Many people who are looking to lose weight wonder if physical therapy is an appropriate and (most importantly) effective method to lose weight. In this physical therapy education article, we’re going to talk about physical therapy as a tool for helping patients lose weight.
Weight Loss as Part of a Physical Therapy Program
Many patients do end up losing some weight as a result of their physical therapy program. The stretches and exercises involved in a physical therapy routine can be physically intensive. A lot of patients who start a physical therapy program have been immobilized by an accident, injury, or condition. This lack of mobility can often lead to weight gain. Physical therapy forces you to push your body to physical limits in an effort to regain range-of-motion and mobility. As a result, weight loss is not at all uncommon among physical therapy patients.
Not a One Stop Shop
That being said, physical therapy should not be used as your one stop shop for weight loss. Ultimately, physical therapy is designed to help you regain your physical mobility and functionality. The exercises in a typical physical therapy program can certainly help you lose weight, but weight loss is not typically the fundamental goal of physical therapy. If you are looking solely to lose weight, you may be better off with a fitness program or a specific diet. Your physical therapist can make specific recommendations for losing weight if you are interested.
Edina Physical Therapy Clinic
OrthoRehab Specialists is a Minnesota physical therapy practice composed on physical therapists with nearly three decades of experience treating patients for a variety of conditions and injuries. As a practice we offer direct access to physical rehabilitation care in Minnesota. That means you get to make an appointment with our physical therapists even if you don’t have a referral or prescription. If you do have a referral, that’s great too! We have standing relationships with over 600 providers who regularly send their patients to us for continued rehabilitation care. Contact us today at our Minneapolis or Edina physical therapy clinics to make your appointment.