If you’ve suffered a musculoskeletal injury or undergone orthopedic surgery, you can generally expect to spend some time in physical therapy as you work through your rehabilitation. Guided exercise plays a significant role in helping you reduce pain and restore functionality. But when your physical therapy ends, it might be time to consider personal training.
It’s not uncommon for people to confuse the two PTs. After all, both help you exercise. However, personal training and physical therapy are two very different professions–albeit ones that can complement each other as you work on rehabilitation.
At [site-name], our personal trainers work alongside our physical therapists to provide comprehensive, personalized guidance at every step of your rehabilitation journey. Keep reading to learn more about our personal trainers’ role in our Woodbury, MN physical therapy clinic.
Personal Training vs Physical Therapy: Understanding the Difference
Let’s begin by exploring the differences between a physical therapist and a personal trainer. Understanding their different roles can help you understand how each profession can benefit you.
- Is a licensed healthcare professional who has undergone years of studies and earned a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from an accredited program.
- Can evaluate and treat various issues related to the body’s neuromusculoskeletal system.
- Focuses on helping patients improve their function and quality of life, reduce pain and immobility, and rehabilitate after surgery or injury.
- Is not required by law to have any specialized education or accreditation, although many personal trainers do obtain certifications from different agencies.
- Works with clients to meet various health and fitness goals, such as improving muscular strength or losing weight.
- Improves client’s fitness through guided exercise programs.
How Physical Therapy and Personal Training Can Work Together
At [site-name], our personal trainers serve as an extension of physical therapy treatment, helping our patients improve their health and fitness even after " graduating” from physical therapy. Let’s look at an example case:
Raul (not his real name) first visited us when he developed intense, debilitating back pain. At his first appointment, our physical therapist conducted a thorough evaluation to determine the source of his symptoms–and found that Raul had developed a herniated disc.
His therapist then developed a customized treatment plan that combined pain management techniques (such as manual therapy) and therapeutic exercise. Those exercises focused on improving Raul’s range of motion and building core strength to stabilize his spine, relieving pressure from his lower back.
Raul’s physical therapy program lasted for six weeks. When he completed his sessions, he was no longer struggling with back pain, but we suggested he work with our personal trainer to improve his overall fitness, as doing so could help prevent a future back issue.
At that point, Raul began a fitness-based, rather than therapeutic, exercise program. His personal trainer developed a program that combined strength training with cardio sessions, then offered accountability and support as Raul met with him three times a week.
By combining physical therapy and personal training, Raul was able to not only recover from his herniated disc but also take active steps toward preventing another. He also got into a regular exercise habit, which he had wanted to do for years.
Curious to see how physical therapy and personal training might help you reach your rehabilitation goals? Request an appointment at [site-name] today!
