Optimizing Strength After Injury

The staff of Optimal Fitness in Owasso truly believes what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.

Tara and Chad Gerstmeyer, co-owners of Optimal Fitness.

Serious injuries can affect more than the injured part of your body.  People who follow a regular exercise schedule find it hard to cope with losing months or years of progress towards their physical fitness.
After an injury or a surgery, your doctor and physical therapists will work with you on an individual plan that works best for you; but, that plan often involves down time.  Days or weeks on the couch with a remote control in your hand could get mind numbing.
“It can be frustrating,” says Owner Chad Gerstmeyer. “Many people who practice consistent physical activity and daily exercise think that down-time after a surgery or major injury will cause their bodies to lose muscle tone or mass, and they want to get back to the gym before they’ve been cleared by a physician. If this happens, injuries could occur again and lead to more down time. The important thing to remember is that your body does need to rest.  You need to heal.  When your doctor releases you for light exercise, you should be surrounded by professionals who can ease you back into safe exercises to build your strength and endurance back without reinjuring yourself. That’s where we come in.”
Gerstmeyer went on to explain that others may find that previous lack of exercise actually led them to the injury through weakened bones and muscles.  
“We commonly see new people in our facility who are recovering from a surgery, but because they haven’t had a lot of experience with an overall exercise regime, they can be confused on where to start and what to do. But, they are in the right place at Optimal Fitness.  Starting a consistent lifetime of strength training and overall wellness can prevent further injuries and surgeries.”
According to Beatrice Edwards, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of medicine and director of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Center at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, ‘We lose so much muscle as we age that by the time we’re 70, we only have about 50 to 55 percent of our muscle mass left. That explains why we feel weak and tired as we age, and we can prevent a lot of that with weight training and proper diet.”
Other studies have shown that weight lifting can prevent bone loss and even helps build new bone, which are both key points in taking steps toward your better body and injury prevention today.
“Having appropriate equipment is vital to protecting the injured area while recovering,” said Gerstmeyer.
Optimal Fitness has over 200 pieces of equipment in a spacious 9,000 square foot facility and is open 24 hours a day.  They offer one-on-one personal training as well as other amenities and services including free tanning, men’s and women’s locker rooms with full showers and full-sized saunas and a safety surveillance system. As well as a full line of discounted supplements.
Optimal Fitness is location  on the east service road between 76th and 86th two blocks south of Classic Chevrolet at 8243 N. Owasso Expressway.