“I do enough physical activity at work, what do I need physical therapy for?”
“I exercise at the gym on top of my physical job, I don’t need/have time for physical therapy.”
“I already workout with a trainer, physical therapy wouldn’t make a difference.”
We hear these phrases quite often as physical therapists. Many believe if they are already physically active at work, or already working out at a gym, then they don’t need physical therapy. However, physical activity, whether it be at work or at the gym, is different from exercises done in physical therapy.
Physical therapists are movement experts, trained to work with people who have an injury or a condition that limits their movement, decreases their ability to perform everyday activities, or adversely impacts their quality of life after individual evaluation. Physical therapy exercises are tailored specifically to help decrease pain and improve your ability to perform work and daily activities.
While general physical activity is great and much needed throughout the day, it is important to incorporate some resistance training, mobility exercises, and movements that isolate muscles that aid in better functional ability. When we perform heavy lifting and repetitive activity for long periods of time, our body can start to break down.
Physical therapists and personal trainers can work together to help achieve one’s fitness goals and help improve physical function. If you’re experiencing pain, a physical therapist can help develop a safe care plan to help you regain function. With exercises specific to each individual, physical therapists help restore pain free movement and improve function for daily activities like lifting at work. After that, you can work with a personal trainer to set and achieve further fitness goals.
When to see a physical therapist:
- There is pain, injury, diagnosis/condition that is limiting your movement.
- You have pain with everyday motions like overhead work or bending forward.
- There is pain with work activities or during workouts.
- You need rehab from injury or surgery.
When to see a personal trainer:
- To help build an exercise routine to achieve fitness goals such as weight loss, muscle endurance, strength, and cardiovascular endurance.
Visit the physical therapy team at Carpenters Wellness Center to help you work toward becoming pain-free. Internal and external referrals are accepted. Call the wellness center to begin your road to healing at 314.955.WELL (9355).
Not near the St. Louis Wellness Center? Peak Sport & Spine has multiple locations around Missouri and Illinois you can visit with no copay! You may call the physical therapy team in the wellness center or visit Peak Sport & Spine’s website to find a location near you.
