What is resistance training, and why does it help in injury rehabilitation?
April 2024
Resistance training is a form of exercise that involves contracting muscles against an external resistance. This can be achieved using various objects like dumbbells, exercise tubing, or even your body weight. The goal of resistance training is to increase strength, power, muscle size, and endurance.
In the past, we believed that bed rest was the best way to recover from injury. However, we now know that immobility can prolong the healing process. This is why physiotherapists often recommend resistance training exercises to patients recovering from injuries.
If you have been advised to do strength training or resistance training by your physiotherapist, it means that you will be doing exercises that involve contracting your muscles against an external resistance. These exercises can help you recover from your injury faster and prevent it from happening again in the future.
Why does this help us get better when injured?
When we injure a muscle, ligament, or tendon, we cause some of the fibers in these structures to tear or become inflamed. This results in pain and reduced function, which weakens these structures. However, by applying resistance to these structures, we can decrease the pain and increase their strength over time. Resistance training can help these structures become better equipped to handle the load they need to tolerate. If we don't complete resistance training, the torn fibers will take longer to regain their strength and function. Many studies have shown that early mobilization promotes faster recovery times compared to prolonged bed rest. Our m, muscles can also get sore from being too weak even if there is no injury. In this case, resistance training is the way to go.
Is resistance training safe?
Resistance training is a highly recommended activity that is safe for people of all ages, regardless of whether they are injured or healthy. It can significantly reduce the risk of injury in children and adults alike. However, it's important to perform resistance training in a structured manner and under the guidance of a health professional, such as a Chartered Physiotherapist. The correct exercises should be prescribed to allow the body to adapt and the muscles to become strong and resilient. Resistance training is safe for all ages, including children and the elderly, regardless of their ability or past training history.
Is resistance training complicated?
I have a great acronym that I use called KISS, which stands for Keep It Super Simple. When I give exercises to my patients, I like to keep them simple and easy to understand. This way, I believe that the rehab exercises will be done more often than not. Although resistance training can become more complex when it comes to the progression of the plan, that's something the physiotherapist should handle.
Bottom line
Resistance training is necessary for injury recovery because it strengthens the affected tissue to make it more resilient. This type of exercise doesn't need to be complex and should be enjoyable.
If you currently have an injury, or pains or just would like to get some advice regarding resistance training make an appointment with me at Ultimate Physio TUAM
© Copyright Ultimate Physio