5 Reasons Why YOU need Physical Therapy.
By
Mark T. Rathjen PT, DPT, CSCS
Claire Lakatos-Rathjen PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Husband and Wife Duo
Owners of C.O.R.E. Physical Therapy and Sports Performance P.C.
2016
1. As we age, our mobility decreases.
This will be a no brainer for most of us. If you don’t use it you will lose it. Mobility is often the first thing to leave your bodies without a regular regiment of mobility training.
As we age, the water content of our tendons (the cord-like tissues that attach muscles to bones) decreases. This makes the tissues stiffer and less able to tolerate stress. Ligaments (connective tissues between bones) become more brittle, reducing joint stability. (1) When you think of the mobility required for the running motion combined decreasing the range of that movement may have potentially negative effects to your running stride and your efficiency.
Dynamic stretching has been shown vastly superior to dynamic stretching for maintaining muscle strength and increase both static and dynamic range of motion. CORE specializes in Dynamic Functional stretching with multiple proprietary hybrid routines. We emphasize safety and proper mechanics/execution first and foremost. Our programs are NOT “one-size-fits-all” like many clinics offer. Our programs are specifically tailored to YOU and YOUR deficits, to ensure your specific needs are being addressed.
2. As we age, our strength and lean body mass decreases.
By most definitions our BMR (basal metabolic rate) or the rate at which we burn calories is largely dictated by how much muscle mass we carry. The more muscle, the more of a constant muscle burning of calories is achieved.
Unfortunately after age 30, we can lose up to 1% of lean body tissue per year, with an average of 3-8% per decade.(3) Strength/resistance training can slow or reverse age related muscle loss, build bone density and increase the strength and integrity of ligaments, tendons and even cartilage to a degree.
We all know how being stronger can help prevent injuries, enhance sports performance, and increase the efficiency and safety of many daily activities. Yes, runners can benefit from strength training as well! The secret is to make sure your program is specific to you and your goals. Strength training can also keep us feeling and looking younger for decades to come.
3. Repetitive and overuse injuries can be a manifestation of something much more sinister.
Whats the root of the problem? If your knee hurts, WHY does it hurt? Is it an overuse injury, a mechanical issue, or muscle imbalance? Improper footwear? (Our friends at Red Dirt Running will be able to most certainly help with this!) Perhaps its all of the above, but it could be something much more serious. Addressing issues when they first come up is a great way to make sure a small issue doesn’t become something more serious!
Clinical symptoms are often not the cause but a symptom related to the root of the problem. A quality physical therapist will look at you globally first, and segmentally second to determine the source of the problem, if it something you can “run through,” or if it is something you need to take seriously. This is essential for a LONG term solution, and not just a quick fix.
4. It will teach you to listen to your body, and the way it feels.
A physical therapist specializing in sports and the active population should be able to get you in tune with your mobility, strength and balance. Living a healthier lifestyle will reduce your injury risks, decrease co morbidities, and increase your quality of life. We give patients to tools to maintain their own bodies.
You will be able to feel when you need more rest from exercise. When you need more sleep, or when you need more protein in your diet. Your body will speak to you, but can you understand the language its speaking? Motor control, neuromuscular re-education and proprioceptive training are mainstays of any good sports minded Physical Therapy clinic.
5. Physical Therapy can benefit all activity levels and ages.
Physical therapy has been show to be more or as effective as knee scope outcomes(4), lumbar surgical outcomes (5), etc There are times when surgery is necessary, but often times its the first line of defense rather than a last resort. all surgeries come with risks, some very large, and there are no guarantees with outcomes or success rates.
Here at CORE, we see active populations from all ages 5-85 and beyond, from elite athletes, to your average weekend warrior. Our goal is our slogan; “Together stronger…”
Overall, there are many aspects of living a healthy and pain free lifestyle. If something doesn’t feel right, or you don’t know where to begin with an injury of lifestyle change, consult a physical therapist at CORE! We are an independent, family owned and operated business now serving the greater Omaha community.
References
1. http://nof.org/articles/235
3. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2010 Jan; 13(1): 34–39.
4.New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) March 21, 2013
5. Annals of Internal Medicine, Sara R. Pilva, PT, PhD, FAAOMP, OCS, Julie M. Fritz, PT, PhD, FAPTA, and Deborah A. Josbeno, PT, PhD, NCS.