How to Customize Exercise Plans
All patients are different, so the perfect end-all, be-all exercise plan just doesn’t exist. We work together with each patient to decide on an exercise plan that compliments his or her weight loss goals. How do we customize exercise plans for individual patients?
What Is the Patient’s Health Status?
How do we account for a patient’s state of health when determining exercises for them? When establishing an exercise plan for a patient, we consider many factors, including workout experience/knowledge, age, weight, comorbidities, orthopedic function, and current condition level. For the winter months, we also consider what equipment patients have at home or have access to.
Ask the Patient for Input
Before the initial meeting with a patient, he/she fills out a short questionnaire regarding medical and/or cardiac issues. We consider the EKG, their resting heart rate, oxygen saturation, and how they’ve filled out their form. If there are any red flags, our exercise physiologist will call their cardiologist (if they have one).
Safety is No. 1
We want to have everyone work out to increase their health, but safety is our number one concern when starting an exercise regimen. Occasionally, exercise can improve existing medical issues, such as orthopedic issues and even arthritis.
Exercise is for Everyone!
Whether a patient has orthopedic issues, fibromyalgia, or a sore back, there is an exercise regimen for everyone. Some patients need water exercises at first to help take weight off certain joints. Others need a physical therapist in conjunction with our program to help increase their range of motion.
Every human is different, so we customize the exercise regime to each patient. A cookie-cutter approach is not what we do here.
Group Exercises
Some patients work well with group exercises as it motivates them to persist in their weight loss efforts. Others have the mental fortitude to go for long runs or do strenuous aerobic exercises independently. When it comes to weight lifting, working out with a friend or partner can help significantly; you get to challenge or impress one another and it can result in a better workout.
Switch up the Exercise Routine
We’ll notice when a patient needs to change his/her exercise program if there is a significant amount of muscle loss on their inBody reading. Our exercise physiologist will observe if they seem bored with their weights when they have become too easy for them. The human body likes a challenge and will adapt to the workout, which is why we recommend increasing weights by 2.5 – 5 lbs every 2-3 weeks, depending on the muscle group.
Are you ready to create an exercise routine that’s customized specifically for you? Ask for a complimentary appointment with our wellness coordinator to learn more about our program!