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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take this higher - PT workouts injured me.

82 replies

MXVIT · 17/02/2023 11:41

Hi all

I currently have a PT who i go to three times a week. To be brief there is some kind of weakness in my lower back due to an old injury, my PT is obsessed with a certain piece of equipment that if done wrong can put strain on the back.

I have fed this back to my PT that I'm not comfortable using this piece of equipment as I can feel a strain on my lwoer back and my old injury will come back - to which I am frequently told "just see how you go - thats the workout"

Added to this, this piece of equipment is brought out even when my sessions run on consecutive days (due to availability i cant always space them out) - again I raised concerns on this and said I'd be more comfortable if there was a workaround - again i was told "thats the workout - we cant change it - see how you go"

Unsurprisingly, i was using the kit and yesterday my back twinged out, today i can't really move that well and have been popping painkillers like sweets - even when it happened i was told "just carry on with it see how you go"

AIBU to raise this with his superiors? These sessions are not cheap and the business prides themselves on having the best PTs, surely my concrns should have been enough for this guy to look at my workout and formulate workarounds after my concrns rather than just forcing me into a one size fits all workout

I'm very angry that I'm now injured and debating raising this with his superiors as I judge this to be his fault.

AIBU?

OP posts:
housemaus · 17/02/2023 12:29

I'd definitely raise it with someone.

However, I think there's a range of options between just doing an exercise you know had real potential to injure you and walking out of the session.

A simple "I know my body, and I'm not going to do XX today because I'm not comfortable. Can we move onto the next thing?" would be the obvious choice. And if they said, no that's the workout, then the response is surely something to the effect - "I'm paying to be trained personally, not to follow a pre-set workout - it needs to be tailored to my ability and this isn't within my ability today."

(Obviously less narky sounding if the relationship allows: I'd have gone with "Nah sorry, I'm not risking doing that today. Work with me here, what can I do that's similar but won't fuck my back up?").

Survey99 · 17/02/2023 12:30

"thats the workout - we cant change it - see how you go"

Is the PT giving you a generic workout that they can't change? I thought the whole point of a PT was to design you a personalised workout, and usually nutrition advice, to fit your goals and limitations. That is what ds(19) gets with his independent PT for £25/hour.

Yours sounds like they give you a predefined workout and stand at the side and cheer you on. That's not what PTs do! The clue is in the name "personal" trainer.

zingally · 17/02/2023 12:37

Why didn't you just use your presumably-big-girl voice and say "that piece of equipment hurts my back, I'm not using it"??

He didn't hold a gun to your head and order you onto whatever it was.

Intrepidescape · 17/02/2023 12:46

I once injured my back at reformer Pilates because a Pilates instructor insisted on everyone doing pretzels instead of using the actual machines. She did this because she wanted to talk about her wedding and wanted everyone looking at her. So she had everyone do pretzels. I realised something happened because I felt a pop, had zero pain and my leg was partially paralysed.

My back injury was so bad I ended up in the emergency room. I couldn’t walk properly (my foot would drag on the ground) and it was considered a medical emergency because it was thought I had corda equina (where there is damage to the end of the spine at the tailbone that can be irreversible and result in faecal incontinence).

I should have reported it and claimed against their insurance for my drugs and personal distress.

Report the PT. See a lawyer.

Hankunamatata · 17/02/2023 12:48

I would be very annoyed. Tbh best pt I had was a trained physio

Merryoldgoat · 17/02/2023 12:55

You see yes, I would walk out.

You either trust him, in which case your injury is just bad luck, or you know your body better than him and therefore need to advocate for yourself.

I’m not having a go OP - but so many women are cowed by stuff like this and it infuriates me.

I have a friend who is a PT. I have torn my meniscus and he keeps suggesting exercises that are completely contraindicated.

They have some training but they aren’t health professionals and the amount of training they need is relatively small.

Thats not to say some aren’t knowledgeable and highly skilled, it’s just there is no consistency and therefore you need to take responsibility for yourself.

Madamecastafiore · 17/02/2023 12:59

Yes complain, it's normal and pretty easy to change workout plans or use a different piece of kit or your body weight to avoid injury but utilise the same muscles, the PT has a duty of care to ensure you're working out safely.

araiwa · 17/02/2023 13:32

Doesn't sound like any kind of qualified PT

Sounds like someone in a track suit on minimum wage being given a set program to do

thecatsthecats · 17/02/2023 13:47

My PT was so good that he once turned me away from a session because I looked miserable. I didn't even have to say anything, he just knew I'd been under some stress and said, "Look, you're in no state for a workout, let's reschedule".

That's before you come to adaptations he made for injury, for the sake of having fun, or for the sake of covid fatigue.

A good PT makes exercise work for you. Injuries should be rare and accidental.

ThatWardrobe · 17/02/2023 13:48

You might as well be following a workout video if they're not going to tailor it to you. It's the entire point of having a personal trainer.

MelchiorsMistress · 17/02/2023 13:50

It’s a PERSONAL training session, you shouldn’t have had to tell this person more than once that you were uncomfortable with a particular piece of equipment.

Surely the whole point of it being a personalised session is that they adapt to what you personally need and provide a bespoke workout? Otherwise you’d just go to a gym and crack on by yourself.

This person has failed to provide the service you paid for multiple times, eventually resulting in injury. You need to put in an official complaint and take yourself to a private physio for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Then you can sue the PT for the cost of it. They will have paid for insurance out of the fee you paid them and this is what it’s for.

NextPrimeMinister · 17/02/2023 13:52

Im similar with my back and realised a certain move would give me issues. I mentioned this to my PT who gave me a suitable variation. If they hadn't, I wouldn't have carried on with the original move, I would have requested an alternative.

I would raise this with both PT and manager.

AliceS1994 · 17/02/2023 13:53

Yes and no. No, he is the expert and you were trusting him ensure you are kept safe during your training. Yes, because you are a grown up and this is clearly and on going issue, why have you not politely requested to use a different price of kit if you were concerned, the PT can't read your mind. It needs to go both ways; you need to speak up if you're not happy with something and he needs to listen when you voice concern.

Laurdo · 17/02/2023 13:53

Any good PT should be able to offer an alternative for any exercise. I have problems with my knees which my PT knows about. Weighted squats and lunges hurt my knees and leave them in agony the next day so we don't do them. Some other exercises can be ok one day but not the next, so we give it a go, start out light and if my knees feel fine we go for it. If I feel a twinge we do something else. It's always lead by what I'm comfortable with.

Definitely report him. He's a danger to his clients and clearly not a very good PT. In not a PT but I could give you multiple alternatives to any exercise.

BeetleyCarapace · 17/02/2023 13:54

Qualified PT here

Yes, raise it. A PT should be able and willing to vary the exercises in-session and should definitely be taking into account injuries and previous issues. Telling you "that's the workout" and refusing to adjust or adapt is crap PTing.

What's the equipment, out of interest?

Housenoob · 17/02/2023 13:55

Sounds like a shit PT who is following a plan printed off the Internet.

Does he have a manager though? Aren't most PTs self employed?

Dacadactyl · 17/02/2023 13:55

MXVIT · 17/02/2023 11:46

Hiya -

to be clear - I did push back on it and there was a refusal from my PT to change the workout and take out this piece of kit. Short of walking out (which maybe i should have) I'm not sure what else I could do after being ignored.

Show quote history

I would've said "if you don't change the equipment, I'll sadly have to look for a new PT. I want you to change the workout, because I am not using that machine."

Gymmum82 · 17/02/2023 13:57

Are these group PT or private PT sessions?
Group PT they are not under any obligation to change the workout for you. Though it’s good business practice to offer alternatives. If it’s private PT with a programme specific to your needs then adaptions should be made.
I don’t understand why you couldn’t just refuse to do that particular exercise and move on to the next one?
I have a back injury and am also a qualified PT I also employ a PT for myself who always works round my injuries.
It sounds like this is a company rather than a PT though. You say ‘go above’ the PT. Honestly I’d just find a new one. They sound pretty rubbish tbh

Cheeseandpickleplease · 17/02/2023 13:58

You’ll have signed a disclaimer to say you use equipment at your own risk

why did you repeatedly do something you were comfortable with?

I would of asked for another pt, I wouldn’t have put myself at risk because someone else told me to do something I didn’t want to do

BounceyB · 17/02/2023 14:13

The question I have is did you feel discomfort before the last session? I often find that if I'm not explicit in saying this doesn't feel right and it hurts, there's a risk he'll think it's okay.

In saying this he does sound rubbish. Definitely find a new trainer.

Nixer · 17/02/2023 14:29

I would complain and either insist on a different PT or leave and get refunded the remaining sessions. My PT tailors exercise to me, knows I have a back problem and will amend the exercise if I'm struggling or if she sees me not getting the technique right because there is too much weight etc. There are a couple of exercises we do not do because I can't. You are paying for their knowledge and the session should be tailored to what you can do safely.

ShirleyPhallus · 17/02/2023 14:33

agree with everyone else

whats the equipment?

Original poster
MXVIT · 17/02/2023 14:34

equipment is a hex bar :)

OP posts:
BeetleyCarapace · 17/02/2023 14:41

MXVIT · 17/02/2023 14:34

equipment is a hex bar :)

For deadlifts?

Yeah I can think of at least half a dozen alternatives to a hex bar deadlift. I won't prescribe any because I haven't assessed you (and especially if you've got back issues) but just so you know there are alternatives.

You need a new PT. Or to have the hard word with this one.

ShirleyPhallus · 17/02/2023 14:47

MXVIT · 17/02/2023 14:34

equipment is a hex bar :)

These are sometimes helpful for those wi to lower back issues as they can spread the load more evenly but he should be listening to you. Definitely not working out the same exercises with big loads two days in a row.

One thing worth checking is if it’s actually your glute med rather than back. It can feel very similar because the tightness is felt across the top of your bum and back - get a tennis ball, lie down and put it under your bum and see if that gets out any of the tension. May be better to Google to see what I mean! But I often get tight glutes and this really helps

Also stretch out your hip flexors too

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