Are You One of The 31.9% of Americans Who Could Speed Weight Loss With Physical Therapy?

Picture of obese woman trying to workout on the exercise bikeLosing weight is hard, especially if you’re one of the 31.9% of Americans categorized by the CDC as obese. If that’s you, then chances are that you will find yourself avoiding exercise due to pain from your back, neck, shoulder, hips, knees, or ankles. As a result, losing weight by dieting alone will become even more difficult. That’s because losing weight without regular exercise will reduce your daily calorie allowances by 10-25%, and your diet will be harder to follow.

If Pain Is Discouraging You From Exercising, Your Physical Therapist Can Help You Speed Weight Loss

​Physical therapists see hundreds of obese patients. They all have unique challenges with physical rehabilitation and overcoming joint pain (foot, ankle, knee, hip, back, and neck). Also, most injured or post-surgical patients think of physical therapists for helping to restore movement, but for obese people, physical therapy can be much more than that. In addition to dealing with restoring mobility and range of motion, your physical therapist has a world of expertise and experience with adapting rehab exercises to begin producing a training effect.
Picture of obese woman doing plank
Ask your therapist to show you safe ways you can adapt your rehabilitation exercise plan to achieve an appropriate level of conditioning.
​Want to learn more about how your physical therapist can help get you started safely with exercise, even if you have pain? Request your initial assessment today.

References:

Martin CB, Herrick KA, Sarafrazi N, Ogden CL. Attempts to lose weight among adults in the United States, 2013–2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 313. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.

Vincent HK, Adams MC, Vincent KR, Hurley RW. Musculoskeletal pain, fear avoidance behaviors, and functional decline in obesity: potential interventions to manage pain and maintain function. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2013 Nov-Dec;38(6):481-91. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000013. PMID: 24141874.

Fletcher C, Bradnam L, Barr C. The relationship between knowledge of pain neurophysiology and fear avoidance in people with chronic pain: A point in time, observational study. Physiother Theory Pract. 2016 May;32(4):271-6. doi: 10.3109/09593985.2015.1138010. Epub 2016 Apr 6. PMID: 27049810.

Archer KR, Abraham CM, Obremskey WT. Psychosocial Factors Predict Pain and Physical Health After Lower Extremity Trauma. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015 Nov;473(11):3519-26. doi: 10.1007/s11999-015-4504-6. PMID: 26282387; PMCID: PMC4586200.