Specific Goals Require Specific Rehab: Why Tailored Treatment Matters

Imagine this scenario: you walk into your rehabilitation appointment, greeted by the sight of three other patients engaged in various activities. One is on a recumbent bike, another is doing exercises on their back, and the third is applying an ice pack to their shoulder. You can't help but notice that you're significantly younger than the others in the room. Your physical therapist instructs you to start your session on the bike for 10 minutes. But here's the catch: you're here to get back to deadlifting without experiencing back pain.

After completing your stint on the bike, you proceed to the table to perform the same exercises you've been doing for the past three sessions: press-ups, dead bugs, clam shells, and bridges. Meanwhile, your PT questions whether deadlifting is truly necessary for you, suggesting it might not be in your best interest. The session concludes with an ice pack application to your back before you leave. Does this scenario sound familiar?

Now, it's true that such a generic rehab approach can alleviate pain, especially in the early stages when discomfort is high. Low-level cardio, general core exercises, and icing can indeed provide relief for some individuals. However, is this approach truly optimizing your rehabilitation journey? Consider this: while you and the other patients may be following similar routines, your goals and needs are likely vastly different.

If your aim is to return to a sport or activity requiring high intensity and effort, a one-size-fits-all rehab plan will likely fall short in the long run.

You don't have to settle for generic strength exercises, printed-out exercise sheets, or a physical therapist who's more focused on a computer screen than on your progress. If you harbor specific goals, a generalized rehab plan simply won't suffice.

What you truly need is a rehabilitation program tailored to your individual requirements: your goals, preferences, limitations, weaknesses, and interests must all be taken into account.

Only then can you expect to achieve your desired outcomes. Specific goals demand a specific plan.