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December
2016.
5 reasons why your physio will tell you that the gym is best for rehab

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Five reasons why your physio will tell you that the gym is the best place to recover from injury

It seems counter-intuitive to go to the gym when you have an injury or on-going painful condition like arthritis or osteoporosis. But the gym is the place where recovery happens if you work with a physiotherapist who will create a tailor-made treatment programme to help you recover and avoid further injury. Tyrone Kon of North London'sBoost Physio, gives his top tips on what you can do to get back on to your feet after an injury.

"Don't stop training just because you are injured, or have a painful condition. Exercise is Medicine, so use it, under guidance to help your recovery. If you've injured your leg, no problem- focus in the gym on your upper body and your core. When the time is right incorporate the gym rehab exercises prescribed by your physio in the gym, to help your leg injury recover more fully and quickly.

We love using the gym because progress is measurable- last month you could only lift 20kg, now you can do 35kg. It makes the progress tangible and helps motivate you knowing that you are on the right track."

Always talk to a physiotherapist about using the gym machines if you have any of the conditions below.

Knee and ankle fractures and injuries

Following a fracture of your ankle or injury to the knee you may feel stiffness in the joint and have swelling. Combine low impact non-weightbearing exercises such as an exercise bike or swimming, progressing to cross-trainer and rowing machine- both excellent lower impact exercises for ankle rehab compared to high impact running.


The Bosu half-ball, wobble boards and vibration plates are a great way to improve proprioception (your joints awareness of where it is in spacey) and your balance as well as build up strength in the ankle muscles.

Back and neck pain

General exercise and muscle strengthening can be better treatment for lower back and neck pain than surgery. Weak core muscles will affect the back and neck, and if you build those up you can reduce back pain significantly. A physiotherapist will assess and work out which muscles are weak and specify the use of upper and lower back strengthening machines to improve your posture and reduce pain. Pilates classes at the gym or Core conditioning workouts in the gym can often be helpful to tone and strengthen these areas.

 

Shoulder injuries

When recovering from an injury of the shoulder, the main goal should beto evenly strengthen the shoulder muscles- with a particular focus on the rotator cuff, and at the same time build up as great a range of motion as possible. Using light weights and gym machines a physiotherapist will be able to guide you through a specific programme progressive muscle strengthening exercises that will also promote tissue healing and strengthen the rotator cuff and surrounding muscles of the shoulder. Research has shown that injuries to tendons need progressive loading to aid their recovery and improve resilience to prevent recurrence.

Muscle loss and Osteoporosis

As we get older we often become more sedentary, this can lead to serious muscle loss (in extreme cases called sarcopaenia) which coupled with osteoporosis can lead to strength and balance problems that can make us vulnerable to fractures and falls. Resistance and strength training exercises are the top natural remedies that is proven to reverse effects of osteoporosis and sarcopaenia. After a thorough assessment, a physiotherapist will guide you through specific isolated muscle resistance machines, weights and exercises to help with your bone health.

"There are so many benefits for strength training for rehab and with dedication and the advice of a good physiotherapist you can make huge strides in the gym. A good physiotherapist will assess you first and work out what you need, what exercise machines you need to use and how much you need to work out to make a full recovery,and of course, don't stop going to the gym once you have seen an improvement in your condition", says Tyrone.

Ends

 

www.boostphysio.com

 

For further information, please contact: Caroline Ratnercaroline@carolinecomms.com020 8209 0120

 

About Boost Physio

Boost Physio is one of London's leading physiotherapy practices. With four clinics in North London, at East Finchley, Hendon, Hampstead and one at the Virgin Active Gym in Cricklewood, Boost Physio physiotherapists helps clients with a wide range of physical issues.

The Boost Physio team are all Chartered Physiotherapists who are also trained in our unique Boost Physio method of physiotherapy.

Boost Physio works with many of London's leading surgeons and doctors and the practice is recognised by all major health insurers.