Couples Physical Therapy is a Thing and We Are Obsessed
The team at A Life in Balance loves partnerships! A partnership is the best way we've found to help our patients heal. We get to know as much about our patients as possible so that we can truly become team members with them in their healing journey. We listen, observe, adjust, support, and care for each individual as a whole, helping them achieve not just pain relief, but overall wellness.
With that partnership mindset, you can just imagine how our hearts absolutely melted when Lou and Ellen, an adorable married couple, partnered with us—as a couple—to help them both overcome the pain and flexibility issues that had been keeping them from living their best lives. Seeing their fun, competitive, and loving partnership just reaffirmed for us why we are passionate about this work of holistic physical therapy, and why the word “partnership” means everything in our practice. As it turns out, science also backs up the idea that partners exercising together provides some special health benefits!
Lou: PT for Better Flexibility and Range of Motion
Although Lou is a man of few words, he chooses them wisely. His favorite food is, “My wife’s cooking.” And he means it! His biggest concern in coming to ALIB was helping Ellen finally overcome severe back pain and leg pain that was interrupting her active lifestyle. He genuinely wanted her to feel better. As Ellen was filling out her self-assessment at the initial appointment, Lou filled out one too. He realized that he too had some pain, flexibility, and range of motion concerns that we could help him with.
Ellen: PT for Back Pain and Leg Pain
Ellen went through a rough time with some severe back pain and leg pain that kept her down. “For six months prior to ALIB, I tried massage therapy to see if that would relieve my pain, then I saw a couple of orthopedic doctors. Then I went to another place for physical therapy, all to no avail. Then my acupuncturist recommended ALIB.”
Couples Who PT Together, Stay Cute Together
Lou and Ellen’s example of teamwork is an inspiration to all of us at ALIB. They motivate each other to stay fit. They do their PT home exercises together, encouraging each other—even getting a little bit competitive! And the science is there to tell us this works.
Studies published in both The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships and Family Relations: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science found substantial evidence that romantic partners, particularly as they age, experience long-term physical, social, emotional, and relationship health benefits when they exercise together. Exercising together demonstrated significant improvement in relationship interactions and satisfaction. It even improved the physical outcomes of the exercises themselves. We can certainly see that when Lou and Ellen walk through our door! It's a win-win situation for everyone!
A Holistic, Team Approach to Physical Therapy
When we started working with Ellen and Lou, they each had different needs, but they supported each other in working toward those needs. Dr. Paula did a thorough assessment of their needs before creating a plan to address their pain and stiffness. While Lou enjoyed his planks, stretches, and breathing exercises, Ellen said she noticed a lot of improvement from “...using my rolling pin to roll muscles, ligaments, and tendons—and making funny faces when breathing.”
They both love the fact that it’s now easier to move freely without discomfort. And Ellen adds, with relief, “Without the back and leg pain, I'm able to conduct my day-to-day activities as I had previously. I am an active person and want to remain active. On a typical day, I walk 8,000-10,000 steps, go up and down 4–8 flights of stairs, can work in my garden, and climb ladders for special cleaning projects.”
Physical Therapy, Massage, Therapeutic Exercise, Voilà!
To other folks out there struggling with pain, Ellen says: “First, listen to your body. Second, listen to ALIB and do the exercises that they prescribe. Go see Paula!”
If you or your partner, friend, brother, sister, parent, or anyone you love is struggling with pain, bring them to A Life in Balance. Your encouragement, plus our special brand of ALIB teamwork, can help you leave pain behind and move energetically into a more fulfilling life.
