Sports Physician |
| | | | | |
| Bear in mind: There's a plethora of qualifications | | | | Who needs one? |
| available, so make sure your trainer has a track | | | | |
| record. Trainers practicing at established gyms | | | | Anyone (active or inactive) who suffers from a |
| should be well qualified, but always check out their | | | | chronic lifestyle disease or has one or more risk |
| credentials. | | | | factors (physical inactivity, hypertension, smoking, |
| | | | | high cholesterol, high stress levels). This is for |
| The Biokineticist | | | | someone who is sick or injured and needs a |
| | | | | medical diagnosis and treatment. The training |
| Who needs one? | | | | becomes part of the treatment, as practitioners |
| | | | | use regular exercise, nutritional intervention and |
| People who need rehab from an injury, or those | | | | stress management to improve (and even |
| training with a controlled medical condition (like | | | | prevent) chronic conditions and injury. |
| heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, | | | | |
| obesity or osteoporosis). A biokineticist is qualified | | | | What will you get? |
| to prescribe a program to someone with a | | | | |
| specific condition. But they may still need | | | | A lifestyle and health assessment, and holistic |
| check-ups with a sports physician. Biokinetic | | | | intervention. A sports physician can also address |
| therapy is also useful for individuals with postural | | | | specific concerns, like training at high altitudes or |
| problems and chronic lower-back pain. | | | | extreme temperatures, sports psychology and |
| | | | | eating disorders. |
| What will you get? | | | | |