According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in eight people are suffering from obesity. Around 2.5 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight or obese. Obesity has become a serious health concern for many due to its far-reaching implications than just how a person looks.
While dieting and exercise are a great way to stay in shape, an alternate method is physiotherapy. Being obese or overweight for too long can cause several health problems, which could be a barrier to dieting and exercising. A reputed physiotherapist can not only help you recognise these barriers but also overcome them. Our guide will help you learn how physiotherapy for weight loss works and see if it is the right choice for you.
Embark on your journey to a healthier you – Schedule your first physiotherapy session today!
Book AppointmentA] Who Should Choose Physiotherapy For Weight Loss?
While physiotherapy can help most people deal with excess weight and fat, there are some instances which make it the only option. If you are low to moderately overweight and it hasn’t caused any interference with your daily activities, regular dieting, exercising, and cardio can be the only thing you need.
However, if your body weight consistently falls under the upper limit of overweight or obese, you should contact a Physiotherapist in Mumbai as soon as possible. Other than just relying on the scale, there are other symptoms as well that could indicate this.
If you are facing flexibility issues in your joints due to obesity or have pre-existing flexibility issues due to an accident which is limiting your physical activity, Physiotherapy can help you address the underlying cause. In addition to flexibility issues, weight loss physiotherapy can also help you address other problems caused by obesity, such as poor endurance levels, being out of breath all the time, and loss of strength.
B] Is Physiotherapy A Valid Method For Weight Loss And Management
Physiotherapy is mostly associated with healing bone or muscle injuries after an accident or surgery. However, physiotherapy is also a very useful treatment for weight loss and weight management. Physiotherapy employs a safer and more complex form of weight loss program that is closely monitored by a health expert.
A physiotherapist is trained to offer tailored diet and exercise regimes to patients for recovering from injuries and pain. This translates really well to weight loss management. Physiotherapists can tailor a weight loss program according to the patient’s health, making the process much safer and more efficient than traditional gym training.
Many people who desire to work and lose fat do not know how to do it safely, leading to muscle tears, bone injuries, and loss of energy. Physiotherapists monitor your workouts closely and help you maintain correct posture and form, which could reduce the risk of injuries.
C] Physiotherapy Techniques for Weight Loss
1. Recognise And Address Mobility Issues
Mobility issues can be caused by various factors, including joint deterioration due to obesity, old age, or an injury caused by accidents. A physiotherapist can help identify and address such mobility issues which can be a barrier to exercising. If not addressed in time, mobility issues can hinder the quality of life by making day-to-day tasks difficult like walking and picking things up.
Many people who are overweight do not work just for fear of tripping or injuring themselves, which makes the condition worse. It is the therapist’s role to optimise the weight loss training regime to ensure maximum fat loss and muscle gain as safely as possible.
2. Dietary Monitoring
Diet is a crucial component of weight loss and obesity management through physiotherapy. Some experts even suggest that an improper diet can ruin all the progress one can make with consistent training. A physiotherapist is well-equipped to create a tailored diet plan for you that will help you stay full and satiated while reducing your daily calorie intake.
Dietary monitoring is an essential part of a physiotherapist’s role as when changes in diet occur, the body will take some time to adjust to it. It is the therapist’s responsibility to monitor it and provide all the necessary nutrients to the patient in the right amount. They also help with portion control and intervene whenever necessary.
3. Personalised Training Plan
Different training routines work for different people. A therapist would be able to recognise the medical conditions of a patient and determine a unique and personalised training plan. A physiotherapist would be far better suited to understand what works best for the patient and curate an exercise routine accordingly.
Training routines that are optimal for the patient’s performance level lead to a lower risk of fatigue and injuries. This could potentially lead to the patient liking exercise and training, helping to manage the weight once it is gone.
D] Benefits Of Physical Therapy For Obesity Over Other Methods
1. Avoiding Re-Injury
Physiotherapists analyse the patient’s current health and activity level and tailor an exercise routine accordingly. Many people gain excess weight after an injury or accident as they stop doing physical activities in fear of re-injuring their bones or muscles. A well-designed physiotherapy program can include cardiovascular exercise as well as strength training, without compromising the injury.
Physiotherapy treatment over the course of its duration can strengthen the muscles and tissues around the injured area reducing the likelihood of future injury. This type of focus on future injury reduction is not present in traditional exercise and gym routines.
2. Addresses Psychological And Emotional Factors
Physiotherapy and weight loss go beyond pain and mobility management and physical wellness. There can be several reasons why a person is dealing with obesity other than just an eating disorder or a sedentary lifestyle. These psychological and emotional factors that could be a major cause of obesity are often overlooked by traditional weight loss methods.
Physiotherapists often have detailed discussions with their patients about their eating and drinking choices as well as lifestyle choices like inactivity. This helps the physical therapist to understand the patient better and offer a weight loss program that is not just effective but also motivates the patient.
Embark on your journey to a healthier you – Schedule your first physiotherapy session today!
Book AppointmentConclusion
We hope this blog has answered your questions, “Can physical therapy help you lose weight?” To summarise, physiotherapy is a great option for those who are suffering from extreme obesity. If you are moderately fat, traditional dieting and cardio is a very good option for you. However, if obesity has led to joint pain, mobility and flexibility issues or any such problems, physiotherapy for weight loss is an effective and safe alternative for you.
If you are looking for an experienced physiotherapy professional for weight loss, book an appointment with us today! Dr. Sameera and her team have been helping patients for over 25 years, etching a name for themselves as one of the most reliable and professional physiotherapists in Mumbai for injury rehab, pain management, and weight loss.
