"Wrong." What your doctor doesn't know:

3/9/13:

I was watching the news this morning and invariably the mandatory segment on a new exercise regimen had to come on.  Generally speaking, these segments are so nonsensical they’re surreal.  Apparently, people who watch the news insist on seeing something “new” with regards to exercise.  FYI: there is nothing new in exercise.

As usual, I digress…

The segment was about a modified gymnastics class that seemed to cater to older people.  Obviously, some questioned the safety of older people performing gymnastics which is a pretty sound concern to me and anyone with a frontal lobe.  Frankly, questioning the safety of ANYBODY performing gymnastics is sound logic.

I digress again…

So the reporter asked a doctor about the safety of the workouts, to which the doctor responded (I’m paraphrasing) that it would be best for the participants to improve their basic levels of strength first prior to engaging in this class.  “The best thing perhaps…” he continued “…is to work on your situps first” to strengthen the abdomen and the lower back.

Watch Jon slow boil…

I’ve had this discussion before with other fitness professionals with whom I place some trust.  I (we) just don’t understand the connection between Doctors and fitness.  More specifically, why are they asked for advice in an area in which they are obviously not experts?

There isn’t a fitness professional anywhere who’s done their homework and who has some experience training people who would have their clients flex the spine in an attempt to improve strength.  I wouldn’t do it with anyone frankly, but older people?!?  Come on…have you ever seen an older person?!? They’re already trying to keep their spines from moving into the letter “C”!  And this doctor’s advice: put your spine in the shape of a “C” over and over and over…

See Jon’s eyes roll…

You don’t need a degree in Exercise Science to understand this.  This is common sense.  Frankly, if you’re a member at the TR you know it’s a bad idea, and you’re more qualified than most doctors to discuss exercise issues.

And I’ve used the term “doctors” because this is not an isolated incident.  As my colleagues and I have noticed, the rule is a doctor being asked for exercise advice, then said doctor giving some REALLY bad advice.

Does this make doctors bad people? No.  

Does this mean doctors are dumb?  Of course not.

It means exercise IS NOT THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE. 

If you need surgery, go to a doctor.

If you need prescription medication, go to a doctor.

If you have an illness that needs to be diagnosed, go to a doctor.

If you need exercise advice, go to someone who is knowledgeable in the area of exercise – NOT a doctor.

Situps?!? Come...on...

That’s my public service announcement for the day, thanks for listening.

(And yes, this was 1st thing in the a.m. pre-caffeination - thanks for bearing with me!)