Empower Your Joint Replacement Journey with Strength Training

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Welcome to our first edition of The Joint Health Chronicle!

In this issue, we'll explore a crucial aspect of joint replacement preparation that often gets overlooked: strength training. Whether you're planning for a joint replacement surgery or simply want to maintain your joint health, incorporating strength training into your routine can make a significant difference in your overall well-being.

The Importance of Joint Health

Before delving into the benefits of strength training, let's revisit the significance of joint health. Our joints play a pivotal role in our daily activities, allowing us to move, walk, run, and perform countless tasks with ease. However, joint problems can hinder our mobility, causing pain and reducing our quality of life. For those facing joint replacement surgeries, like hip or knee replacements, proper preparation is key to a successful outcome.

Why Strength Training Matters

  1. Muscle Support: Strength training helps build and maintain muscle mass around your joints. When your muscles are strong, they provide crucial support to the affected joint, reducing the strain on it. This is particularly important before a joint replacement, as stronger muscles can facilitate a smoother recovery process.

  2. Enhanced Joint Stability: Strong muscles can improve joint stability and balance. This reduces the risk of falls and accidents, which can be especially problematic for individuals with compromised joints. By enhancing your joint stability, strength training can help you maintain your independence and reduce the need for assistance.

  3. Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for joint health. Strength training can aid in weight management by increasing your metabolism and promoting fat loss. For those preparing for joint replacement surgery, losing excess weight can improve surgical outcomes and reduce complications.

  4. Pain Management: Strong muscles can alleviate joint pain by taking some of the load off the affected joint. Engaging in regular strength training can reduce pain and improve your overall comfort, making the pre-surgery period more bearable.

  5. Faster Recovery: After a joint replacement surgery, the recovery process can be challenging. However, individuals who have engaged in strength training before their surgery tend to experience quicker and smoother recoveries. Strong muscles assist in regaining mobility and function more efficiently.

Getting Started

If you're considering joint replacement surgery or simply want to prioritize joint health, here are some steps to get started with strength training:

  1. Consult Your Physician: Before beginning any new exercise program, consult with your healthcare provider, especially if you have underlying medical conditions.

  2. Work with a Professional: Consider working with an Athletic therapist or certified personal trainer who can tailor a strength training program to your specific needs and goals.

  3. Start Slowly: Begin with low-impact exercises and gradually increase the intensity and duration as your strength improves.

  4. Incorporate Variety: Mix up your workouts to target different muscle groups and keep things interesting.

  5. Stay Consistent: Consistency is key. Aim for regular, ongoing strength training to reap the full benefits.

Strength training is a vital component of preparing for joint replacement surgery and maintaining overall joint health. By building muscle strength, improving joint stability, and managing your weight, you can enhance your well-being and increase your chances of a successful joint replacement. Remember to consult your healthcare provider and seek professional guidance to ensure your strength training program is safe and effective for your individual needs.

Stay tuned for more valuable insights on joint health in future editions of The Joint Health Chronicle!

Wishing you strong and healthy joints,

Advantage Conditioning Team

Future of Athletic Therapy: Ashley Phommarath

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Ashley Phommarath (fondly referred to as “little Ashley” by our patients) has been interning at the AC clinic for 1.5 years now. She started with us during her clinical practicum her knowledge and clinical skills continue to grow as she continues in the clinic collecting her hours for certification. Ashley’s passion for athletics, injury prevention and rehabilitation continues to flourish as she is in her  practices for the third season with the Fort Gary Twins (MMJHL) and Churchill High School Bulldogs as their student Athletic Therapist.  As a true believer in off season training and injury prevention, she puts her heart into the clinical and field application of AT. This is evident with her commitment to her teams, from bringing her foam roller and lacrosse balls to all her hockey and football practices, to setting up mobility and off season hockey training for the Twins. She has become very involved with the AC family, expanding her knowledge of strength and conditioning by mentoring with Devon Lyon while he did the off season hockey training for the Fort Gary Twins.

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Future of Athletic Therapy: Brendan Corr

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Brendan is currently finishing his Athletic Therapy degree at the University of Winnipeg (UW); he has been working for AC as one of our knowledgeable personal trainers for the last year and a half. Brenden has first hand experience understanding the importance of injury prevention, management, strength and conditioning from years of playing hockey himself. Over his academic career he has honed his field skills while working as a student therapist with the UW’s Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) men’ s and women’s wrestling team, UW’s Manitoba Colleges Athletics Conference (MCAC) men’s basketball and the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League’s (MMJHL) St. Vital Victorias. Brendan has been a great addition to the AC team and we are excited to be part of his evolvement in the rehabilitation and strength and conditioning field.

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Future of Athletic Therapy: Arlyn Guevarra

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Arlyn started as a student therapist in the AC Athletic Therapy clinic over 2 years ago. Over that time she has proven to be an invaluable resource and integral part of the Advantage Conditioning team. When she is not in the clinic she is out front working as our Administrative Assistant. Arlyn graduated in June from the Athletic Therapy program at the University of Winnipeg and is currently collecting her field and clinical hours in preparation for her certification exam in June 2017. Along with being knowledgable about injury assessment and rehabilitation, she has additional training in custom brace fitting and orthopedic products. We are very lucky to have Arlyn on the AC team.

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