Obesity is a serious concern in the United States. Almost 70 percent of adults are overweight or obese, and the rates have been steadily increasing for decades. Losing weight can be difficult, but it’s an important step toward living a healthy life.
Everyone’s journey with losing weight is different, but increasing your physical activity is a great starting point. Some people exercise alone, some take workout classes, and others enlist the help of a physical therapist.
Many people think that physical therapy is just a treatment for people who are recovering from an injury or managing a painful health condition. It can help you quickly and safely regain your mobility so that you can restore your quality of life and prevent further injuries. This isn’t the only purpose of physical therapy, though. It can also be a valuable weight loss tool even if you don’t have an injury
Why Physical Activity Is So Important
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, adults should aim to exercise for 2 hours and 30 minutes per week. Physical activity has a variety of benefits, including weight management, heart health, and joint health.
Staying active is an excellent way to lose weight. Cardio exercise increases your heart rate and burns calories, which leads to fat loss. Anaerobic activities build muscle, which supports your joints and increases your stamina.
Getting started with a physical therapist will help you develop good exercise techniques right away. This will set you up for continued success in the future so that you can remain at a healthy weight indefinitely. Exercise isn’t just important while you’re losing weight. It’s a key part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle even after you’ve reached your weight loss goal.
How Physical Therapists Aid in Weight Loss
Physical therapists are experts in movement, mobility, and exercise. They know exactly what you need to do to get your heart rate up, burn fat, and build muscle. When it comes to weight loss, their goal is to get their clients on the right track so that they can continue to exercise effectively once the therapy has ended.
When you work with a physical therapist, they’ll create an individualized activity plan for you. Everything in your plan will be adjusted to your goals and your current abilities. While online resources and workout classes at the gym can be great ways to get inspired and start exercising, not all of the movements may be right for you at this time. Physical therapy is specific to you, so you may see better results with this treatment than you would if you start exercising on your own.
Physical therapists understand the health issues and other obstacles that may get in your way, too. Being overweight or obese puts you at risk of developing a number of other health conditions, which may make it harder to exercise safely and comfortably. Because physical therapists are so knowledgeable about these concerns, they can help you find the forms of exercise that are effective without putting you at risk.
Children and adolescents can benefit from physical therapy as well. Physical therapists address many goals with children, such as increasing strength, restoring flexibility, improving endurance, and correcting posture issues. All of these goals empower children and adolescents to go on to live healthy lives.
If you’re working on weight management, consider scheduling a consultation with a physical therapist. By working with a professional, you’ll learn all about the forms of exercise that work best for you and how you can perform them effectively.
When Should I go to an OrthoNOW Location?
Our OrthoNOW Rehabilitation Center provides a private outpatient clinical setting for physical and occupational therapy where quality of care and patient satisfaction are our primary goals. Call (305) 537-7275 to make an appointment