Injury Rehab Therapy – Do You Need A Personal Trainer Or A Physical Therapist?

Both physical therapists and personal trainers are both involved in health and fitness. It\’s increasingly common to hire personal trainers, but fewer people may require or utilize the expertise of a physical therapist due to a serious injury.

Doctors frequently refer patients who are recovering from serious injuries or illnesses to physical therapists, or physiotherapists, for rehabilitation and healing of the body. Physical therapy clinics have medical equipment that is specially designed for rehabilitating injuries and is not typically included in most gyms, such as walking aids, specialized exercise machines and weight or strength training tools.

While some of the exercise equipment may be basically the same as gym machines, physiotherapists have special training to show you how to use equipment and do exercises correctly for your injury rehab. Weight training equipment can typically be used in one of several ways. Using the wrong method for your injury can do more harm than good.

Physical therapists work closely with patients during the initial stages of rehabilitation as well as helping them develop maintenance routines to continue healing, with the goal that they will be able to enjoy a lifestyle similar to what they had prior to the injury.

By contrast, a personal trainer\’s specialty is to assist people in increasing their fitness level. This in turn will give their overall health a boost. Many people may find their first interaction with a fitness coach is part of a gym membership package. The first meeting with their trainer may include an assessment of the individual\’s condition as well as an introduction to various aerobic exercise and weight equipment. Personal training can be extremely useful, but this sort of instruction should not be confused with the type of therapy received from a state licensed and/or certified physical therapist. It\’s important to note that many states and facilities don\’t require specialized training or certification for personal trainers.

Many personal trainers do take classes in rehabilitation after injuries, or in targeting weak muscle groups. In fact, some may have specialized training or certification in physiotherapy that may additionally qualify them for continuing rehabilitation after an initial course of physician-directed treatment is completed. But this type of training probably should not be substituted for the services of a therapist immediately following an injury, unless or until the patient is released by their physician.

Physical therapists have acquired at least a bachelor\’s degree from an accredited school. Most states also require these professionals to take a Board exam in order to get licensed.

While some personal trainers do have degrees in health related fields, this level of training is currently not required. There are a variety of certification programs that range from a few days to weeks of training, so expertise and knowledge will vary widely. Once the therapist and the physician have determined a home care and exercise maintenance therapy routine, hiring the right personal trainer is the logical next step.

While the necessity of a physical therapist for rehabilitating fresh injuries can\’t be overstated, ongoing maintenance can be done with personal trainers who have the right training and certification for the task.

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