The Purpose Behind Our Fitness Classes for Physical Therapy Clients in Crestview

The Purpose Behind Our Fitness Classes for Physical Therapy Clients

If you’ve ever been discharged from physical therapy before feeling completely ready, you’re not alone.

This common occurrence stems from insurance limitations rather than clinical decisions, leaving many individuals without a clear, actionable plan to continue their recovery at home. You might be told to “keep exercising” or given a few general handouts, but without professional guidance, maintaining the gains you’ve made during therapy can be challenging.

This is why we started our group fitness classes and personal training at 4:8 Physio. To give you exactly what you need, when you need it, how you need it, all with childcare available.

Unfortunately, the transition from physical therapy to mainstream fitness is often a bumpy road.

Many commercial gyms offer one-size-fits-all workout programs that don’t account for past injuries, mobility limitations, or medical conditions. Even worse, most trainers at these facilities lack the medical expertise required to address your specific needs. In Crestview alone, numerous gyms don’t even require their trainers to be licensed or certified, leaving you vulnerable to improper guidance and an increased risk of re-injury.

At 4:8 Physio Physical Therapy, we’ve developed fitness programs to bridge this gap. We don’t just discharge you and hope for the best; we provide a safe, effective path to help you stay active, grow stronger, and continue making progress under professional supervision.

The Problem with Typical Discharge Protocols

Most insurance plans dictate a certain number of visits for physical therapy, regardless of whether you’ve fully recovered or not. While you may no longer experience acute pain, your body might not be strong or stable enough to prevent future injuries. A study published in The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy emphasizes that proper strength and conditioning post-rehabilitation significantly reduce the risk of re-injury, particularly for individuals recovering from lower back or knee injuries.

Despite this, many physical therapy clinics discharge patients without providing them with a long-term fitness strategy to maintain their progress. In fact, research shows that up to 70% of patients who complete physical therapy relapse into injury because they don’t follow a proper strength-building program afterward. This happens largely because mainstream gyms don’t offer the specialized guidance that post-PT clients need.

Why Regular Gyms May Not Be a Safe Solution

While commercial gyms can be an affordable and accessible option for many people, their programs often aren’t suited to those who are recovering from an injury or managing a chronic condition.

In the rush to offer high-intensity workouts, many gym instructors push exercises that could aggravate old injuries or create new ones. A 2020 survey of fitness professionals revealed that nearly 30% of gym trainers don’t have proper certifications, and many more lack medical training to properly modify exercises for people with a history of injury.

For someone recently discharged from physical therapy, the standard group fitness class may not provide the careful supervision and individualized attention you need to continue healing safely. If your instructor can't give you a safe, evidence based modification for a prescription movement, it's time to find another place to invest your time and money into.

The 4:8 Physio Solution: Medically Supervised Fitness

Our fitness programs are specifically designed for clients who need to continue progressing safely. At 4:8 Physio, all of our fitness classes are overseen by a Doctor of Physical Therapy, ensuring that each exercise is not only effective but also safe for your unique condition.

4:8 Physio's proven & evidence-based four-phase method

Phase I: Relief

It can be frustrating and overwhelming when you’re in pain and don’t know where to turn for help. Our physical therapy experts will work with you one-on-one to identify the root cause of your pain and create a personalized treatment plan that will reduce your pain quickly.

We’ll also provide you with helpful resources like exercises and pain reduction tips on our app, so you can continue to progress even after leaving our clinic. On average our patients see a significant reduction in pain in 5 visits or less.

Phase II: Optimize

We all know that reducing pain is important, but sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated after the initial relief. It can be tough to keep up the momentum after your pain has subsided. You may feel like you’re stuck in a rut and don’t know how to get moving again.

During Phase II, we help you regain your Alignment, mobility, flexibility, and strength so you can continue on your path to success. With our help, you’ll be primed for future performance and able to reduce your risk of injury.

Phase III: Perform

You’ve been sidelined by an injury and you’re eager to get back to your old self as soon as possible. It’s frustrating when you’re injured and can’t do the things you love, like being with your family and friends. Sitting on the sidelines is hard, especially when everyone else seems to be moving on without you.

That’s where our physical therapists come in. We’ll help you rehab your injury so that you can get back to your old self as quickly as possible. With our personalized treatment plans and experienced therapists, we’ll have you feeling like yourself again in no time.

Phase IV: Fitness

You’ve just suffered an injury and the last thing you want to do is go through the pain again. It’s normal to feel concerned that the injury will occur again. In fact, most people worry about this very thing!

That’s why our physical therapists make sure that you are equipped with the tools needed to reduce your risk of any future injury, but also to continue to get stronger and #bettereveryday. We’ll help you implement a plan that will create lifelong, lasting changes to continue improving on your progress, every single day.

Here’s what makes our program stand out:

1. Tailored Workouts Based on Your History:

We assess your past injuries, symptoms, and fitness level to create workouts that are right for you. Whether you’re recovering from an ACL tear or dealing with chronic lower back pain, our exercises are designed to meet your needs without pushing you too far too soon.

2. Clinical Expertise on Hand:

Every class is supervised by a highly qualified physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who can modify movements, correct form, and provide instant feedback. This means you’re never left wondering whether you’re doing something correctly.

3. Safe Progression:

Our classes are built to help you continue the strength-building process that started in physical therapy. Evidence-based research supports the idea that increased strength equals a lower risk of injury. By strengthening key muscle groups, particularly your core and stabilizing muscles, we aim to make you more resilient against everyday stresses, whether that’s lifting a child or performing complex athletic movements.

4. Childcare Included:

Staying fit as a parent can be tough, which is why we include childcare during all fitness classes. This way, you can focus on your workout knowing your little ones are taken care of.

Every childcare provider is highly qualified, with experience as a teacher and/ or nanny, and also maintains an active CPR certification. Our facility is clean and maintained meticulously to ensure health and safety standards are exceeded.

5. Affordability Meets Expertise:

While personal trainers at gyms can charge high rates without having the qualifications to support their price tags, our classes are not only medically supervised but also affordable, making continued care accessible for everyone. All classes have a drop in rate of just $20.

Strengthening for Long-Term Injury Risk Reduction

It’s essential to understand that physical therapy is just the beginning of your recovery journey. The real goal is to not only return to your pre-injury level but to surpass it by becoming stronger and more stable.

Studies consistently show that individuals who engage in post-therapy strength training are far less likely to suffer recurrent injuries. For example, a 2018 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that strength training reduced injury risk by up to 68% in individuals who had completed physical therapy .

At 4:8 Physio, we aim to set you up for long-term success. By focusing on proper technique, progressive strength-building, and consistent supervision, we help ensure that your post-therapy fitness journey is safe, sustainable, and effective. We believe in making fitness accessible and medically sound for everyone, regardless of where they are in their recovery.

Don’t just finish therapy- thrive beyond it. Find the perfect program to help you keep moving forward. With childcare included, medically supervised workouts, and affordable pricing, our classes are the safest and most effective way to continue your recovery and build lifelong strength in Crestview and beyond.

Sources:

5. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2018. “Strength and Conditioning in Rehabilitation: A Critical Review.”

6. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 2021. “The Post-Rehabilitation Gap: Addressing the Need for Long-Term Fitness Solutions.”

7. Fitness Industry Report, 2020. “Certification Standards and the Quality of Personal Training.”

8. National Strength and Conditioning Association Journal, 2019. “Strength Training: The Key to Reducing Injury Risk.”

9. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2018. “The Effects of Strength Training on Injury Prevention in Post-Rehabilitation Clients.”