I’ve been featuring some of my favorite exercises to use every Monday this month. Hopefully you’ve checked them out and if you’re having any issues have incorporated them into your daily routine.

I always try to get my patients up and moving and utilize exercises that are as functional as possible. I’m not against exercises that focus on a single muscle or muscle group and rely on them highly during the initial stages of the rehab process because they’re the foundation that everything is built upon. Examples of exercises that would fall into this category would be core activation, postural endurance, and even basic balance exercises. This can be the most challenging part of the rehab process as patients don’t always see results very quickly and they have to be patient. However, if this stage of the process is rushed or patients don’t put in the work, usually what I see is patient’s progress stalling or after a brief improvement, they have a setback.

Once patients are able to engage and activate these muscles, it’s time to start to incorporate them into more functional movements, ie. activities that we do all day every day without thinking about it. Which is why, initially if these muscles aren’t activating and working correctly, we run into problems due to the repetition with poor or faulty mechanics. This can be as simple as cueing posture or core activation with carrying, lifting, reaching, squatting, pretty much anything ending with an -ing. This is my most favorite part of the rehab process as it tests your creativity and challenges the patient at the same time.

One of the biggest aspects of the rehab process is the often overlooked home exercise program (HEP). I get it; the HEP is usually the part of the process that is skipped or thought of as insignificant, but it really does have the biggest and longest-lasting impact. What I usually see, are patients are feeling good and once discharged will do their HEP for a month, maybe two, but as long as they continue to feel well, they slowly discontinue their HEP. They will continue to feel well for a while, but over time they’re pain, stiffness, limitations usually come back.

If you are interested in learning more or about treatment options, don’t hesitate to call/text 701-318-4731 or email alison@pinnalcetherapywellness.com to learn how we can help. Don’t forget to follow on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the happenings at Pinnacle Therapy & Wellness.