Start 2024 Right: New Health Goals With Physical Therapy

There is never a bad time to start thinking about improving your health. A new year or change of seasons may mark a chance to start over with new goals. These goals should be specific, challenging but still achievable, with a specific end date and milestones to mark your progress. For example, you could commit to having a check-up from your primary care physician and asking for a referral to physical therapy Moorestown NJ within the next month.

New Health Goals

Part of the problem may be that you have failed to meet the health goals you had in the past and are having trouble thinking of new goals that meet the requirements of specificity and achievability. Here are some ideas to get you thinking more creatively about what you would like to achieve to improve your health.

Another part of the problem is that you may not necessarily know what is healthy for you. As new scientific research yields more information and a greater understanding, old health guidance becomes obsolete. Furthermore, what is healthy for other people may not be healthy for you due to underlying medical conditions. Seek the advice of professionals in physical therapy Sewell NJ or ask your doctor for a referral to a dietician or nutritionist.

Rather than setting exercise goals for yourself, try setting activity goals. In other words, find a physical activity that you enjoy doing so it won’t be a chore.

Exposure to sunlight causes the body to produce vitamin D, so brief periods outside can be beneficial even if you do not do any activity. Just be sure to use sun protection if you intend to spend more than five to 10 minutes outdoors at a time.

Make gradual changes to your diet. In the first week, you may replace refined grains with whole grains. The next week, replace fatty meats with leaner meats. By making small changes, one at a time, you can eventually transform your eating patterns to be healthier.

Health With Physical Therapy

At this point, you may be asking yourself, “What does physical therapy near me have to do with health goals? Isn’t it just for recovery?” Physical therapy can be rehabilitative, meaning that it helps you recover from an injury or surgery. However, it can also help treat medical conditions and even prevent injury.

Essentially, the goal of physical therapy is to help you move your body more effectively by improving strength and flexibility. These make your body more adaptable, which helps to prevent injury.

There are physical therapists who work in different subspecialties. You may be most familiar with orthopedic physical therapists who treat conditions of the bones and muscles. There are also neurological physical therapists who help people with nerve conditions. Others treat pelvic floor dysfunction or vertigo.

A visit to a physical therapist begins with an evaluation. Your therapist will assess your condition and where you need help. The therapist will work with you to develop goals for your course of treatment. Not only can this help improve your health in the long run, but it can also give you practice for setting your own goals outside of PT.