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We’ve all been there – you have made a resolution to eat healthier but one day, there is cake at the office. Everyone is having a slice and it’s your favorite kind! You tell yourself, “One piece can’t hurt…I’ll run another mile to make up for the extra calories.” You eat the slice of cake and almost immediately regret your decision.
Unfortunately, many people struggle with an unhealthy relationship with food. We feel guilty about what goes into our bodies and try to counterbalance those negative emotions with strenuous workouts or fad diets. To help our patients meet their health goals in a safer and more effective way, Integrated Rehabilitation Services puts emphasis on the wholistic health of our patients, including proper nutrition.
What is the connection between physical therapy and professional nutrition counseling?
Physical Therapists Play an Interactive Role
Physical therapists are human movement specialists. We help people achieve the proper form to physically function to the best of their ability. Physical therapists understand how the body moves and can correct faults that commonly lead to injury.
Beyond our expertise of the body, physical therapists can provide basic health information to help patients make healthier lifestyle choices. Specifically at Integrated Rehab, Ruben Morales PT, DPT, CSCS, CWcHP is a Physical Therapist certified in Precision Nutrition Professional. Ruben loves to share his passion for nutrition with those looking for better eating habits and will work to develop an individualized plan through our Wellness Program. This initiative is designed to help patients bridge the gap from injury to performance through individual training sessions and group fitness classes.
Pairing PT with Nutrition Counseling
While proper form plays a key role, our bodies also need to be appropriately fueled for physical activity and overall health. Unfortunately, nutrition is often overlooked due to myths about what is considered “the right way to eat.” Many people assume you have to sacrifice flavor and satisfaction to eat healthy. With this mindset, making the necessary changes in the nutrition can seem unreasonable and unappealing.
By having unrealistic expectations, many people come to us feeling like they have failed in the dieting world, finding themselves unable to play with their kids or participate in favorite activities. Oftentimes, part of the cause can be attributed to poor nutrition management. If the body is not fueled with the right nutrients, we lack energy and cannot perform at the highest level.
Because of the important relationship between nutrition and overall well-being, Integrated Rehab has partnered with a professional nutrition counselor, Lisa Heaney, who is available to consult with patients to provide nutritional guidance. Lisa is a registered dietitian with her master’s degree in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from the University of Connecticut. She has many years of experience working at Yale New Haven Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and East Catholic High School in Manchester.
This summer, Lisa performed nutritional analysis for the participants in our youth sports camps. This analysis demonstrated that even from a young age, it’s especially important to understand the right foods to eat to fuel our bodies, as Lisa discovered many of the kids had unknown allergies.
How can you get started with Integrated Rehab?
Taking the First Steps
Through our Wellness Program, clients can fill out a nutrition questionnaire and discuss their eating habits with our coaches. Using this information, we will determine the best fit for seeking advice. Those who have diabetes, heart disease or another serious health condition will be referred to Lisa Heaney, the professional nutrition counselor who has partnered with Integrated Rehab. Through her evolving partnership with Integrated Rehab, Lisa will be working with clients of all ages, including older individuals who may be looking to lose weight before surgery or kids who need to gain weight for sports.
Integrated Rehab is excited to continue to offer new professional services in the communities we serve. For more information about nutrition analysis, Ruben Morales can be reached at 860.870.8272 or rmorales@integrehab.com.