One of our guiding principles here at LPSM is that people have the ability to care for themselves through education and, at times, with short-term, hands-on conservative care.
With this in mind, I’ve felt quite compelled recently to share how I define “rehab,” or “performance rehabilitation.” I’ve noticed these terms becoming more trendy marketing terms rather than technical terms, and I think it needs to be addressed.
So, what is “rehab?” And, as an educated consumer of health care, how do you know you are getting quality, comprehensive rehab that will truly help you reach your goals?
True “rehab” is much more than an exercise anyone can look up on YouTube or read from a sheet and do on their own.
In true rehab, individualization is key.
The exercises themselves, the grouping of exercises, the level of the exercises and how they are performed all need to be unique to each person’s issues, tissue characteristics, body type and body awareness.
To expand a bit specifically when it comes to characteristics of soft tissues, someone may have very strong, robust connective tissue that allows them to get away with more stress on their muscles – perhaps they can compensate in the weight room or throw more pitches. However, if you’re someone with less robust tissue healing characteristics, you have to be far more diligent about not only your rehab, but also your technique, programming and recovery.
All of this absolutely needs to be considered in designing a true rehab program. Guidance about how to increase, or “level-up,” the difficulty of the exercises should also be considered throughout the rehabilitation process.
Your rehabilitation program should also be challenging, rewarding and demonstrate at least some improvement over the course of a few days to weeks.
As Alaetra, an LPSM patient, recently shared regarding her rehab with me: “They weren’t just the stationary [exercises] like every person usually gives you.”
To accomplish all of this, we must start with a very thorough evaluation.
DR. TYLER IDEUS
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