Many think getting fit involves nothing more than running and lifting a few weights, but this is far from the truth. When you decide to get your body in shape there are many things you should take into account, which is why we took the time to explain How physiotherapy can help you get fit.
1. General preparation
Going from sedentary to 5k with no preparation usually ends in injuries and frustration. People tend to forget they no longer possess the body of a teenager, and attempt feats their bodies aren’t ready to handle. A Physiotherapist can help anyone who wants to get fit do “regular maintenance” on their body, making sure all the different muscle groups are ready to handle whatever you want to do. During regular life, many of the body’s muscle groups are unused, and deteriorate over time, making them extremely weak; this is how the body optimizes itself. A great example are the “core” abdominal muscles, specifically the lateral ones, which are rarely used during everyday life, but play a critical role in exercise. When we start doing exercise, however, those weak muscles come under a lot of stress.
2. Specific preparation
A physiotherapist can diagnose your musculature and body, and from there come up with a plan to get you in shape to…get in shape! Usually this work involves strengthening specific muscle groups in the back, lower abdomen, etc… so that when the time comes to put real stress on your body you won’t have any part giving out on you. Since this is very specific training for specific muscle groups it’s not practical to self-diagnose and come up with a way to train, which is why professional help can be so helpful. A Physiotherapist will also help you optimize the way you walk, run, and move, to be more healthy. For the strengthening stage, there are a variety of exercises that can be done using large rubber bands, exercise balls, and other tools to get those muscles into a workable state. This kind of work is very rewarding since it’ll go a long way in making the “getting into shape” phase much more pain-free and enjoyable.
3. Healthy exercise
Physiotherapists can help beyond initial prep though. Many practitioners are versed in different types of physical training techniques which are extremely healthy and focus on working the body as a whole. Many sports focus on specific muscle groups, and many gym workouts do this as well. This can be unhealthy because it disproportionately strengthens different parts of the body. Physiotherapy can work on the body as a whole, and never leave any muscles vulnerable. This is excellent for preparing the body for any eventuality, or to prepare the body for an active lifestyle that is always ready for anything. This kind of exercise is especially helpful in the day-to-day because this type of training doesn’t “wear” at the body like most sports, and leaves the body prepared for a much wider range of activities.
Physiotherapy is far from being something that is only good for rehabilitating injuries. Many don’t realize until old age, but taking care of all of your muscles and body has consequences that reach far into the future, and can have a large impact on daily life.
