Physical therapy to build strength in aging

[Anonymous]

I'm getting older and feeling it. I want to find a physical therapist who can help me get stronger and support my joints and flexibility before it's too late. I've never worked out and I'm afraid of injuring myself if I just join a gym and jump in.

Not looking for a personal trainer because I have cadillac health insurance that will cover PT.

Location matters-- I'm in Petworth and I work in Dupont so anywhere in/ between those parts of town would be great.

Any recs? Or other thoughts on how to stave off decrepitude?

[Anonymous]

OP - I was almost too late so can relate to how you feel.

Have you been tested and assessed by a doctor for your bone density and does he agree that you require remedial PT to regain overall strength?
Generally a prescription is needed before insurance will pay. I would check the benefits description under your coverage.

Nutrition is as important as working out to maintain/grow strength and flexibility. A PT likely can't provide that advice due to certification requirements. They are mostly about providing the support for daily life functionality.

I understand your concern because I did hurt myself right away on joining a gym. I should have listened to their advice to invest in a few private training sessions but I did benefit thereafter listening very closely to the class strength instructors about form. They were also very accommodating about showing me corrections after class. Now I do occasionally hire private instruction on something specific, like how to use new equipment safely.

Think about joining a good gym with fun classes and hiring a good trainer there for a good jump start. I would advise assessing how they work with their current clients before picking one.

[Anonymous]

My mom turned to water aerobics. It is easy on your joints and great strengthening.

[Anonymous]

NRH Rehabilitation Network at 19th Street
https://www.medstarhealth.org/locations/physical-therapy-19th-street

I've like this place more than any other I've been to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NRH Rehabilitation Network at 19th Street
https://www.medstarhealth.org/locations/physical-therapy-19th-street

I've like this place more than any other I've been to.

Have you worked with them from a preemptive basis? I think that is what OP is looking for. I agree that they are great but my own experience is they'll go in to fix you by working from doctor's instructions.

[Anonymous]

I understand your goal. But I’m not sure PT will give you what you’re looking for. A good personal trainer that will work with you on your form for whatever exercise would be a great investment into your future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm getting older and feeling it. I want to find a physical therapist who can help me get stronger and support my joints and flexibility before it's too late. I've never worked out and I'm afraid of injuring myself if I just join a gym and jump in.

Not looking for a personal trainer because I have cadillac health insurance that will cover PT.

Location matters-- I'm in Petworth and I work in Dupont so anywhere in/ between those parts of town would be great.

Any recs? Or other thoughts on how to stave off decrepitude?

This isn't what most physios do. You'll get 10ish minutes with your actual provider, the rest of your session doing targeted exercises under the light supervision of an underling.

If you want to learn how to use the gym without hurting yourself, hire a personal trainer who will work with and supervise you, personally, at the level you're at. Your "cadillac health insurance" probably doesn't cover that, but going to PT to do this isn't the way, unless you have some serious brain/body disconnect, proprioception issues, injuries you're trying to heal (or simply avoid aggravating), etc. PT isn't for getting stronger unless you're rehabbing things.

I mean, someone will take your money (industry is shady af). But this isn't the best use of your time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand your goal. But I’m not sure PT will give you what you’re looking for. A good personal trainer that will work with you on your form for whatever exercise would be a great investment into your future.

+1

[Anonymous]

PT only covers very specific issues/injuries in my experience. And then they discharge you as soon as you don't have pain/symptoms. I think you will have a hard time getting it covered no matter how good your insurance is.

Invest in personal training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I was almost too late so can relate to how you feel.

Have you been tested and assessed by a doctor for your bone density and does he agree that you require remedial PT to regain overall strength?
Generally a prescription is needed before insurance will pay. I would check the benefits description under your coverage.

Nutrition is as important as working out to maintain/grow strength and flexibility. A PT likely can't provide that advice due to certification requirements. They are mostly about providing the support for daily life functionality.

I understand your concern because I did hurt myself right away on joining a gym. I should have listened to their advice to invest in a few private training sessions but I did benefit thereafter listening very closely to the class strength instructors about form. They were also very accommodating about showing me corrections after class. Now I do occasionally hire private instruction on something specific, like how to use new equipment safely.

Think about joining a good gym with fun classes and hiring a good trainer there for a good jump start. I would advise assessing how they work with their current clients before picking one.

The ortho I saw for my persistently sore knee said PT was in order.

And I now have a sore knee plus a shoulder that needs to be babied. So would love to figure out how to prevent that from getting worse. Just feeling like it's going to be whack-a-mole for the next 30 years, and dreading it, because I'm actually quite active, just not in any way I need to pay for.

I hate the idea of going to a gym. I hate everything about the current mania for "fitness"-- the clothes, the vernacular, the tunnel-vision. Are there any gyms that cater to a more mature crowd? If it's full of mirrors, and grunting weight bros, and people taking selfies of their "target areas" I would never go and might as well light the money on fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I was almost too late so can relate to how you feel.

Have you been tested and assessed by a doctor for your bone density and does he agree that you require remedial PT to regain overall strength?
Generally a prescription is needed before insurance will pay. I would check the benefits description under your coverage.

Nutrition is as important as working out to maintain/grow strength and flexibility. A PT likely can't provide that advice due to certification requirements. They are mostly about providing the support for daily life functionality.

I understand your concern because I did hurt myself right away on joining a gym. I should have listened to their advice to invest in a few private training sessions but I did benefit thereafter listening very closely to the class strength instructors about form. They were also very accommodating about showing me corrections after class. Now I do occasionally hire private instruction on something specific, like how to use new equipment safely.

Think about joining a good gym with fun classes and hiring a good trainer there for a good jump start. I would advise assessing how they work with their current clients before picking one.

The ortho I saw for my persistently sore knee said PT was in order.

And I now have a sore knee plus a shoulder that needs to be babied. So would love to figure out how to prevent that from getting worse. Just feeling like it's going to be whack-a-mole for the next 30 years, and dreading it, because I'm actually quite active, just not in any way I need to pay for.

I hate the idea of going to a gym. I hate everything about the current mania for "fitness"-- the clothes, the vernacular, the tunnel-vision. Are there any gyms that cater to a more mature crowd? If it's full of mirrors, and grunting weight bros, and people taking selfies of their "target areas" I would never go and might as well light the money on fire.

You can buy all of the needed equipment to do serious strength training in your own house for $1500 new, probably far less used. Throw in 5-10 sessions with a trainer who comes to you (although you can also get a lot on good form out of Youtube if you watch the right people, so that could even be free).

No gym!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I was almost too late so can relate to how you feel.

Have you been tested and assessed by a doctor for your bone density and does he agree that you require remedial PT to regain overall strength?
Generally a prescription is needed before insurance will pay. I would check the benefits description under your coverage.

Nutrition is as important as working out to maintain/grow strength and flexibility. A PT likely can't provide that advice due to certification requirements. They are mostly about providing the support for daily life functionality.

I understand your concern because I did hurt myself right away on joining a gym. I should have listened to their advice to invest in a few private training sessions but I did benefit thereafter listening very closely to the class strength instructors about form. They were also very accommodating about showing me corrections after class. Now I do occasionally hire private instruction on something specific, like how to use new equipment safely.

Think about joining a good gym with fun classes and hiring a good trainer there for a good jump start. I would advise assessing how they work with their current clients before picking one.

The ortho I saw for my persistently sore knee said PT was in order.

And I now have a sore knee plus a shoulder that needs to be babied. So would love to figure out how to prevent that from getting worse. Just feeling like it's going to be whack-a-mole for the next 30 years, and dreading it, because I'm actually quite active, just not in any way I need to pay for.

I hate the idea of going to a gym. I hate everything about the current mania for "fitness"-- the clothes, the vernacular, the tunnel-vision. Are there any gyms that cater to a more mature crowd? If it's full of mirrors, and grunting weight bros, and people taking selfies of their "target areas" I would never go and might as well light the money on fire.

You can buy all of the needed equipment to do serious strength training in your own house for $1500 new, probably far less used. Throw in 5-10 sessions with a trainer who comes to you (although you can also get a lot on good form out of Youtube if you watch the right people, so that could even be free).

No gym!

This. Most people on this forum seem to have plenty of money, and it doesn't cost much to make your own home gym.

The expensive equipment are specialized machines and aerobic machines, but you can get those at a gym and just go during the non-bro-gym-guys hours, such as in the morning or mid day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand your goal. But I’m not sure PT will give you what you’re looking for. A good personal trainer that will work with you on your form for whatever exercise would be a great investment into your future.

I disagree. There are special PTs that work with women who have osteoporosis (or whatever the earlier stage is called). My sister goes to PT for it. The physical therapist corrects her form constantly but she’s doing squats and other bone building lifts with plyometric circuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NRH Rehabilitation Network at 19th Street
https://www.medstarhealth.org/locations/physical-therapy-19th-street

I've like this place more than any other I've been to.

Have you worked with them from a preemptive basis? I think that is what OP is looking for. I agree that they are great but my own experience is they'll go in to fix you by working from doctor's instructions.

Yes. And you don’t need a doctor’s order. You can self refer for an evaluation, though I don’t know how that impacts insurance — depends on the plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PT only covers very specific issues/injuries in my experience. And then they discharge you as soon as you don't have pain/symptoms. I think you will have a hard time getting it covered no matter how good your insurance is.

Invest in personal training.

That sounds great, but how does the OP find an excellent personal trainer?