How can a personal trainer help rehab a shoulder injury?
Many people turn to a physical therapist when they’ve hurt themselves, but a holistic fitness trainer also knows how to rehab a shoulder injury and will help you get back to your normal self again. Today, we’re going to take a look at a few signs that your shoulder injury needs rehab, how a personal trainer can help, and what he or she will do to get you back on track.
Signs That Your Shoulder Injury Needs Rehabilitation
From sprains and strains to torn rotator cuffs and tendinitis, there are many shoulder injuries that require rehab.
Here are a few signs that you need treatment:
- Shoulder Pain — The most obvious reason someone would know they need rehabilitation for their shoulder is pain. Whether you’ve already tried medications or prefer to jump right into physical therapy, a personal trainer can help.
- Weakness — In many cases, you may not be able to perform the same types of activities as you did before. This weakness may manifest itself in a reduction of how much weight you can use during workouts.
- Range of Motion — A very common indication that you’re in need of shoulder injury rehab is a reduced range of motion. When you lift your shoulder in certain ways, your movement becomes restricted and very often painful.
How a Personal Trainer Assists You with Rehabilitation
A personal trainer understands how to rehab a shoulder injury in an efficient manner.
Here are just a few ways that they’ll assist you:
Supervises Rehab
Personal trainers deal with all types of injuries every single day. They are often instrumental in physical rehabilitation and know exactly how you should proceed. A personal trainer will supervise your rehabilitation and track your progress to make sure that you’re doing everything that needs to be done while also ensuring that you’re not overdoing it.
Follows Doctor Notes
Whenever a doctor is involved, a personal trainer becomes part of a team whose goal is to fix whatever ails you. If you come to them with instructions from your doctor, the personal trainer will follow the notes to the letter. As you progress and stay in touch with your physician, they can adjust your workouts accordingly.
Prevents Re-Injury
People in need of physical rehab have a tendency to push themselves in ways they shouldn’t. In many situations, this can cause someone to re-injure themselves, putting them right back where they started. A personal trainer will help you take steps that will prevent you from hurting your shoulder again.
Understands Nutrition
Although physical activity is obviously a huge part of personal training, that’s not the only thing. A personal trainer understands how nutrition can be properly used to assist with rehab from an injury. He or she will help you come up with not only a workout plan but also a nutrition plan to assist you with repairing your injury.
Exercises That the Personal Trainer Will Focus On
There are a variety of shoulder exercises available, but not all should be attempted during rehab. A personal trainer will focus on these particular activities:
Strength training exercises
Strength training is a huge component of any type of physical injury, but you never want to take it too far. A personal trainer understands just how much upper body exercise you should be getting and how much you should focus on other strength training needs, such as your core and legs. This will help you build up your muscles the right way so that you can get over your injury more easily.
Cardiovascular workouts
As you go through your shoulder injury rehabilitation, you’ll also need to build up your heart rate and stamina. Your physical trainer will add plenty of cardiovascular workouts to your regimen, whether it’s walking, running, cycling, etc. Most people suffering from a shoulder injury won’t have too many mobility limitations, so you’ll have plenty of exercises to choose from.
Flexibility training exercises
Improving flexibility is another key component of shoulder injury rehab. As you progress through your rehabilitation to repair your shoulder, you’ll need flexibility to reduce soreness and stiffness. This also helps you move your joints more freely and avoid injuries. A personal trainer will take you through several different stretching and flexibility exercises to make this happen.
Contact Fit to a T to Learn How to Rehab a Shoulder Injury
Fit to a T’s personal trainer knows how to rehab a shoulder injury and can get you back on track. As the most respected personal trainer in Dunedin, we know exactly what needs to be done during any type of rehab.
If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment with a fitness professional, call our office at (727) 755-3485 today to schedule a free consultation.
