What is Therapeutic Exercise? Perhaps you have challenges with movement due to disability, functional skill loss or post trauma/surgical reasons. As a Certified Fitness Therapist and Personal Trainer I have been involved in the successful retraining and stabilizing of conditions of many types and individual degrees of dysfunction for several years. Because I find the improvements so great, I am always eager to help those with challenges. There are specific guidelines for working with me in this type of training. Together, using the therapeutic protocols, you and I can significantly improve your ADL's (acitvities of daily living), safely retrain your body with specific applications for athletics, recreation and your profession.
Here are the important reasons for you to consider for participating in a functional/fitness therapy program:
- To relieve physical symptoms and improve functionality
- To prevent further dysfunction, restore / improve maintenance of an existing condition that has become chronic
- To improve your condition psychologically / emotionally / sociologically
- To positively affect your muscular strength and endurance, cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular fitness, mobility, flexibility, agility, improve your joint ranges of motion and integrity, balance and stability, coordination, gait, and your daily activity and independent living capabilities
You and your healthcare professional are welcome to call me regarding the applications of fitness therapy and I will be glad to discuss the ways we can address your specific needs. Your health care specialist, doctor, surgeon, chiropractor or physical therapist and I will form a "team" to bring you the most effective program you can depend upon. There are many "personal trainers" in our area, and although there are some excellent ones, they may not have the certification that shows their competence in the area of therapeutic exercise. I have trained to do this specifically and you are welcome to see a list of the certifications I have and the areas of special applications they cover.
If you need acute injury rehab then you should discuss that first with your physician. You may need physical therapy or other specific care before I can work with you. I am not a Physical Therapist. My scope of practice as a Fitness Therapist will provide follow-up exercise when your Physical Therapist has completed their work with you, or if your doctor feels it is right for your condition to begin an exercise program. This can include conditioning / corrective / post-rehab exercise. I believe this training is vital for your returning to another form of exercise such as a gym or classes in which you would be on your own and able to attend without limitations.
Just because an exercise is generally considered "good" does not mean everyone should do it or that it is the "right" exercise for you! Many chronic conditions can be positively changed with fitness, however applying a "wrong" exercise can make things worse. That is why I insist on intelligently applied exercise and so should you!
There is often a gap between physical therapy and returning to "apparently healthy" status in a gym or going back to your job or sport. I endeavor to fill that gap with the good science and guidance you deserve. Fitness-therapy can also help you build your confidence so the transition to regular exercise is smooth, effective and timed properly.
ABOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE
There are some therapeutic exercise protocols that may be covered by your insurance carrier. Your physician or chiropractor will need to prescribe your exercise sessions here at Fit By Design under my direct supervision. I can make the initial inquiries for you with regard to starting this type of exercise program and we will begin with the knowledge that they will be covering your session costs, to what degree, or not. It is the intention of many fitness trainers and certification boards that more insurance carriers become involved with this important part of your health care. I will do whatever I can to further this effort in your behalf, but be aware that most companies will only cover licensed physicians and therapists, not those of us with certifications. No states require fitness professionals to be licensed at this time.
AN OPTION TO CONSIDER:
I am happy to participate as a provider affiliate for the AMERICAN WHOLE HEALTH NETWORK which some insurance carriers have listed with their referral networks and those using their program recieve a discount of 15% on my sessions at the point of sale. (Washington State sales tax still applies).
