This is something I have posted about in the past but apparently it is time to do so again.
Advice on a forum is blind – you do not know them, you do not know the – injury history, medical history, training history, training experience, tools that they have access to. You know nothing about them – zero.
Most of the time it is a forum "handle" not even a real name…
Now I am sure that all the trainers out there will know how difficult it can be to get an accurate history from a live client – one that is right in front of you. (brings to mind a client that forgot to tell me about an Ostrich related injury and another that forgot to tell me about the 12"+ incision down his abdomen from an abdominal surgery)
So trust me when I tell you that the person you are handing advice out to blindly on the forum is not telling you the whole story (knowingly or unknowingly).
the person asking for advice provides WAY too little information and blind advice of do this mobility drill or this KB drill or whatever. How do you know if they even know that drill and will they perform in properly. I work in a very detailed manner with my clients and have them repeat drills at least twice before the end of a session and almost without fail there is something to fix when they come back. Blind internet advice has got to have a lower "recall" rate.
What if someone complaining of sore muscles just started on a Statin drug and is having a serious medical side effect not "sore" muscles – how would you know????
I need to strengthen ______…. – answer – Why do you need to strengthen that area and have you injured it in the past, are you currently dealing with any injuries etc…
I injured my _______…… – answer – Did you see the appropriate medical professional?
(correct advice of – do not do anything that causes pain is at least making it through)
The person you are blindly advising on-line might just follow your advice – are you sure it is the right thing for that individual?
I get people asking me questions after viewing one of the Secrets of DVDs and I have to ask how they did on certain screening drills (and injury and medical history questions) but the assessment drills at least point me in a direction specific to that individual and I still hesitate to give advice beyond the most basic of drills (rib pull t-spine rotation etc…) and I still try to get them to a professional in their area.
And just so you don’t think this is the first time this has been discussed…
From my blog on the date below…
Friday, February 22, 2008
Advice -
Advice is only speculation.
It is (or can be) a well intended collection of facts, figures, opinions or experiences offered in the hopes of helping someone.
And it is almost always speculative and incomplete because there is no way to properly guide someone based off a vague question. The statement of – "I want to gain weight." – will be met on internet forums with advice such as – "eat a lot, squat, take creatine, etc…" People with an injury will seek advice – "my shoulder hurts when I…" and the internet experts will chime in with any number of tips and pointers – books, exercises and therapies galore come flooding out.
But what if the person wanting to gain weight is skipping breakfast, wants to be vegan and thinks that bananas are a weight gain food (and lets not talk about the adult beverage liquid calories)? Add to this 12 hour work days, family stress, oh and a history of low back pain and a previous ankle fracture – and they don’t know how to squat properly and are filled with movement restrictions and asymmetries. Would your advice change?
What if the person asking for the shoulder advice has a history of a hip injury, car accident and neck pain? They continue benching even though it hurts – oh and they forgot to mention that they work as an electrician and work overhead 10 hours a day -oh and did they mention that they are diabetic?? Would your advice change?
Responsibility in the area of advice runs both ways -the person giving the advice must realize that the advice is general and speculative and that it should be given with caution – the person receiving the advice has to still make their own decisions and take into consideration all of the specifics that they did not provide when they asked for advice. It is a two edged sword and can cut both people.
Think before you give, ask for and receive advice – BTW this may sound funny from someone in the "advice" business but this should indicate how seriously I take handing out advice and some of my thought processes.
Let the discussion begin….
