How a travel therapy professional can best spot someone

Lifting weights is a regular part of strength training and rehabilitation, as travel physical therapy professionals are well aware. Whether you are helping a patient or doing your own workout with a buddy, there is a right and wrong way to guide them through a workout.

First things first, if your lifter cannot handle the weight most by himself, it's best to lighten the load and work up from there. When the weight is too heavy or pride becomes blinding, form and technique often break down, leaving the lifter highly prone to injury.

Spotter stance
Spotters should use a widened split stance to establish a larger base of stability. Put one foot in front and other staggered behind. While doing this, maintain an upright and tight trunk and core, adjusting your hand placement based on the lift. Before your lifter takes off, make sure both of you know the rep amount and goal.

Bench press
Bench presses are one of those exercises that should also be spotted. To do this, stand behind him  and reach under the bar with your palms an inch or two below. Have either the lifter or you count 1,2,3 and then help him lift it out of the rack and over his chest. The goal here is prevent him from rolling his shoulders forward. All the lifter should have to do is pull forward so the bar is centered over his pectoral muscles.

At this point, let go of the bar but follow his movement down and up with your hands under the bar. You shouldn't touch it again until help is needed. Raise the bar gently up according to the lifter's fatigue. This will help ensure a successful outcome for your patient or lifter.

Squat
Just like the bench press, squats typically demand a spotter. Remember to not crowd the lift during the movement. If you're standing too close, chances are you'll knock them out of the pattern. If you're too far back, you won't have enough leverage to provide proper assistance.

It's also important to point out that there is a slight change of coaching depending on the type of squat. For front squats, you should lock onto the lats and drive the triceps and elbows upwards. For powerlifting box squats, set up a little farther back due to the greater range of hip hinge.

Now, stand behind her and reach under her arms and in front of the chest once she's in position. Your hands should be roughly an inch or two in front of her body. Should she get in trouble, gently grasp the chest to help her stand up.

Dumbbells lift or curl
When someone is lifting dumbbells, spot him at the wrists, not the elbows. Should he lose control of the weights, the wrists are more likely to collapse and injure him. To prevent this, be ready to catch them. Spotting at the elbows only means you're doing most of the work.

Pull ups
Oftentimes, pull ups are one of the most poorly spotted exercises. Managing by the foot is not productive. Bands are not ideal either. The proper technique is to spot by the hips or trunk and obliques. As a physical therapy professional, you might just be standing there to keep the athlete moving more than anything. Compared to an assist machine, a spotter may be more beneficial because he or she can judge the lifter's fatigue and adjust assistance accordingly.

When not to spot someone
As those on travel physical therapy assignments know, there is a time and a place to spot someone. Avoid spotting people purely to help them achieve more reps –  they should be able to do that alone, otherwise the weight is too heavy.