What To Expect From Your Physical Therapy Workouts At Reload
Rehab Is Training in the Presence of an Injury
In our previous article, we explored the distinctions between physical therapy vs personal training, emphasizing how physical therapy goes beyond treating injuries to focus on root cause and encompass overall wellness.
In this article, we delve deeper into what you can expect from typical physical therapy workouts at Reload. In particular, we will answer a question that we are often asked by new clients: how does a physical therapy routine integrate rehabilitation and training, especially when dealing with injuries?
To help us explain what you need to know, we’ve enlisted the help of Dr Adrienne Lufkin, one of our physical therapists, in authoring this article.
What Does a Typical Physical Therapy Workout Session Look Like at Reload?
At Reload, we design a physical therapy workout to combine the principles of rehabilitation and strength training. It’s a dual approach that has proven to ensure that a physical therapy routine helps you recover from injury while simultaneously working toward your overall fitness goals.
Because of the personalized nature of our physical therapy routines, no two are exactly alike. You have your own medical history, unique fitness needs, and individual health goals. Your life isn’t identical to other clients, and therefore the exact exercises and how we deliver those exercises to you will be unique to you. When designing your physical therapy workouts, we’ll consider several factors, including:
However, understanding that there is an unbreakable connection between rehab and performance, we can identify some commonalities:
Physical Therapy Workouts in the Early Stages of Recovery
If you’re recovering from a recent surgery, like an ACL operation, your sessions will initially focus on specific rehab exercises targeted at the affected area. For instance, post-op ACL recovery will prioritize how to exercise after knee injury or pain and get back to pain-free movement.
A Comprehensive Physical Therapy Workout
Despite the focus on the injured area, we don’t neglect the rest of your body. You can expect to do exercises that strengthen other parts of your body (including core, upper body, and lower body) to improve and maintain your overall fitness. This will help to prevent compensatory injuries.
Chronic Injury Management
If you are suffering with a long-term, though less acute injury, we’ll shift the focus toward developing overall strength and resilience. To achieve this, we may implement:
Squat and hinge variations to build lower body strength.
Single-leg strength training that is crucial for balance and stability.
Upper-body pushing and pulling to ensure balanced muscle development.
Carrying heavy loads to challenge your body systematically and build functional strength.
How Do We Personalize Your Physical Therapy Routine?
Your physical therapy routine, workouts, and exercises will be tailored to your specific needs, goals, and conditions. We take a systemic approach to this:
Initial Evaluation
The journey to sustainable improvement in your health and fitness begins with a thorough physical and lifestyle evaluation to understand your current state, objectives, and any specific needs. This enables us to craft a personalized physical therapy workout plan.
Integrating Cardio and Strength Training
Depending on your goals, we might integrate cardiovascular and aerobic elements into your routine. This is crucial whether you’re new to cardio or wish to enhance your aerobic capacity.
Supervised and Outsourced Training
Some exercises require supervision to ensure you are executing the task well and to prevent re-injury. We also collaborate with external specialists when necessary to provide comprehensive care.
The Reload Approach: Comprehensive & Collaborative
Reload believes in a collaborative approach to healthcare, ensuring that all aspects of your wellness are addressed.
Client-Centric
Unlike many healthcare providers, we take a client-centric approach. You are at the center of all we do, and so you can expect a lot of interaction with your physiotherapist and personal trainer. We don’t just treat the symptoms of your fitness issues (the pain) – we treat the cause to help ensure that your recovery does not lead to re-injury (you’ve been there and become demoralized, right?).
Team Collaboration
Often, new clients are already working with other healthcare providers. These might include doctors, chiropractors, or personal trainers. It’s crucial that we’re all on the same page with your recovery and fitness regime. Therefore, we’ll connect with others and create a healthcare team to ensure your universal health package is aligned effectively. In this way, we can ensure that our work compliments what others are doing. We’ll even invite your existing trainer to join us to understand our plan and goals for the next 1 to 3 months, ensuring their work boosts the qualities we are developing.
Consistent Messaging
It’s essential that all advice and instructions you receive are consistent. For example, if a surgeon advises against certain movements post-op, we incorporate these restrictions into your training to avoid complications.
The Bottom Line of Physical Therapy Workouts At Reload
Physical therapy workouts at Reload are more than just rehabilitation; they’re a holistic approach to your health and fitness.
Your team at Reload is dedicated to guiding you every step of the way. From the initial evaluation to the development of tailored physical therapy workouts, we ensure that your routine is personalized to your unique needs and goals. Whether recovering from an injury or working towards fitness goals, this personalized and collaborative approach ensures you achieve the best possible outcomes.
Not sure where to start, or if Reload is right for you?
Why not take advantage of a free 20-minute discovery call to see if Reload will be the ideal fit for your fitness goals? This call will answer your questions and give you a greater understanding of our methods and approach. Most importantly, you’ll learn exactly what it means to be the center of everything we do.
Get on the road to a fitter and healthier you today – fill out the form to book a call from one of our team so that we can schedule your discovery call at a time that is convenient for you.
