If you need to lose weight and need physical therapy, you may be looking to get double the benefits from your sessions. It would be great to meet your physical therapy goals and drop a few pounds in the process.
But is physical therapy a good strategy for weight loss? Will you even lose weight during physical therapy? Read on to discover if physical therapy is a viable method for losing weight.
Physical Therapy Programs and Weight Loss
If you have recently sustained an injury or have a condition that’s reduced your movement and forced you to be less physically active, you may have gained some weight. While physical therapy’s main goal is to get you back on your feet and restore your ability to move, it can often have a secondary effect of making you lose weight.
Physical therapy often involves moves and stretches that are similar to a workout routine. These exercises can be strenuous and often help you to burn calories while helping you to regain your mobility. Therefore, it’s entirely possible to lose weight while you’re in physical therapy, especially if you haven’t been as active as normal lately.
Physical Therapy Isn’t a Cure-All
While many patients do lose weight over the course of their physical therapy sessions, it’s not the aim of physical therapy. Physical therapy is designed to help you regain movement or the use of a certain body part, not for you to lose weight.
Losing weight and keeping off weight is the result of a healthy lifestyle. If you need to lose weight, the most important things you can do are become physically active and eat healthy, nutritious foods. If you’re serious about losing weight, you need to incorporate regular physical activity and healthy eating into your daily life.
Physical therapy can still be an important part of your weight loss journey. If you’ve lost mobility or certain functions due to an injury or condition, physical therapy can get you back to performing your best so you can begin working out for weight loss.
In addition to being a weight management tool, physical therapy can also help to prevent osteoporosis and back or neck pain,” said Orthopedic Specialist Alejandro Badia, M.D.
If you do want to lose weight along with doing your physical therapy regimen, talk to your physical therapist about your options. Your therapist will often have suggestions or can get you in contact with a trainer and dietician who can help you.
In sum, physical therapy can help restore flexibility, increase strength and cardiovascular endurance, reduce pain, and get at any posture and balance issues.
Physical Therapy Clinic in the Miami Area
OrthoNOW is an orthopedic and physical therapy clinic in the Miami area. Our team includes a variety of physicians, physical therapists and orthopedic specialists who can help you with your specific needs. If you’re injured, there’s no need to head to the ER. OrthoNOW offers walk-in urgent care services, allowing you to get the proper care immediately. In addition to diagnostic and immediate treatment services, we also work with you through physical and occupational therapy services to help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible. You don’t need a referral to come see us, but we do accept referral patients if you’ve already seen another provider.
Read also: How Being Overweight Increases the Risk of Orthopedic Injuries
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. (305) 537-7275 to make an appointment.