Frameworks Episode 11 Recap: The Corrective Exercise Industry Is Broken
Frameworks with Carl Hardwick | CoachRx Podcast Network
What coaches actually need to know about fixing, loading, and leading
This week, Carl is joined by physical therapist and OPEX coach Frank Tardi to take on a topic that’s long overdue: the overcomplication and overcorrection of movement in the fitness industry.
The truth? The corrective exercise world has become a minefield of pseudoscience, fear-based assessments, and paralyzing protocols.
We’ve turned normal human movement into something to be afraid of.
We’ve made asymmetries into diagnoses…
Breathing into a prescription…
And clients into fragile systems that must be “fixed” before they can train.
If you’re a coach stuck in assessment paralysis or just tired of hearing that movement can’t be loaded until it’s flawless, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to simplify your approach and get your clients moving again.
Corrective Culture Is Built on Fear
Let’s start here: Most of what’s called “dysfunction” today is just marketing.
Too many assessments promise clinical-level precision without producing better outcomes.
In fact, they often do the opposite: they make clients feel broken.
And when people feel broken, they start to move like they are.
Carl and Frank dig into:
Why movement doesn’t need to be perfect to be effective
How the language we use shapes client behavior and identity
And why coaches should prioritize function and adaptability, not flawless symmetry
Strength Is the Real Corrective
The body is built to adapt.
And more often than not, it doesn’t need a rubber band, it needs resistance.
We don’t need to “activate” every muscle before we train.
We need to load smart patterns, progress consistently, and develop tissue tolerance through training that respects the full system.
“Coaching isn’t about fixing, it’s about adapting forward.” – Carl
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How strength creates better movement
Why consistency beats complexity
And how to see your clients’ limitations without obsessing over them
Coach with Principles, Not Protocols
Here’s the big reframe: You’re a coach, not a fixer.
That means you guide, you adapt, and you make real-time decisions based on what’s trainable, not what’s theoretically broken.
In this conversation, Carl and Frank cover:
When assessments are helpful and when they’re holding you back
How to train what’s available, even when a client isn’t “textbook” ready
Why movement progress comes from language, load, and leadership not complexity
In Practice
Frank shares real examples of clients who saw massive improvement from simplified, progressive programming not weeks of banded corrections.
Carl adds his own lens from coaching on the floor: when to adjust, when to load, and how to coach with confidence even when things aren’t “perfect.”
The key takeaway?
Coaching from clarity beats coaching from fear.
And training consistently with intention is more powerful than correcting endlessly with precision.
If you’ve ever felt like:
You’re not qualified to help until you “fix” every movement
Your clients can’t train until every asymmetry is addressed
Or that coaching must be clinical to be effective…
This episode is your permission to coach simpler, stronger, and smarter.
Because the truth is:
Movement doesn’t need to be flawless to be valuable.
And your clients don’t need to be fixed.
They need to be trained with clarity, intention, and belief in their own resilience.
Listen to Episode 11 Now
▶️ Watch on YouTube
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📖 Catch up on past episodes + blog recaps
Have questions? DM Carl on Instagram @hardwickcarl
Frameworks is part of the CoachRx Podcast Network, your hub for principled, purpose-driven coaching conversations.
For more shows, visit: coachrx.app/podcast-network
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