Ask Physical Therapist Sam Olson: How Can I Maximize My Therapy?

Many people fear that exercise has to be painful in order to be effective. Physical Therapist Sam Olson is eager to refute this misconception.

Advise from a physical therapist: be respectful of pain levels

“You don’t need to cause pain in order to make exercise beneficial,” he declares,  “especially when rehabbing certain areas of the body. The “no pain no gain” motto is not remotely correct. We need to respect pain, because it’s our body’s way of telling us that we are approaching the limits of what we can tolerate. Patients with a frozen shoulder, or scar tissue, or a really tight knee that doesn’t bend might experience a little bit of discomfort, but for the vast majority of my physical therapy patients, pain is not part of getting better. You can have a very effective exercise program that does not cause any pain.”

Sam explains that the therapist’s job is to analyze and identify the movements responsible for a patient issue, and then to create a program of education and exercises to address the problem.

What role does the patient play in physical therapy?

The patient has a definite role in his or her own recovery. “My influence goes only so far,” Sam says. “Within the clinic walls, I can help patients work toward their goals. When they know what they need to do to get better, and then implement the program that we’ve designed together at home as well as in the clinic, I know that things will go well.”

There are a number of things that Sam wants patients to be aware of as they use a therapy exercise program at home.

“I encourage my patients to be aware of the daily tasks that they perform—like walking, sitting at a computer, or climbing stairs—and identify the physical compensations they may be making in response to an injury,” he explains.

Watch for compensations

Compensations can include walking the stairs with a knee slightly rolling in, allowing shoulders to rise toward ears, or a habit of sitting with the head slightly forward. These compensations can lead to incorrectly working muscles, or excess stress on a joint.” “We want our patients to use core and hip muscles properly when they walk or do stairs or ride a bike or run or sit at a computer,” Sam explains. “When a patient is not aware of a compensation, imagine multiplying that incorrect action by every step you take. Those compensations add up, and can lead to tissue dysfunction or fractures.”

By collaborating with a physical therapist, you can make the most of the education and training they provide, while improving your own successful recovery.

Summit Orthopedics offers proactive wellness services

At Summit Orthopedics, we are committed to providing the resources, tools, and expertise you need to achieve your personal fitness goals. Our Summit wellness center is home to proactive wellness classes and training services for you and the whole family. Wellness experts can work with you or your physician to design an exercise program that supports lifelong health through exercise.

Start your journey to a more active self through our wellness services offered at the HealthEast Sports Center. Schedule a free wellness consultation online or call (651) 968-5766. Find the group fitness class that works with your schedule. Visit our Facebook page to learn all about the wellness events we offer to safely promote good health throughout your life.

More resources for you

• NASA Technology: Now Part Of HealthEast Sports Center Physical Therapy Program
• HealthEast Sports Center Enhanced Physical Therapy Services For Summit Patients
• October Is National Physical Therapy Month
• Meet Summit Physical Therapist Sam Olson
• Summit Care Suites Offer Secure Tracks Therapy

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