FITNESS SPORT No 1 year 2007

So will all back customers now flock to your gym? Even though this study clearly backs all those trainers who were convinced of the effectiveness of their methods all along and who were able to help back pain customers by using specific training concepts, it remains uncer tain whether the gyms will be able to cater for at least part of these back pain customers in future – because: “The old back training theory is dead – long live the new back training the ory”. True to this motto and, occur ring almost simultaneously with the publication of the surprising results of the study, this new back training the ory concept has been introduced as a successor model. It was conceived by the Health Centre of the Deutsche Sporthochschule, Cologne (the Ger man sports university) led by Prof. Froböse and is designed to supersede the “classic back training theory” – also initiated by him 20 years ago and now considered a ‘classical error’. The pilot study, now completed and put to the scientific test in selected “health oriented fitness clubs”, indi cated outstanding results and was proof that qualified gyms are a suit able alternative even for customer groups with health problems and considerably reduced performance. But the fact alone that a fully estab lished training curriculum for future course and training leaders of the “New back training theory” has been submitted to the Health Minister by the newly founded “Confederation of German back training schools” (KddR) gives me a headache: It looks to me as if the old outdated nonsense is being rehashed in the form of a new back training network with only very few fitness clubs allowed access. Or would you disagree? All interested gyms are invited to tar get this large potential new customer group using professional and convinc ing training and support concepts. Many of these people with back problems are not patients in need of therapy and they do not need to be treated by sports therapists or physi otherapists, but they can be trained and supported effectively and suc-

the gym management and staff (includ ing both training staff and reception and catering staff). ✗ The management team of Fitness Cen trum TM (Solingen) had already passed the tests for Gold at FIBO Essen and they were visibly proud that their team of 8 female staff members excelled in winning 2 x Gold, 3 x Silver and 2 x Bronze. I’m convinced that all member gyms will promote the fitness sports badge with professionalism and commitment – within the gym and beyond, so that the tests are responsibly carried out. Fitness tests only make sense as an effective training control tool if they are carried out and evaluated based on consistent rules and requirements – everywhere. I look forward to renewed success for future team tests in new member gyms. That’s how, step by step, we can reach our project goal – to offer interested fit ness customers a comprehensive area wide partner club network (as a test cen tre in their region). This network of competent fitness experts and providers of health oriented fitness training will then be seen as a welcome partner for insurers and health insurance funds. I promise to talk to Berlin... Proof at long last: Strength training is beneficial – not just for your back There was truly good news for all gyms in nearly all big dailies this week. Here is what “Die Welt” had to say in the health section under the heading “Training to beat back pain” – where in no uncer tain terms a misconception held by the medical profession for over 20 years was reported on and corrected: “Back pain is the second most impor tant reason for visiting the doctor. Commonly this condition is blamed on damaged spinal discs. “This is wrong,” says sports professor Ingo Froböse from Deutsche Sporthoch schule Cologne. “More than 95% of back problems are due to weak mus cles which in turn lead to overloading of the supporting ligaments.” A scientific study has now proven that almost 100% of all back pain problems could be effectively and quickly pre

vented by (old industry insiders – lis ten!) specific muscle building training. “Strength through challenge” is the new motto. Rather than resting the back it should be challenged to learn to deal with and to adapt to a multitude of different types of stress. Whole body activation, specific muscle training and relaxation and perception training are the building blocks of this concept. This may well confuse many sports train ers and gym instructors who since the mid 1980s had been learning (in those countless back training courses by vari ous specialist associations, at conferences and training seminars) that their very own gyms’ training methods (i.e. muscle build ing – bodybuilding) were supposed to be absolutely unsuited, even damaging to health, for people with back pain (every second person in our civilised society). Many of you will remember what impact this new back training theory had on gyms: Strength training whose value had been scientifically proven was virtu ally demonised as a prevention method for muscle strength and stability, fit ness trainers’ professional expertise was called into question and all “back cus tomers” were urged not to undertake muscle training in gyms. Subsequently, exercises were divided into “right” and “wrong” with the classic strengthening exercises being assigned to the second category. Many known exercises deemed effective to-date were relegated to the “don’ts” prohibition list, even those that were included in the industry’s profes sional training courses. The result: Around 8 million people have been treated at back training sessions – often with no effect at all. On the con trary, very often the problem worsened. A study carried out by the EU Commis sion verifies this – alongside back train ing sessions, it also ranks as ineffective certain passive therapies such as “back friendly” office furniture, massage, inlay soles for shoes etc. And when our politicians reveal that 25 billion Euros have to be spent in terms of direct and indirect costs arising from back problems alone, then one begins to wonder why the known fact that “Strength training is good – millions of gym customers can’t be wrong” has been largely ignored so far.

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