Physical Therapists Support Exercise for a Healthy Lifestyle

Physical therapists support the need for proper nutrition and appropriate levels of exercise as important factors in leading a healthy lifestyle. Many individuals realize the need for exercise, yet find it very difficult to find the time and motivation to begin and follow through with an exercise regimen. Many more individuals find that pain, decreased strength, poor endurance and overall decreased functional ability halt them from exercising. Chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis, heart disease and joint pain often exacerbate when physical activity or exercise increases. Because of this exacerbation or increase in symptoms, individuals will chose to not exercise and the condition continues to worsen.

So what is the answer when injury or exacerbation of conditions is a side effect of exercise? You guessed it – Physical Therapy. During my training to earn degrees in both athletic training and physical therapy, I was required to take numerous classes in "therapeutic exercise" or in laymen’s terms, "safe exercise techniques". As a physical therapist, I am considered a specialist of neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Again, in understandable terms, this simply means conditions that affect the combination of nerves, muscles and bones. With this specialty, I am able to diagnose and treat conditions that affect one or all three of these systems. It just so happens that the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems all respond positively to proper exercise and nutrition. I and many of my colleagues have found that by helping individuals who are suffering with conditions that affect the neuromusculoskeletal system begin a safe and effective therapeutic exercise program, the symptoms of their condition begin to decrease.

One common example of a neuromusculoskeletal condition is poor posture. Poor posture is a combination of weak and tight muscles, mal-aligned bony skeleton and decreased nerve function. Poor posture is a chronic condition that will lead to headaches, neck, back and joint pain, decreased depth of breathing and overall fatigue. Stretching, strengthening and aerobic activities will reverse poor posture.