Maintaining physical health is a growing challenge for many people, especially those dealing with pain or recovering from injuries. Physical therapy and fitness Training offer solutions to help individuals regain control over their health. Today, many experts focus on recovery and helping people return to the activities they enjoy.
Nicholas Perugini, Founder and CEO of More Than Movement Physical Therapy, leads the way in this area. As a physical therapist and performance coach, Nicholas uses his background as a youth athlete to guide his approach. He focuses on helping clients, including professional athletes, overcome pain and improve their well-being through movement.
In this article, we will explore how Nicholas combines physical therapy and fitness to create personalized recovery plans. We'll learn how he addresses pain, builds strength, and helps clients return to their favorite activities. We'll also cover how this approach supports long-term health, ensuring people recover and stay strong and active in the future.
What is the Focus of the Physical Therapy and Fitness Approach?
The core philosophy revolves around solving specific physical problems to improve people's ability to engage in activities they love. Physical therapy helps address pain or functional limitations, allowing individuals to regain their quality of life.
It involves problem-solving, education, and coaching tailored to the person's needs. Additionally, the broader fitness services focus on enhancing overall well-being and physical freedom.
These services aim to help individuals get stronger, improve their fitness, and enhance their ability to say "yes" to the activities that matter to them. The goal is not just about physical strength but also about enabling people to lead more fulfilling, independent lives.
Image Credits: Photo by Funkcinės Terapijos Centras on Pexels
The Roadmap of Physical Therapy and Fitness
The process begins with addressing an immediate problem, often related to pain or physical limitation. Clients usually come in with a specific issue—knee pain—affecting their daily lives.
The physical therapy process identifies the root of this issue and introduces a structured plan to guide the client through recovery.
Over time, as the problem improves, clients begin to ask, "What else can I achieve?" This shift marks the transition into ongoing fitness, where the focus expands to enhancing physical preparedness for other activities, like sports or daily tasks.
Phases of Progress
Clients may initially only focus on eliminating pain. However, progress involves more than just pain relief. It could include:
Increasing tolerance for activities without symptoms.
Feeling less discomfort during specific movements.
Achieving small milestones like climbing stairs with ease.
These benchmarks help clients stay on track and see tangible results, reinforcing their motivation for continued improvement.
Connecting Exercises to Real-World Goals
A key part of this approach is ensuring clients understand each exercise's purpose. The focus is on how these exercises directly relate to the client's goals.
Whether it's strengthening quads through lunges or improving balance for sports, the exercises are goal-oriented. This helps build trust and reinforces that movement is crucial to recovery and long-term health.
How to Tailor Assessments and Progression in Physical Therapy and Fitness
When designing a physical therapy or fitness program, the key is to focus on the individual's story and specific needs.
This involves a targeted evaluation rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. It's essential to ask, "What is the client's goal?" and "What can we control to help them improve?"
Elements of an Individualized Assessment
Orthopedic Examination: This includes standard testing, such as ligament and muscle strength evaluations.
Movement-Based Assessment: 80% of the evaluation looks like a workout, analyzing specific movements related to the client's goals.
Entry Point for Exercise: Based on the individual's symptoms, pain levels, and training history, the entry point for exercises is selected. For example, a push-up with modifications or specific weight adjustments may be the right starting point.
Customizing the Program
Once the assessment is complete, the focus shifts to designing a program that aligns with the client's needs. To establish consistency, five key exercises are often used for each body part (shoulder, hip, ankle, etc.). From there, adjustments are made based on performance and feedback.
This ensures that each movement directly relates to the individual's goals, such as resolving back squat pain or improving flexibility. Focusing too much on isolated metrics, like internal hip rotation, without tying it to functional movements can lead to missed opportunities for progress.
Setting Expectations Early
The first session is not just about comfort. It should establish expectations and challenge the client while monitoring symptoms.
The goal is to find the hardest movement they can perform well. This helps build their confidence and reminds them they are not "broken" but capable of improvement.
Managing Chronic Pain and Complex Conditions
Chronic pain often doesn't correlate directly to a specific tissue injury. In these cases, the focus should shift toward empowering the client by giving them control.
Even exercises not directly related to the affected area can create a systemic improvement, making clients feel stronger and more capable.
Ultimately, the goal is to move beyond a diagnosis and work toward functional improvement, helping clients achieve their desired outcomes.
The Importance of Mindset in Physical Therapy and Fitness
Mindset plays a crucial role in overcoming chronic pain and achieving long-term physical health. Often, individuals are stuck in a cycle of inherited beliefs or outdated advice that shapes their decisions about pain management.
For instance, someone may associate back pain with needing rest, ice, or inactivity because that's what they were taught. Over time, these beliefs can lead to prolonged discomfort, inactivity, and further limitations.
Unlearning and Reframing for Progress
A key part of the recovery process involves unlearning these deeply ingrained ideas. This allows space for a new perspective, where the body is viewed as an ecosystem that responds to various factors like environment, activity levels, and overall health.
This shift in mindset helps individuals see their symptoms not just as isolated problems but as part of a larger system that can be improved through better decisions and actions.
Image Credits: Photo by Funkcinės Terapijos Centras on Pexels
Reframing Examples
Back pain after deadlifting: Instead of seeing the pain as a result of a damaged spine, it can be understood as part of the body's response to stress, workload, or external factors like stress and lifestyle.
Improved daily function: Recognizing progress, such as feeling less pain later in the day or handling more physical activity without discomfort, demonstrates capacity building rather than just focusing on pain elimination.
Moving Beyond Temporary Fixes
Many seek quick fixes, such as manual therapy, dry needling, or adjustments. While these techniques may offer short-term relief, they don't always lead to lasting improvement.
The real solution lies in helping clients understand their body's capabilities and encouraging them to take control of their health through consistent action.
For long-term success, a holistic approach is essential. This includes proper education, addressing external well-being factors, and implementing exercises that build resilience.
Blending Physical Therapy and Fitness Training for Long-Term Success
Combining physical therapy with strength and conditioning is essential for long-term recovery and overall fitness. In many traditional models, physical therapy focuses on helping patients return to basic functions, like sitting or walking.
However, it often stops short of building strength for more advanced activities, such as running or lifting. This gap leaves many individuals looking for continued progress after their acute conditions improve.
Overcoming Limitations in Traditional Physical Therapy
Insurance companies typically only cover treatment that restores basic functionality, limiting traditional physical therapy's scope. This often excludes important movements like squats, deadlifts, and running.
To address this, some practitioners have expanded their services beyond the limits of traditional care. By incorporating remote programming and personalized strength training plans, they help clients maintain and build on their recovery, ensuring sustainable progress.
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Creating a Sustainable Fitness Program
An effective fitness program should meet the unique needs of each person. For those with a lower training age or limited experience in structured fitness, programs that gradually increase strength and endurance are vital.
This helps individuals transition smoothly from rehabilitation to ongoing fitness, preventing future injuries.
Key Elements of a Sustainable Fitness Program
General physical preparation: This focuses on building overall strength, endurance, and flexibility.
Individualized approach: Programs should address specific injuries or limitations while allowing for broader fitness goals.
Consistency and progress: Clients should aim to maintain their gains and build on their fitness levels over time.
The Importance of Changing Mindsets
A common question from clients is, "How long do I need to do this?" Instead of viewing physical therapy and fitness as temporary fixes, individuals should understand that these practices allow them to maintain their ability to do the activities they love.
By experiencing the benefits of strength and conditioning firsthand, many find they want to continue training for the long term, not just for injury recovery.
This holistic approach helps people rebuild strength, improve their relationship with exercise, and adopt sustainable habits that contributing to lifelong health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, combining physical therapy and fitness offers a comprehensive approach to long-term health. By addressing pain and building strength, individuals can recover more effectively and continue improving their physical abilities.
Physical therapy helps resolve immediate issues, while fitness training builds on that foundation for sustainable progress. This blend empowers people to take control of their health, enabling them to stay active and pursue the activities they enjoy.
Ultimately, integrating physical therapy and fitness helps create a well-rounded, long-term path to physical freedom and well-being.
FAQs
How do physical therapy and fitness training differ from regular exercise?
Physical therapy and fitness training focus on targeted recovery and long-term health. Regular exercise aims to maintain fitness, while therapy addresses pain or injury first and then builds strength.
Can I start physical therapy and fitness training if I don't have an injury?
Yes. Physical therapy and fitness training can improve movement, prevent injury, and enhance performance, even if you're not injured.
How long does it take to see physical therapy and fitness training results?
This depends on your condition and goals. Some people see improvements in weeks, while others may need a few months for lasting results.
Can physical therapy and fitness training help with chronic conditions?
Yes. Chronic conditions like arthritis or back pain often benefit from a tailored program that combines therapy and strength training.
How do physical therapy and fitness training work together?
Physical therapy addresses immediate issues, like pain or mobility problems. Fitness training then builds strength and resilience to keep you healthy long-term.
