“I have been diagnosed with slip disc, will I ever be able to work-out with weights?”

“I got a ligament tear in the knee, will I ever be able to do Squats? “

“I have osteoarthritis of the knee, should I be weight training?”

As a practicing Physiotherapist, I come across such questions everyday…

Well the answer to all of the above 3 questions is a very loud & affirmative YES!

The reason why I am so certain about this is because apart from being a Medico involved in rehab, I myself am an advanced level Strength Trainee & enjoy the benefits of strength training first hand. Physically I am more capable now than when I was 3 years younger & I feel lucky to have been educated in & introduced to strength training before my body showed any signs of degeneration. I can now look forward to Aging with minimal degeneration.

There is a very simple approach to most of these problems. A good rehabilitation geared towards musculoskeletal strengthening can do wonders.

Unfortunately, not many doctors know about the benefits of strength training or that it is a very safe activity when done with proper form & technique (Which is true of any physical activity) & they in turn propagate the fear psychosis against weight training as they do not want their patients to engage in any activity that is unknown or alien to them. So instead of admitting that they are not well versed with strength training, they simply choose the easy way out by telling their patient that it is contra-indicated.

The musculoskeletal system, includes our muscles, Tendons, bones & Joints (Articulation between 2 bones supported by Ligaments). The bones and joints make the frame of our body. The muscles contract to produce purposeful movements at the joints. They are also the supporting & stabilizing structures of this system.

Conditions like Osteoarthritis, Lumbar pain, Spondylosis, Slip Disc (PID), Herniated Disc, Ligament tears, tendinitis etc are problems of this system. The proper functioning of this system without any pathologies primarily depends on the strength of the supporting structures – The Skeletal Muscles.

For Eg: Osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative condition where the cartilage is worn out and the bones rub against each other. As we can’t stop aging we can’t stop our joints from degenerative changes. But the amazing fact that people are unaware of is that we can be symptomless or at best minimize pain despite the degenerative changes.

This is possible if the muscles around the joints are strong. Like in the case of Osteoarthritis of the knee it would primarily be the strengthening of muscles of the Quadriceps & Hamstring groups which would stave off or at best delay further degeneration & alleviate existing pain.

The above is no miracle & is easily explained by the fact that a stronger muscle will be in a better position to support the joints. It will be able to reduce the load on the joints as compared to a weak or atrophied muscle.

So, be it any musculoskeletal problem the approach almost always involves strengthening surrounding musculature via resistance training.

The workout initially is generally compromised and started only when the symptoms reduce or disappear, the progression may be slow but eventually the person can start following the normal workout schedule and train heavy with no compromise in the form and technique for the given exercise.

The sole purpose of this article is to make you’ll aware that it is mandatory to do strength training if you have a musculoskeletal problem rather than being apprehensive about it.

So next time think twice before you dissuade your patient from taking up strength training. There is a direct correlation between avoidance of strength training & atrophy and consequently the direct correlation between Atrophy & worsening of the musculoskeletal problem.

Any Musculoskeletal issue will worsen with age unless intervened by Strength Training.