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We have all been there; it is New Year’s Eve and you are celebrating with friends. As the confetti is cleared and the last bottle of bubbly is finished, you face the challenge of making resolutions for the new year. Although it is common for many of us to set personal physical goals, we often struggle to see lasting results because life gets in the way.
According to Nielsen data, the most common New Year’s Resolutions among Americans are:
- To stay fit and healthy
- Lose weight
- Enjoy life
- Spend less money and save more
- Get organized
If you are serious about improving your health and getting in shape this year, you may be surprised to learn that our team of physical therapists and sports conditioning specialists can help you achieve the body you have always wanted!
Why See a Physical Therapist to Get in Shape?
A common misconception about physical therapists is that we are one-dimensional. Oftentimes, we do not think of seeing a PT until we get injured. What if we told you that seeing a physical therapist now can help you avoid injury later?
We like to think of ourselves as movement and life coaches. Physical therapy is about achieving proper movement and body alignment to reduce risk of injury. If you are moving, sitting or standing improperly, you are more likely to experience an injury and subsequent pain.
Few people realize that physical therapists are well-versed in diet and exercise prescription. Our vast knowledge of the human body helps us devise custom programs that may improve your overall health and prevent injury that often arises from taking on too much too soon.
At our state-of-the-art facility, we will teach you how to properly align your body before a workout to help you achieve better, more sustainable results.
One of the key advantages of coming to our clinics is your access to Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists who enhance athletic performance. These professionals can help individuals looking to get in shape improve their weaknesses and uncover hidden strengths.
Not all of us are looking to become the next Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Jillian Michaels! At Integrated Rehab, we start with the basics: a good night’s sleep, hydration and light physical activity can go a long way when pursuing a healthier lifestyle.
The Importance of Goal Setting
Setting a goal to lose weight can be a huge undertaking. Physical therapists are relatable; we understand that most people looking to get in shape are not professional athletes or supermodels.
Many New Year’s Resolutions fail because the goals set are too lofty and our expectations are set too high. Just as you wouldn’t hop on a bicycle for the first time without training wheels and not expect to fall a few times, you will not drop 30 pounds in one week.
We can evaluate your current physical state and help you set realistic short- and long-term goals. Sometimes being very specific about your goals can be most beneficial. For example: “I want to lose weight and walk up a flight of stairs without losing my breath.” Taking small steps first can make your long-term goals much more attainable.
Developing A Program
No matter what physical condition you are in or your level of fitness experience, we strongly recommend working with a physical therapist to create a proper exercise regimen. Although you may have all the motivation in the world at the start of a new year, taking on too much too soon can sideline you from meeting your goals.
To prevent injury, we advise our patients to include a warm-up and cool-down in their workouts. For a beginner, the warm-up could be the workout: elevating the heart rate, increasing body temperature, etc.
For more seasoned athletes who may be plagued by a past injury, it is important to strengthen the muscles around the weak area. When devising an exercise plan for a patient with an existing knee injury, for example, we suggest making the ankles, hips and overall core stronger.
What to Expect from Our PT Plan
Once we create a plan that works for your body and health goals, you will start to see results after following an exercise routine for a while. Although it takes time, your muscles will begin to respond to the exertion and build strength in what we call the “recovery stage.”
As nutritionists will tell you, exercise is only one piece of the weight loss puzzle. In addition to effective workouts, it is necessary to eat right. Maintaining a balanced diet can oftentimes be the most difficult part of a health plan, but as we tell patients, put good things in your body and you will get good out!
Unlike a strict diet regimen, we do not advise that you give up eating the foods you love – diet should not be about deprivation! Learning about proper nutrition can have a dramatic effect on how your body responds to exercise. We can create effective diet plans for everyone, including patients with diabetes or other dietary restrictions.
Our team of physical therapists can help you set short-term goals that lead to long-term results. Contact our Strength & Conditioning Specialists today to learn more!