Exercise Prescription

Push Pounds Sports Medicine offers its clients or patients a customized way of fitness and rehabilitation through a specialized exercise prescription program that is both advanced and highly effective.  It is a specific plan of fitness-related activities that are designed for a specified purpose, which is developed by our own fitness and rehabilitation specialist.  Similar to a patient who would receive prescription medication to help cure an illness, a fitness or rehabilitation specialist will prescribe fitness-related activities specific to the unique needs or a client or patient whether it be a healthy patient undergoing rehabilitation or a patient trying to overcome symptoms of a disease.

Since the individual needs and goals for each patient are unique, exercise prescriptions will vary however each will contain these general principles:

1. the mode of exercise
2. the intensity of exercise
3. the duration of exercise
4. the frequency of exercise
5. the rate of progression of the patient’s physical activity

No matter what the purpose for the prescribed exercise, every session should include a low-intensity warm up period before exercise and a cool down period after the exercise.  This is beneficial for the client or patient to warm up the muscles for stretching and flexibility.

The type or “mode” of exercises you can expect from a prescribed session would be similar to aerobics.  With aerobics, large muscle groups are being worked in a rhythmic motion making it the more appropriate mode of exercise for this purpose.  This may last anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour depending on the age, health, and physical condition of the client or patient.  For example, running and cycling may not be appropriate for patients with issues relating to their cardiac health. While more high-intensity exercises such as, cycling, rowing, running, or skating could be appropriate for non-cardiac clients.  Understandably, the intensity, duration, and mode of exercise amongst various individuals will be prescribed according to their specific needs.

Here are some common conditions treated by chiropractors with exercise prescription:

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunctions

The sacroiliac joint, also known as the SI Joint, is the joint next to the bottom of the spine connecting the sacrum with the pelvis.  Having a dysfunction in this area is thought to cause low back or leg pains, including pain in the groin area.  Although it can be difficult to diagnose and not always clear how the pain is caused, it is often thought that a change in the normal motion of the joint may be the reason.

Spondylosis (Arthritis)

Also known as arthritis in the spine. Spondylosis is caused primarily by spinal degeneration as a person ages naturally however, it can also be diagnosed in young people, especially those who play sports that involve rotation, repetitive movements, and spinal hyperextension that can apply added stress or sustain injuries to the spine.

Muscle Strain

A muscle strain (pulled muscle) occurs when the muscle fibres endure strenuous activity beyond their limits.  This often happens in sports when players sprint, change direction quickly, or stretch to reach, block, or return a pass.  Mild muscle strains will usually result in soreness, swelling, and may inhibit the range of movement around the affected muscle.