Why Load SPECIFICITY Matters During Rehab
Hi everyone, Erienne here with Peak Endurance physical therapy in Madison. In my last blog, I talked about why it is important to have some kind of load, or progressive loading, in your physical therapy/rehab journey. And why it is so important to increase the capacity of our tissues so that it exceeds the demand of the activity that we are doing.
Today I want to talk about why specificity of that load is important. So there are many different types of load that we can add to a tissue to help change it and make it more resilient.
The number one thing that most people think about is weight. We add weight to a squat or we add weight to a shoulder press to make our muscles stronger. But that’s not the only way we can add load.
We can add load with volume. This goes more into an endurance kind of factor. Instead of running for 30 minutes, if we improve our ability to tolerate volume, we can now run for an hour.
The other thing to think about with load is it doesn’t have to be weight or rep related. It can be speed related. This one’s very important, because this one often gets left out of the rehab process. We cut the rehab process short. “Oh, your muscles are strong, you’re pain free with squatting, you’re good to go.” That’s not always the case.
The big example I use for this one, because I see it a lot, unfortunately, is when I have a runner who is used to doing half marathons or even marathons, and they’re fine, and they feel good and strong and injury free. But then they go and play in their summer softball league, and they pull their hamstring sprinting to first or rounding second. Because that is a speed component that they do not have the capacity to meet. They are more of in a steady state endurance athlete.
So when we progressively overload in the realm of PT and rehab, we need to make sure that the load not only exceeds the demand of the exercise that we’re wanting to do, but that it is also specific to the demand that we are wanting to do.
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Our Mission:
Here at Peak Endurance Performance & Physical Therapy we help active adults in the Madison Area get back to the activities they love without pain or limitations. We see people of all ages, ability levels, and individuals trying to get back to a multitude of movements including: getting back into running, women postpartum, CrossFit athletes, climbers, gymnasts, wrestlers, overhead athletes, and your recreational weekend warrior. If you’re looking to get back to the activities that give you meaning, relieve stress, and make you feel like you again, feel free to reach out below and we’ll see if we’re the right fit for you.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you are experiencing pain or any symptoms, please consult your healthcare provider promptly. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen in our content.
