At ABA Physical Therapy, we encourage regular exercise in all its forms, whether it be stretching, strengthening, or cardiovascular. The choices are many: Yoga,Tai Chi, Pilates, weightlifting, swimming, walking, running, biking, etc. How do you decide what’s best for you?

The first consideration is that it should be something that you enjoy doing! If you try to ride a stationary bike, but are bored, you’ll be much less likely to make it a regular routine. You should also take into consideration any pre-existing conditions or joint problems. If you have knee or back problems, swimming or biking may be a better choice than running. If you have shoulder issues, weightlifting or swimming could be problematic, or could be helpful if you do the appropriate exercises or choose the best swimming stroke for your particular problem. Your physical therapist can help you determine what type of regular exercise routine will be best for you.

Your PT can also give you guidance as to how to progress your program. Sometimes the best intentions lead us to over-do our workouts, only to aggravate an existing problem, or create a new one. When beginning a new routine, or returning to an old routine after a lay-off, progressing gradually is the best move to ensure you can maintain consistency, without re-injury.