Injury Rehab Therapy – Do You Need A Personal Trainer Or A Physical Therapist?
Personal trainers and physical therapists are both involved in the fields of health and fitness. While many people may never require nor utilize the services and expertise of a therapist, it is becoming increasingly common for people to hire a personal trainer.
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 exercise equipment may be basically the same as gym machines, physiotherapists have special training to show you how to use equipment and do exercises correctly for your injury rehab. Weight training equipment can typically be used in one of several ways. Using the wrong method for your injury can do more harm than good.
In addition to working closely with patients during the initial stages of rehabilitation, therapists develop maintenance routines to help people return as closely as possible to the lifestyle they enjoyed prior to the injury.
Personal trainers specialize in helping people increase their fitness levels and stamina, which in turn helps boost overall health. With the popularity of gym membership on the rise, many people may find that their first interaction with a fitness coach is part of a gym membership package. This first meeting might include an assessment of the individual’s condition as well as an introduction to the standard aerobic exercise and weight equipment found in a gym. The type of instruction offered by personal trainers should not be confused with the type of therapy received from a state licensed and/or certified physical therapist. In fact, not all states or facilities require specialized training, certification or licensing for personal trainers.
Quite a few personal trainers choose to educate themselves specifically in the field of injury rehab. They may take additional classes, or even receive special certification in physiotherapy in addition to personal training. These individuals may be the best choice for continuing rehabilitation after an initial course of physician-directed treatment is complete. But unless the doctor approves, this type of training probably should not be substituted for the services of a therapist right after an injury.
Physical therapists have acquired at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. Most states also require these professionals to take a Board exam in order 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.
Nothing will replace the qualified work of a physical therapist when an injury is fresh, but ongoing maintenance can be done with personal trainers who are properly educated and certified.
If you’re looking for a highly qualified personal trainer in the Toronto area, contact ActFit Studio. Their private fitness studio can help you achieve better results faster with a fitness program designed for you and your goals. Featuring a CAN-FIT Pro Certified Personal Trainer who is also an EC Physiotherapist Assistant. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services
