Visit Your Physical Therapist For Recommendations About These Fitness Accessories
If you're an active person who is considering buying fitness accessories to wear during your activities, it's worthwhile to schedule an appointment with your local physical therapist for advice. This health professional can assess your body type and your movement mechanics to understand how you move, and then talk to you about the various fitness accessories that may benefit you. The therapist may even have different accessories that you can try on, and then go find in local sporting goods stores. Here are some accessories to assess in this manner.
Elbow Brace
Whether you play tennis, squash, or enjoy other physical pursuits that involve lots of arm movement, you may see your fellow players wearing braces and be curious about doing so, too. You shouldn't just buy the first elbow brace that you see in a store, however, as these products can differ in style and certain types may be more conducive to you. Additionally, your physical therapist will want to know what symptoms you're experiencing that make you think you need an elbow brace. The therapist may then be able to treat the injury, if one is present, as well as talk about how you can alter your mechanics to reduce discomfort.
Ankle Brace
Joggers, hikers, and others who enjoy a variety of physical pursuits may look to buy an ankle brace to help deal with ankle pain. Because there are so many different products on the market, as well as a number of different causes of ankle pain, this is another topic that you'll want to first discuss with your physical therapist. He or she will want to know what type of pain you experience during which activities, as well as assess the region to note whether you've had an acute injury such as a sprain, or you're just dealing with discomfort from overuse.
Shoe Inserts
While you might consider visiting a podiatrist for your foot care needs, your local physical therapist is also trained in dealing with such issues. You should always consult this healthcare professional before buying shoe inserts. The wrong shoe inserts could potentially cause more than just foot problems. For example, if the inserts are the wrong shape for your foot, they may put stress on your knees or even your pelvis, leading to eventual pain. Your physical therapist, such as South Shore Wellness Center, will be able to tell you the exact size and style of inserts to best suit your body.