Every fitness blog and magazine does articles on this, on how to trick women into lifting heavy, giving lengthy explanations of why they won't bulk up (though if they did, I ask "would that be a bad thing?") talking about the benefits to their booty, and a lot of other patronising bullshit. This article even gives 77 PTs' responses about the "question". All of these are amusing, but also wrong. That's because women, or older people, or those with several previous injuries or health conditions, these people are used to being treated differently, as members of some special class for whom the rules are different.
They're not. Lift heavy shit, get stronger. This applies to everyone, no matter their gender, sexuality, race, religion, age, favourite football team, or health condition. Treat them differently according to some group they're a member of and they will act differently. Treat them the same and they'll act the same.
As PTs, we deal with individuals. Not members of some arbitrary group, individuals. We must never forget the first word in our job title. This stuff is patronising. Nia Shanks expresses it well, she's not lifting "like a man", she's lifting effectively.
Lift heavy shit, get stronger. Exactly which movements we use, exactly which weight, how quickly we progress you, well that's where we look at you as an individual.
"Do you want effective training?"
"Yes."
"Then you are going to lift heavy shit."
The person may question the effectiveness of this. Runners are especially bad. That's okay, if I as a trainer do not have a reason for every exercise, every set and every rep you do, then I'm an incompetent idiot. Since I'm not, I'll have good explanations for everything you do, and everything you do will involve lifting heavy shit.
In my experience, gym members have few objections to this idea, it's other trainers who get upset about it. Typically these are trainers who don't know how to coach a squat.
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