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Articles Exercise & Fitness Personal Trainers Vs. Physical Therapists In Injury Rehab Therapy
Articles Exercise & Fitness Personal Trainers Vs. Physical Therapists In Injury Rehab Therapy
| Personal Trainers Vs. Physical Therapists In Injury Rehab Therapy |
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| Written by Stephen Daniels |
| Sunday, 07 February 2010 11:36 |
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Both physical therapists and personal trainers are both involved in health and fitness. It's increasingly common to hire personal trainers, but fewer people may require or utilize the expertise of a physical therapist due to a serious injury.
Both physical therapists and personal trainers are both involved in health and fitness. It's increasingly common to hire personal trainers, but fewer people may require or utilize the expertise of a physical therapist due to a serious injury. Patients are usually referred to physical therapists, or physiotherapists, by their doctor to help with healing and rehabilitation after a serious injury or illness. Physical therapy clinics feature specialized medical equipment for rehabilitating injuries, such as walking aids, weight or strength training tools, special tables and exercise machines. Much of this equipment may not be found in a gym or sporting goods store. While some of the weight equipment might be exactly the same as that found in a gym, professional therapists are better trained to show you how to utilize this equipment correctly for your injury rehab. Most weight training equipment can be used in more than one way, and if used incorrectly, especially after an injury, it could do more harm than good. While working closely with patients during the early stages of rehabilitation is a big part of what therapists do, they also develop maintenance routines. These exercise methods have the goal of ultimately returning people to a similar lifestyle to what they enjoyed before the injury. By contrast, a personal trainer's specialty is to assist people in increasing their fitness level. This in turn will give their overall health a boost. Many people may find their first interaction with a fitness coach is part of a gym membership package. The first meeting with their trainer may include an assessment of the individual's condition as well as an introduction to various aerobic exercise and weight equipment. Personal training can be extremely useful, but this sort of instruction should not be confused with the type of therapy received from a state licensed and/or certified physical therapist. It's important to note that many states and facilities don't require specialized training or certification for personal trainers. This is not to say that personal trainers have no knowledge regarding injury rehab. Many take classes on the topic, or in targeting weak muscle groups. Some may even have specialized training or achieved additional certification in physiotherapy. These individuals are an excellent choice for continuing rehabilitation after an initial course of physician-directed treatment is completed. However, unless the doctor says otherwise, this training is not necessarily a good substitution for the services of a physical therapist immediately following an injury. A bachelor's degree in a program from an accredited school is the minimum requirement for professional therapists. These professionals must also pass a Board exam in most states to get licensed. Some personal trainers opt for degrees in health and fitness related fields, but this is not required by any governing body. There are many different certification programs that range from a few days to weeks of training. As a result, expertise and knowledge will vary from trainer to trainer. After a home care and exercise maintenance therapy routine has been determined by a physician and/or therapist, hiring the right personal trainer makes sense. While the necessity of a physical therapist for rehabilitating fresh injuries can't be overstated, ongoing maintenance can be done with personal trainers who have the right training and certification for the task. About the Author: Looking for a personal trainer in the Toronto area? ActFit Studio can help you achieve better results faster with a fitness program designed for you and your goals. Their private fitness studio features a CAN-FIT Pro Certified Personal Trainer who is also an EC Physiotherapist Assistant. Request a free consultation session on their website. This article powered by SEO 2.0 Services |