Jean-Ann Marnoch, registrar at the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), has written an open letter in response to a recent Daily Mail article which questioned the way personal trainers are regulated in the UK.

In the article on 26 August, titled "Exercise caution: Why your personal trainer could be wrecking your health", the newspaper claimed that there had been an increase in cases of injuries relating to personal training sessions and that in some cases the injuries were down to "the personal trainer's lack of expertise".

The article also questioned the validity of training courses which lead to a personal trainer qualification in the matter of weeks. It also claimed that some medical experts have raised their concerns that the self-regulatory standards of the fitness industry are not high enough.

In her response, Marnoch said she welcomed the article as it "raises key issues and illustrates just how important it is to ensure all personal trainers and fitness instructors are members of REPs".

"REPs was set up in 2002 to regulate people working in the fitness industry and has strict entry guidelines developed in partnership with the industry and everyday turns away trainers and instructors who do not meet the standards," she added. "However, REPs membership is not a statutory requirement for those working in the fitness industry."

"It is true that anyone in the UK can set themselves up as a personal trainer and it is also true that these unregistered trainers and instructors carry out fitness sessions with individuals who may suffer from a range of chronic injuries or even serious medical conditions - all of which can be exacerbated through poorly designed exercise.

"And although the Register seeks to minimise risk by setting standards, it is not full proof."