5 Surprising Benefits of Performance Physical Therapy

It is October, which means that it is National Physical Therapy Month. To celebrate, we are going to cover 5 potentially surprising reasons why performance physical therapy can make a big impact in your life.

First off, what do I mean by “performance physical therapy?” Most “traditional” physical therapy focuses on injury rehabilitation and restoring function, but often stops there. Instead, performance physical therapy aims to work beyond simply restoring baseline function and enhance the client’s performance in order to develop a new, more resilient baseline. Through an individualized process of restoration, optimization, and enhancement, performance physical therapists strive to build the physical capacity of each client and break the cycle of chronic pain and recurring injuries.

Keep reading to learn the difference that performance physical therapy can make in your life! Let’s get started!

1

Performance physical therapy helps you tackle the little things before they become big things

We’ve all been there. That nagging pain you have in your knee during squats is still there. You thought it would go away on its own, but now (6 months later), the pain is worse and you’re starting to notice some discomfort in your hip as well. 

Yes, a period of observation is necessary to assess whether the pain you are feeling is here to stay or not. However, that period should not last more than about 2 weeks. If you are still experiencing pain after 2 weeks, it’s time to have your pain assessed. Physical therapy is a great resource for that. A performance physical therapist can help you assess your movement patterns, training volume, lifestyle factors, and strength and mobility limitations that may be contributing to your pain. They will help you create a plan to manage your training and recovery before the pain progresses and prevents you from weight lifting, running, or picking up your kids.

Keep in mind: In many states, including Washington, you often do not need a referral from your doctor to begin physical therapy, so start there first for those little aches and pains! If necessary, your PT will refer you back to your doctor for further assessment. 

2

Performance physical therapy is the place to start your fitness comeback after injury, surgery, or time away from the gym

No matter the reason, whether injury or life, physical therapy is a great place to restart or boost your fitness journey. Physical therapists are movement experts and can help guide you through effective and appropriate exercise to support your fitness comeback. A physical therapist can help you navigate the balance between too little and too much movement and the inevitable questions and potential setbacks or bumps along the way. 

A performance physical therapist will look at your health as a whole and address lifestyle factors (hydration, nutrition, sleep, etc) that may be impacting your recovery and provide strategies to help improve the effectiveness of your body’s recovery. Again, no matter where you are starting from, physical therapy can be a great place to begin the challenging work toward achieving those goals you’ve dreamt about or get back on track with your sport and training.

3

Performance physical therapy can help you avoid or better prepare for surgeries or procedures

In many cases, research shows that physical therapy and other conservative treatments can be just as or more effective than surgery or injections in the long term. PT provides a non-invasive, less-expensive alternative with potentially shorter time to recovery. 

On the other hand, surgeries or injections are sometimes a necessary step to provide pain relief or repair injured tissues. In those cases, physical therapy is an essential part of your recovery plan along with surgery or other procedures. 

For most, the stronger you are going into surgery, the better your outcomes will be after. Performance physical therapy will help you stay active in the time leading up to surgery, modify movements to accommodate postoperative restrictions, and guide your rehabilitation to maximize your recovery and enhance your performance in sport and life.

4

Performance physical therapy can help manage other health conditions

Physical activity has positive benefits in so many elements of health. Some of the benefits of regular physical activity supported by research over and over include:

• Reduces risk of chronic disease, such as diabetes, stroke, or heart disease

• Improves mental health

• Strengthens bones and muscles to help fight off osteoporosis

• Supports weight management

• Lowers risk of death from all causes

In essence, stronger people are harder to kill. People who exercise consistently are more resilient and have greater capacity to move throughout life.

Physical therapy is for more than just pain relief. Working with a performance physical therapist can be a great way to build strong habits for regular physical activity, including cardiovascular exercise and resistance training, that will help to address the other health conditions that you may be dealing with.

Keep in mind: Consult with your doctor on additional medical management needs for your health conditions. While physical activity can have a significant impact, medications and other treatments may be necessary to manage symptoms in the meantime.

5

Performance physical therapy gives you an automatic teammate to help address your individual needs and tackle your goals

Your physical therapist is your biggest cheerleader and fitness advocate. They are there to help you as you work back up to full capacity in the gym and life. Having a performance physical therapist on your healthcare team is a great way to help address your movement and strength limitations, work toward your fitness and health goals, and manage the bumps along the road. 

One of the most valuable things you can do for your health and fitness is to find a physical therapist you love to work with. When little things pop up, you can schedule a session, create a plan together, and clear things up more quickly than you would if you wait and pain continues to progress. Your physical therapist is ready to help you navigate the ups and downs of maintaining an active lifestyle and challenging yourself to push toward the goals you have always dreamed of.

Final Thoughts

Performance physical therapy at Ascent PT & Performance works to improve the physical capacity and overall health of each athlete that walks through the door. Whether you are trying to get back to your sport or the gym after injury or working through postpartum recovery as a new mom, we are here to help. Our holistic assessment of each individual allows us to more accurately address your unique needs as an athlete and a person.

If you are ready to tackle your fitness comeback and want a teammate to walk alongside you through the journey, reach out through our contact form, or give us a call at 425-200-5085.