Four Ways a Physical Therapist Can Help You Get the Most Out of Your Workout
A physical therapist can help design an individualized program to help you reach your goals while keeping you safe and injury free. Think about it – how much thought have you put into the exercises you’re going to use for your next workout? Did you choose them yourself, or did you find them on the internet or in a magazine? What’s your workout designed for? Do those goals match yours? Are the exercises even safe for you? Using the wrong program can lead to wasting time in the gym, frustration, plateaus in progress and injury. Let’s take a closer look at what goes into program design and the cost of getting it wrong.
Exercise Selection
There are many things to think about when choosing specific exercises. Machine vs. free weights, isolation vs. compound lifts, number of reps and sets, etc. Each one of these factors affects the results, so making the wrong choices could lead to wasting time working on the wrong things, limit your results or lead to injury. Physical therapists can assist with determining what type of strength exercise is best for you to start with. They can also provide guidance and routine assessment of your progress during your strength journey. “Physical therapists offer the appropriate directions on how to progress within a type of program or move on to a more advanced process,” says Troy Van Orman, PT at Prairie Rehab & Fitness.
Technique
If you choose the right exercises, but don’t know how to do them properly you will again limit your results, or worse, end up injured. Poor technique leads to inefficient movement and limits the power your muscles can create. It also changes the load on your muscles, joints, and ligaments which can lead to pain and injury. “Physical therapists provide education and instruction on appropriate movement patterns during your individualized work out. Using proper technique will not only prevent possible issues and injury, proper technique will ensure optimal results for the effort given,” says Van Orman.
Volume
Volume is a way of thinking about how much work you’re doing during a workout. Doing a few reps with a heavy weight or a lot of reps with a light weight could end up being the same volume. Same goes for running a shorter distance quickly uphill vs a longer run at a slower pace on flat terrain. If your volume is too great you won’t recover well between workouts and create the possibility of injury. Too little volume and you won’t see results. The path through this journey is different for everyone. “Physical therapists can provide guidance on how to have success on your journey,” adds Van Orman. Education is extremely valuable and that is exactly what a physical therapist will offer. With these tools you will be better able to adjust and adapt day to day as you challenge yourself through the process.
Progression
If you’ve been doing the same exercises with the same weight and the same number of reps and sets, you’re not progressing. Same goes if you jump on the treadmill for the same amount of time with the same settings each time. To make progress, things have to change and the program that works for your first 6 months won’t work for you 2 years down the road.
Designing an exercise program is a complex challenge with a lot of factors to consider. Most people have a history of injuries and don’t have perfect movement in every joint which further complicates things. If you’re not making progress or just want to make sure your workouts are as effective as they can be, have a physical therapist take a look at your program.
In conclusion, a physical therapist can help improve your exercise program with the appropriate exercise selection, technique, volume and progression. Since physical therapists are movement experts, they are able to provide guidance and help make optimal decisions when it comes to exercising. They can help you achieve your fitness goals, regain or maintain independence and lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
About Prairie Rehab & Fitness
Prairie Rehab & Fitness offers two convenient fitness center locations with 24-hour key card access in Worthington and Jackson, MN. Every new member receives a free, personalized initial fitness plan when they join. Our friendly and professional staff will help you get started and provide you the support you need.
Free consultation with one of our physical therapists is available for those members that may have specific orthopedic or neurological issues.
Learn more about Prairie Rehab & Fitness here.
About Prairie Rehabilitation
At Prairie Rehabilitation our Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Hand Therapy and Speech Therapy experts are passionate about helping our patients reclaim their way of life and function. It’s about you; you are unique with distinct qualities, abilities, and needs. At Prairie Rehabilitation we embrace the philosophy of “Patient First” care; treating each individual with precise and personalized care. To achieve the best results and to speed your recovery, we are committed to utilizing the most clinically proven and current concepts in rehabilitation.
A full list of our outpatient clinic locations can be found here. For those who cannot make it to out to one of our clinics, we also offer our Prairie at Home program. More information on this programcan be found here. Telehealth appointments (also known as video visits) are another option to receive the therapy you need from the comfort of your own home. More information on telehealth can be found here.
Troy Van Orman, MSPT graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1995 with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy. After working at Children’s Care Hospital and School (Lifescape) in Sioux Falls for 6 years, he moved to Worthington, Minnesota to work at Prairie Rehab & Fitness and provide coverage to skilled nursing facilities. Currently Troy manages both of the Worthington Prairie Rehab outpatient clinics.