He said-she said
I’ve just started teaching a course which prepares students to take the NSCA-CPT exam. This is going to be a great opportunity to help build a strong “graduating class” for the future of this industry. Fortunately, many of these students are largely untainted by some information.
Ring ring..
On the flipside, the philosophy they prescribe too is largely outdated and my main goal is to get them to pass the exam, not debate about some of the more finite points of functional anatomy or program design.
In talking with some of the other instructors I’m reminded of a skill I value (and am still working on!). Research often gets passed down the ranks by word of mouth (like the Telephone game kids play) and by the time it gets to the masses it is often misinterpreted, extrapolated, and sometimes flat.out.wrong.
For one thing, a single research study doesn’t prove anything. There are more factors to be able to specifically tie cause and effect together. Remember, correlation does not mean causation. Second, there are limitations to every study that may pertain to the sample population, the method use, and even mathematical manipulation of the statistics. Many people quoting research never even read the original study and have zero, yes..ZERO idea what even happened or how they arrived at the conclusion they did.
One prime example is the now infamous Tabata study. I’ve heard everything from, “It’s irrefutably the best method for fat loss” to “Well it’s done with 5 bodyweight exercises for 20s on 10s off for 8 rounds each”. Hmmm…
I think it’s important not to go by just hearsay in the fitness industry, but to take what you hear and investigate the validity of the claims. Otherwise you’ll always stay at the bottom of the information food chain and be one step behind the big dogs.
That all being said, I’ve been guilty of this before.