Happy Wednesday!
Wednesdays are the best time for an in-week check in. Are you being consistent with your programming? Yes, then keep on chugging!! If no, that is okay. How can you adjust the days to come to get back after it?
We all want to be perfect, but that is an unrealistic expectation. Give yourself some grace. Life happens, and we want you to be able to take that in stride. Do not let one day of missed training ruin the rest of your week. Instead, if you miss a day, then tell yourself it is okay and make a plan to get back out there tomorrow!
We want you to be successful, and do not be afraid to lean on the community if you need some motivation.
What is new since last week?
Last week, Alec recorded a Podcast where he talked through who should and should not go in to see a Physical Therapist. He also gave his 5-item check list that laid out everything you need to know when evaluating your Physical Therapist. Below is the hard copy of the checklist that you can use for yourself!
What does the inside of the clinic look like?
Look for equipment that mirrors the equipment you use on a weekly basis. If you are an olympic lifter who is having pain during snatches, but the physical therapy clinic doesn’t have a barbell in sight, then they are likely going to be unable to maximize your return to lifting.
How many patients does the Physical Therapist see at one time?
Some clinics will have a patient every 15 minutes, which leads to divided time with the Physical Therapist. This is a disservice to you and your time.
Is everyone doing the same exercises?
If you look around, is everyone doing a hamstring stretch followed by clams shells? Those exercises have their place, but if you notice that you and a lot of the other patients seem to be doing the same exercises, then it is likely a blanket program designed to be efficient in resources, but not geared towards your best outcomes.
Can the Physical Therapist explain the purpose behind a given exercise?
You do not have to ask this question in an accusatory way, but the person giving you an exercise should be able to explain it in a way that makes sense to you. If they cannot, then that should be a little red flag in our head.
Is the Physical Therapist testing and re-testing?
This is the most important. I say again, test and re-test is the most important thing your Physical Therapist can do. Throw everything else out the window. If they are not measuring if the exercises they are giving you are having the desired effect, then how can they know they are putting you on the right track?
That is it for this week! Remember to keep on pushing yourself, and we will see you all next week.
-The Movement Method Team