The problem with P90X
I completely get the “sellability” of the home exercise video. The concept has been around in one form or another for like 40 years. I also have to applaud the shrewd business decision to piggy back on the whole “cross training” craze and packaging it into a video series. In addition, P90X actually does do a pretty good job of creating a relatively challenging workout experience for those who have never done much besides the 3 sets of 10-15 that they read in Shape (or other) magazine. There is also an attempt to modify the “intensity” of some of the exercises for those who my need it. So what’s the problem? Well, the list is long so I will stick to the highlight reel.
False sense of appropriateness
Simply putting in a few alternatives movements is like giving someone some body armor before they run play chicken with a freight train. Down grading intensity by altering the degree of difficulty of the movement is only one and maybe not even the right one way to modify the challenge of an exercise. There are so many considerations such as joint range, load, volume (time, reps, and sets), speed of movement, attention to control of external load factors including but not limited to inertia, impulse, and force direction. Most of the above list is not even mentioned (or understood) by the creators of P90X. If they were, the instruction and warning material would be 4 times longer than the workout videos themselves. This leads me to the second and biggest issue and problem with P90X.
No professional supervision
Yep. That’s right. Believe it or not that buff guy on the screen can’t actually see you. Just because he’s not correcting your “form” does not mean your doing it right. Gentle occasional reminders of how you should be performing any one of the movements is NO substitute for a trained set of live eyeballs that can correct what you think is good “form”. Most of my conversations with clients are about letting them know that their body is not doing what they think their body is doing and helping them find a new way to feel the difference. No video screen is going to see the problem and have that conversation with you. Think of this. The main market for this material is for the individual or group of individuals who are NOT trained fitness professionals. That means that no one in the room with you is going to be able to help with this either. Google injuries from P90X and see how many shoulder complaints arise from the first Shoulders & Arms series. See how many low back injuries arise from the Core Synergistics series. Now read the read the silly comments about what a bummer it is to have to wait a week or two before going right back into the unindividualized program that caused the injuries.
As I have said many times, it is probably better to do this than nothing at all. This is especially true if your fitness level is part of not only doing your job well, but surviving it in the process. However, for any city risk officers, other group stat people, or more importantly the guys in the trenches, who are looking for increased fitness as well as decreased injury claims, you may want to look else where.
