What Questions Should Personal Trainers Ask Their Clients?
Introduction
One of the most valuable tools that personal trainers can utilise is questions. In order to help clients out the most, it is absolutely necessary that personal trainers know as much relevant information as possible. This enables PTs to personalise their approach to the client in both programming and communication.
This article will break down some of the best fact-find style questions that personal trainers can ask their clients.
Best Questions for PTs to ask Clients
What are your fitness goals?
Understanding a client’s goals (such as weight loss, muscle gain, improving flexibility, improving general habits etc.) helps tailor the training program to meet those specific objectives.
Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions or injuries?
Knowing about and being mindful of any medical issues or past injuries is crucial for designing a program that avoids aggravating these conditions. Although Personal Trainers cannot prescribe a remedy, cure, physiotherapy or similar, they do need to know about medical conditions and injuries in order to work around them.
What is your exercise history?
A client’s previous exercise experience can help in setting the appropriate intensity and complexity of the workout routines. It also allows Personal Trainers to understand not just what their clients would be capable of, but also what they would enjoy and stick with!
How would you describe your current activity level?
Understanding a client’s current activity level helps in assessing their baseline fitness level and daily activity, which is important for setting realistic fitness goals. This is particularly useful if you are providing any type of general advice on nutrition.
What does your diet typically look like?
Nutrition plays a key role in achieving fitness goals. Having some knowledge of your clients’ eating habits can help in providing them with comprehensive advice that includes nutrition.
How much time can you dedicate to exercise each week?
Getting a realistic estimate from clients is instrumental for their own success, as it allows the personal trainer to properly structure the training program to fit into the client’s lifestyle and availability.
What types of physical activities do you enjoy?
Incorporating activities that your client actually enjoys can increase their motivation and likelihood of sticking with the program. This is an element often overlooked by personal trainers, the efficacy of a programme is only as strong as the consistency of delivery and execution; the more a client enjoys a programme, the longer they will stick with it!
Are you taking any medications that might affect your fitness routine?
Some medications can impact heart rate, blood pressure, and energy levels, affecting exercise performance and safety. Although personal trainers should not advise on anything medical related, they should be mindful and aware of any medication that their clients are on, which may affect them in the time they are training together.
What challenges have prevented you from reaching your fitness goals in the past?
Identifying past challenges or barriers of clients’ progress can help to avoid them or overcome them this time around, leading to better success in delivering clients with their desired results.
Do you have any concerns or fears about starting a training programme?
Addressing any anxieties or misconceptions early on can help to ensure that clients feel safe and supported from the onset. This avoids any awkwardness further down the line, and sets the tone of transparent communication from the start of the relationship.
What are your sleep patterns like?
Quality sleep is essential for recovery and performance. Discussing sleep can identify areas for improvement that could be a missing/not considered element of a client’s routine. Ensuring that your client has good sleep hygiene and gets enough sleep may be a quick fix for their lifestyle, affecting mood, motivation and overall energy.
Conclusion
Ensuring that you ask your client relevant questions is an important part of making sure that your input as a personal trainer is valuable. It allows you to tailor every service you provide following that to the client based on your answers. If you’re not yet a personal trainer, and you’re looking to become one, then be sure to check out our Level 3 Personal Trainer Course.
