How Strength Training Can Improve Your Health

In the past, many people associated strength training with oiled-up, musclebound bodybuilders — and, as such, decided strength training wasn’t the workout for them. But that idea couldn’t be farther from the truth!

In a way, we get it. Strength training can be incredibly intimidating if you’re coming at it cold: you have to grapple with unfamiliar equipment, uncertainty about proper lifting techniques, and confusion about which exercises to perform. But once you find your footing, strength training is one of the best things you can do for your overall health and wellness.

At PhysioWorks, we want to help make strength training accessible to all, regardless of age, health history, or ability level. To help you see the many benefits of strength training, we thought we’d share the stories of two patients: Alisha and Michelle.

Both of these patients are ordinary women in their late 50s. Neither were hardcore athletes, but both discovered the health benefits of strength training.

Michelle: A Resistance to Resistance Training

Michelle had developed osteoarthritis in her hips in her mid-50s. Although the pain wasn’t severe, she did find herself becoming less active than she’d prefer. Eventually, she contacted us for help managing and slowing her condition.

Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage osteoarthritis pain, but Michelle was nervous about doing anything too strenuous — including strength training. She was especially wary of anything involving heavy weights.

However, strength training is an important piece of osteoarthritis management. Strong muscles stabilize and support the impacted joints, helping to relieve pressure (and symptoms).

Michelle’s physical therapist was sympathetic to her concerns, especially since low-impact exercises are generally better for people with osteoarthritis. To that end, she suggested Michelle start with a daily walking regimen, which would help get her used to physical activity while still building some muscle strength and endurance.

After a few weeks, Michelle’s therapists started her on simple bodyweight exercises that wouldn’t put too much pressure on her knee joints. They weren’t as difficult or painful as Michelle feared, and she eventually decided she wanted to add a little more resistance after all.

But she didn’t go all in with heavy barbells, as Alisha had. Instead, Michelle used a blend of resistance bands and light dumbbells. Her therapist provided the necessary guidance — and before Michelle knew it, she was performing strength training routines twice a week.

The result? Less pain and stiffness from Michelle’s arthritis meant more mobility and an easier time running errands, doing chores, and spending time with her loved ones.

Is pain holding you back from starting an exercise routine? Are you an athlete recovering from an injury? Dry needling can help you get back to your active lifestyle!

Dry needling, an advanced physical therapy technique, involves the insertion of a thin needle into a trigger point in your muscles. The technique is designed to stimulate the underlying myofascial trigger points and muscular and connective tissues, helping manage numerous pain and mobility issues.

Dry needling can be a game-changer in treating both acute and chronic conditions. It can help to reduce pain and improve function, sometimes in cases where other treatment methods have failed. Studies have shown dry needling to be an effective treatment for reducing pain intensity, increasing motion range, and improving function.

Don’t let pain hold you back. Call us today to get started!