Research continues to show that obesity is a worldwide epidemic. 68% of the adult population in the US is estimated to be overweight and of those obese individuals 36% are obese. It is also estimated that 10% of children in the United States aged 2 to 5 years, 15% of children aged 6 to 11 years, and 16% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years are overweight. Obesity increases the chance of early death; around 325,000 deaths in the United States each year are attributed to obesity.
Oklahoma Physical Therapy
At Oklahoma Physical Therapy we promote healthy lifestyles, wellness and injury prevention. We can help people who are obese be more physically active and fit by teaching them to exercise in pain-free ways. The right exercise is very important because it helps burn calories, get rid of fat, preserve muscle tissue, and protect your joints.
Your trained physical therapist at Oklahoma Physical Therapy will work with you to design a specific treatment program to address your needs, including exercises you can do at home. Some benefits you may find in physical therapy for weight loss are:
Pain Reduction:
Your trained physical therapist will work with you to create a customized exercise program which will help you perform activities safely and with the least amount of pain. Sometimes just moving can help relieve pain!
Improve Strength:
Your trained physical therapist will teach you gentle and low-impact forms of weight training exercises that can help alleviate joint stress. These exercises are created to improve your overall muscle strength. Improving your muscle strength increases your calories burned, makes regular daily activities less painful and can relieve joint pain.
Improve Movement:
Your trained physical therapist will create activities, exercises and treatment that will aid in restoring normal movement of stiff joints. The physical therapist will perform these exercises for you with a progression to active exercises that you will be able to perform by yourself.
Cardiovascular Fitness:
Your trained physical therapist will work with you to create a “heart-healthy” aerobic exercise program which you will be able to perform at your own comfortable level. These exercises will elevate your body’s metabolism and burn more calories.
Improve Posture:
Your trained physical therapist will teach you how to gently stretch any major muscles that appear to be tight. During your visit with your trained physical therapist you will be taught exercises that will improve your ability to maintain proper posture. Good posture can improve your breathing and make difficult activities easier and less painful.
Increase Activity:
Your trained physical therapist will work with you to create an exercise program to address your individual needs and goals by discuss your activity goals with you. Your trained physical therapist will help you reach those goals in the safest and most effective way possible.
What is most important to know is that there is a place for you, and getting active and healthy is not about a cookie cutter approach. Working alongside a physical therapist can positively impact obese related aches and pains as they play a key role in promoting healthy lifestyles, wellness and injury prevention.
At Oklahoma Physical Therapy our Physical Therapists routinely work with patients in designing treatment plans to meet the patient’s goals, challenges and needs. With Oklahoma’s direct access law you are able to take a more active role in your own health care and can choose safe and effective treatments directly from physical therapists without having a doctor referral. We at Oklahoma Physical Therapy would love to help you find ideas and techniques to assist you in your weight management.