If you’re carrying extra weight, staying active can be difficult, but when you stop being even moderately active, your muscles atrophy and your joints become stiff—especially after injury—which often leads to gaining more weight and a decreased quality of life. If you are struggling to reach a healthy weight, or to recover from injury or chronic medical conditions—like Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal stenosis, and multiple sclerosis—due to obesity and weight management issues, physical therapy can help.

After a thorough physical examination, a physical therapist would create an enjoyable, customized program designed around your needs and weight loss goals. Then, he or she would monitor your progress weekly, teach you how to exercise properly, and provide continued feedback and guidance to promote healthy, long-term weight loss. Typically, a physical therapist would also recommend diet changes—like eating brown rice, oatmeal, and lean proteins—or behavior modification to maximize the benefits of the program.

Patients who use physical therapy weight loss management plans are able to achieve and maintain their weight loss goals, relieve pain, build muscle, increase flexibility and endurance, improve posture and functionality, and prevent injury or disability. They also decrease their risk for cancer, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.