What to do about that tweak

Aches and pains are part of life and rarely will anyone navigate life without any pain. So what should you do when you do “tweak” something? 

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The first goal at Fortitude Fitness is to establish consistency. To get results, you have to show up to the gym. So, when you have an injury or tweak, we want you to keep coming to the gym. I’ll say it again: keep coming to the gym. Your task will be to communicate your issue to the coach. A great time to do this is before class starts so the coach can create a plan for the warm up and workout for you, however, never hesitate to let a coach know you have pain during any point in class. Our job is to find modifications to allow you to get a safe, effective workout that doesn’t irritate your pain. Aerobic exercise has the ability to change how your body processes pain. Surprise, it can decrease how sensitive you are to pain [1]. 

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Oftentimes, we don’t need to do much for minor injuries, continuing our normal activities and exercise with modifications will help resolve these issues within a few weeks. However, there are times we need to seek out further evaluation or care:

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When do you need to seek further evaluation?

1. Bones aren’t where they should be ie sticking out of your skin 😂 ⇒ Go to emergency room
2. You are experiencing severe pain that is not improving within 3-7 days or moderate pain that hasn’t improved within 2 weeks. ⇒ Consult your physical therapist ie Walt @ Fortitude Physiotherapy for further guidance
3. You are experiencing any neurological signs or symptoms:
   
   • Numbness, tingling, or arm/leg weakness ⇒ Consult your physical therapist Walt @ Fortitude Physiotherapy ‍
   • Change in bowel or bladder function or numbness/tingling in anal or genital region ⇒ Go to emergency room, this is a sign of severe nerve compression in the lower spine

What is physical therapy and dry needling?

Physical therapy is a healthcare discipline focused on helping individuals restore, maintain, or improve their physical function and mobility. Physical therapists complete a 3 year doctorate degree and regular continuing education to provide evidence based, quality care. Through personalized exercises and hands-on techniques & specialized treatments, physical therapists address issues related to pain, injury, or movement disorders. The primary goals of physical therapy are to alleviate pain, enhance strength and flexibility, improve balance and coordination, and prevent further injury, ultimately promoting a better quality of life for patients and getting you back to doing what you love!

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Dry needling is a technique used by physical therapists, and other healthcare practitioners, to treat muscle pain and dysfunction. It involves the insertion of thin, solid needles into specific "trigger points" or tight muscle knots, without the injection of any substance (hence "dry"). The goal is to release tension, improve blood flow, and stimulate the healing process in the affected muscles. Dry needling can help reduce pain, increase range of motion, and promote faster recovery from injury or muscle strain.

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Walt provides cash based physical therapy services at Fortitude Fitness under his business Fortitude Physiotherapy. Cash pay physical therapy offers several benefits over using insurance for services. One of the key advantages is increased flexibility and autonomy—patients don't have to deal with insurance limitations, such as pre-authorization requirements, coverage restrictions, or high co-pays. This allows for more personalized, one-on-one care without the pressure of time constraints typically imposed by insurance companies. Walt will typically be able to see you sooner than scheduling at a larger insurance based clinic. 

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Summary

• Keep coming to the gym
• Seek out physical therapy if not improving within 2 weeks, sooner for severe pain
• Go to urgent care: bones aren’t where they are supposed to be or you are having changes in bowel or bladder function and/or numbness & tingling in the anal or genital region
• Please reach out with any questions

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Walter M. Hafner, PT, DPT, CF-L2, USAW-L1

walter@fortitudephysiobv.com 719-800-4552

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[1] Tan L, Cicuttini FM, Fairley J, Romero L, Estee M, Hussain SM, Urquhart DM. Does aerobic exercise effect pain sensitisation in individuals with musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Feb 3;23(1):113. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05047-9. PMID: 35114987; PMCID: PMC8815215.

[2] Waddell G, Feder G, Lewis M. Systematic reviews of bed rest and advice to stay active for acute low back pain. Br J Gen Pract. 1997 Oct;47(423):647-52. PMID: 9474831; PMCID: PMC1410119.

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