By: Kaitlyn Keyser, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS
In a PT setting, weightlifting is how we help you get back to what you want to do.
Are you post-op and need to combat atrophy? Are you recovering from an injury and want to return to sport? Do you need to get back to lifting 80 pounds overhead for your job? Weightlifting is one tool in our arsenal that can help you slow down muscle atrophy, build strength, and return you to a high level of function.
We look at the entire body to see where your deficits could be keeping you from your goals. What are your movement patterns when moving your body weight? At what pace? And are you controlled in your movement? We work to build you back up. But we don’t just want to build you up to where you were pre-injury or pre-op. We want to get you stronger and more efficient than you were before.
One of our goals is to help your body be able to tolerate weights and weighted movements so we can help you perform your best.
What injuries can occur with lifting?
Often in weightlifting, you might not have an extra set of eyes to watch your form. This can result in many overuse injuries, poor movement patterns, or athletic injuries. Trauma can occur from a breakdown in form, while compensatory or poor movement patterns could result in overuse injuries. Pelvic floor issues can occur with improper breathing and core activation. Back and shoulder issues can occur if you lift overhead incorrectly.
Also, traditional lifting mainly has sagittal plane-based movements. There are a lot of flexion and extension exercises. So, lifters tend to be strong in that plane, but struggle with rotation and side-to-side movements and stability. This can lead to issues in your day-to-day life since we move in all planes every day.
Also, strict diets that some lifters follow- like before a bodybuilding show- deplete the body of its essential energy stores. If you do not properly fuel for your workout or do not modify your volume and load to match energy intake, this can lead to injury just due to the imbalances within the body.
How can a PT help me lift better?
We work to educate you on lifting properly and safely. By watching your lifts, we can identify movement patterns that you might need to retrain. There might be deficits in your strength that you are unaware of, and we can come in and provide quick cues to maximize your performance in the gym. A lot of the time, I give weightlifters pre- and post-training routines to either down-regulate their central nervous systems or to provide mobility-based exercises.
Also, we make sure everyone on your team is on the same page. If you have a nutritionist or a coach, we make sure to align so you can be successful. If you are having issues with lifting, we can come together and take the best care of you as a team. Maybe this is an increase in calories, or maybe we will try to de-load you for a week. There are many approaches we can take to find a happy medium to help you be safe, strong, and successful.
Our team of dedicated physical therapists is here to elevate your weightlifting performance! Schedule an appointment today!