Questionable advice?

[StevieB]

What are your thoughts on young ppl giving advice?
I sometimes disregard advice given by ppl when I see their stats state that they are 17yo or whatever

Not saying that the teenage opinion isn't valid... just certain topics require more life/training experience.
...and i remember how cock-sure i was at 18

[NotNowChief]

I think that comes under "assessing the validity of the source for yourself".

[ChadRogers]

As a trainer with 8 years ex and diploma in fitness i would say be extremely wary of advice beyond general things from anyone who hasnt the relevant quals. To mjh WIthout viewing someone technique is it dangerous to suggest squats are good for your knees ( have you heard of pronated foot? toes pointed out).General statements like these can get you into trouble or more importantly cause potential injury, without a proper postural analysis exercise prescription is very risky. my advice bobu go to a gym meet with someone qualified face to face.

[mjh]

With all due respect Chad, I don't think that my advice is particularly dangerous.

In this particular thread, when I wrote "You'll see me tell people that squats are good for a person's knees", I was paraphrasing myself to make a point. That doesn't constitute the sum of my advice to people who have "bad knees". My actual advice to people is usually something along these lines:

I know what you mean, bfn123, but it may just be that squats will help your knees improve. I wrote a guest post on this very subject. Be sure to read the training log of "esmitty" that I link to near the end. http://stronglifts.com/squats-knee-pain/

You're quite rightly cautious about heavy weight. But the thing is, in this program you only ever lift weight you're ready for. "Heavy" is a relative term. For some, it is more than their own bodyweight, for others it's an empty bar or broomstick.

• Stay well away from the smith, leg press and leg curl machines. They exert pretty nasty forces on your legs, hips and back. They'll almost certainly stress your knees more than a real squat will.

• Start with your bodyweight. That is, no bar, just a broomstick if you want to learn the form.

• Now, if you can do a decent squat with just your body weight, I believe you can also do it with an extra 5lbs. Then 5 more... and 5 more, and so on. Use dumbells until you get to 45lbs, then switch to an empty barbell. Remember- small increments, only made with complete confidence in your form

• Only ever add weight after you can comfortably and with good form squat the previous weight for 5x5 reps. If your form is slipping or your knees are complaining, reduce the weight. But do not give up!

• Focusing on flexibility and postural problems will also do a lot for you knee pain. http://laurensfitness.com/2008/02/04/healthy-knees-10-tips-to-prevent-pain/

all the best and good luck.

There is no promise that squats will fix his knee problems. I don't tell him to get under heavy weight. I frame everything in terms of my own experience and mark it clearly as such. Basically everything we have discussed in this thread. And to be honest, if any one reads a post of mine that says "squats are good for the knees" and on the basis of that goes off and squats heavy with bad form, without researching their own problem, consulting expert opinion, taking care to look after themselves.... then I will not be held responsible for their stupidity.

I do not do what I do in the gym and the kitchen because I am blindly following what Mehdi, or Rip, or Eric Cressey, or anyone recommends simply because I have awarded them authority over me. I try things they recommend. If they make sense to me and work for me I keep doing them, if not, I do something else. And I give 90% of the forum members here enough credit to do the same.

And I'm sorry, but I have to admit that your qualifications carry little currency with me. I've seen gym trainers recommend stupid stuff to their clients. I've had a physiotherapist (in NZ this means a medical degree and 1000 hours of clinical supervision) tell me that leg extensions were the best option for my knees, when in fact they did nothing but cause me great pain. Another physio somehow managed to examine and "treat" a shoulder injury without ever mentioning the words kyphosis or internally rotated shoulders, and I am someone whose posture screams kyphosis at great volume. The advice of "qualified" professionals requires as much careful critical engagement as forum advice does.

[bobu]

I'm glad to see discussion on my post. I, for one, am not one to blindly accept advice from someone on the forum just because they sound knowledgeable, but I think if someone is offering advice it would be nice to know where it is coming from and I'm glad to see more emphasis being put on posting a log. Reviewing someone's log tells a lot about them and whether or not I trust what they are saying. I allow that it isn't necessary to be currently lifting to be knowledgeable but at least give some information about yourself if you want to advise.

[ChadRogers]

A client doesn't have to have bad knees but without the knowledge or ability to diagnose potural or muscular contraindications you could surely create a problem. Any exercise without sufficient pre screening has an element of risk! A client with the problem i outlined in my post may experience pain or injury squatting especially without good technique which is impossible to coach via posts on the internet. A ll people who undertake resistance training should have some form of face to face instruction. And people who are not sufficeintly qualified should not give advice. In my opinion.

[ChadRogers]

p.s i agree with your views on leg extensions and also on not trusting anyone on qualifications alone.