Almost all of us experience strain injuries or trauma-related injuries at some point that require rehabilitation. In the acute phase, these may require rest and limited movement, but soon after, movement itself becomes a form of treatment that promotes recovery. Rest is rarely an effective long-term solution, as functional ability and performance begin to decline after just a couple of weeks of inactivity. You shouldn’t let an injury make you too passive. Instead of seeing it merely as a limitation, treat it as an opportunity: When one part of the body needs rehabilitation, it’s a chance to focus on strengthening other muscle groups that may have been neglected. At its best, a person can end up in better and more well-rounded physical condition after a rehabilitation program than they were before the injury occurred.
Health is not the absence of pain
Back pain, shoulder problems, Achilles tendon pain, and various common health conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, affect an estimated one in two Finnish adults. No matter how devotedly we pursue health-promoting lifestyles— eat healthily, get enough sleep, exercise and meditate regularly, and do our best to avoid stress, we still cannot completely avoid the lifestyle-related diseases and musculoskeletal problems mentioned above. A strong family history, a sedentary lifestyle, and a history of physical activity ensure that almost all of us will experience these problems sooner or later.
However, pain and diagnoses are not the factors that define illness or health. A person can, in fact, be in excellent physical condition despite their ailments. Conversely, a person with a clean bill of health may actually be in very poor shape—that is, in extremely poor condition in terms of their functional capacity and performance. Even if they have so far been spared health problems, it is important to understand that being in poor physical condition is, in and of itself, one of the most significant risk factors for future illness and premature death. Health should not be defined by the absence of illness or pain, but rather by functional capacity—that is, the extent to which a person is able to live a full life despite their pain and ailments.
Health is the ability to function
For me, an important measure of health is whether I’m able to pursue and do the things I enjoy. If my symptoms become so severe that I have to give up the hobbies and activities I love, I consider myself, at least to some extent, sick. My motivation to rehabilitate myself comes from returning to a hobby or activity that’s important to me. At its best—especially when it comes to exercise—the rehabilitation period can offer an opportunity to practice skills, muscle groups, or movement patterns that were neglected when I was healthy and training regularly. After recovering from an injury, a person may even be in better and more well-rounded physical condition than before the injury occurred.
Rehabilitation should not be stopped just because the pain has subsided
Rehabilitation usually ends when symptoms subside. Even physical therapy is generally discontinued once a person meets certain minimum criteria for mobility and strength. However, that’s not enough to go very far. Without a long-term commitment to doing rehabilitative exercises that improve muscle strength and mobility, symptoms tend to recur, imbalances between the limbs tend to increase, posture problems become more pronounced, and the cycle continues. Rehabilitation should not, therefore, be stopped once the pain subsides; rather, it should be approached as a lifelong project. Looking at it positively, it can be seen as a good reason to take care of yourself and your physical condition. It can thus, with good reason, be placed among the most important priorities of daily life.
The Basic Concept of Comprehensive Rehabilitation
Pain or illness can therefore be seen as a limitation or, conversely, just a tiny, minor setback. Like a gentle bump in the road where it makes sense to slow down a bit and be even more attentive than usual. If you let pain paralyze and immobilize you, your ability to function will collapse in just a few weeks. At that point, you’ll have good reason to actually consider yourself sick.
My philosophy regarding rehabilitation is as follows: A disability or illness must be taken into account, but we need to focus on what we can do despite the disability. In other words, we shouldn’t focus on thinking about all the ways the disability limits us. A rehabilitation program should therefore be built around possibilities, not limitations.
It’s best to start exercising with pain-free movements after a good warm-up (to maintain aerobic capacity). So, if you’re experiencing knee pain, you can still effectively train your upper and midsection; similarly, if your shoulder is acting up, you can still effectively train your entire lower and midsection. Simply warming up your core body temperature and muscles, and getting those feel-good hormones flowing, alleviates pain and creates better conditions for performing rehabilitative exercises. The person’s motivation to exercise is also on a whole different level when they increasingly see themselves not just as a patient in rehabilitation, but also as a fitness enthusiast. Improving performance and functional ability is a whole different kind of fun alongside simply restoring health.
A Seamless Rehabilitation Path—A Bridge from Physical Therapist to Personal Trainer
Rehabilitation during the acute phase and the restoration of functional ability usually require the expertise of a physical therapist. A personal trainer, on the other hand, is a professional specializing in the development of physical function and performance. The best treatment outcomes are achieved when, after the acute rehabilitation phase, a physical therapist refers the client to a personal trainer to help them transition from the role of a rehabilitant to that of a fitness enthusiast. The same applies in reverse: If a fitness enthusiast develops an ailment or a limitation that slows down their training, the smartest move is to seek consultation and/or rehabilitation from a physical therapist.
Your health is our top priority!
Our clients’ health—that is, their ability to function and perform—is our top priority. We want to offer our clients a better quality of life and opportunities that bring joy rather than limitations. Our partnership with Fysios enables a seamless rehabilitation process, ranging from the rehabilitation expertise of physical therapists to the fitness expertise of our personal trainers.
As mentioned, it’s impossible to avoid pain and illness indefinitely. However, health isn’t simply the absence of ailments and diseases—it’s the ability to function. To help you nurture, maintain, and improve your health, we want to offer you the best possible environment and our exceptional expertise!
Come experience the services offered by your nearest EasyFit fitness center—designed to improve your fitness and performance—during a free trial workout.