Have you ever heard the phrase, “Training is Rehab, Rehab is Training”? I believe it was Charlie Weingroff that coined that phrase, and it’s perfect for explaining what we do with Smart Group Training. Our mission with Smart Group Training is to improve the standard of group training, and a driving force behind this involves using a training continum allowing us to place an individual precisely where they need to be.
We’re not saying we do “rehab”. Trust me when I say that we do our job of reffering to proper medical professionals when necessary, but the phrase still relates perfectly to following a progression system.
What exactly is a training continum? Simply put, the training continum is a series of progressions and regressions allowing an indivual to successfully complete a given task while moving toward a desired endpoint or goal. It’s all about finding the proper level of training and progression that allows a challenging environment while providng a certain level of compentency or success.
All the way on the left, we have “corrective exercises”. On the other side of the continum, you’ll see our more advanced exercises that require a certain level of strength, precision, control, and prior training to perform correctly.
The Training Continuum
<—Breathing—Mobility—Static Stability—Dynamic Stability—Strength—>
We currently use the FMS (Functional Movement Screen) to help guide us when choosing our exercise selection for an indivdual. We analyze the screen before making a final decision on where to start. If you can’t touch your toes and have the ability to shift your weight posteriorly, it’s probably wise to stay away from deadlifting. The deadlift would be pretty far on the right, so we need to slide down the continum and choose the approriate exercise selection. A more corrective based approach working on mobility is going to give that person a much greater rate of success improving long term results.
Choosing the proper level of training is going to enhance results, keep your clients injury free, and always coming back for more training. By placing your client on the right level of the spectrum, you will create an environment that will allow them to have some success while still challenging them. This environment is more condusive to improving adhrence and long term success with a program. You may not always have to move to the far right of the continum, so just create a goal and keep progressing forward until you’re successful.