At Thrive Body Clinic, nearly all of our patients receive exercises to complement their treatment. If you haven’t been given any, it’s probably because you have a very acute injury or a recent trauma that makes it unsafe to stress the affected area just yet.

For those who have been given exercises, you’ve likely noticed we regularly ask, “Have you been doing them?” The responses range from an enthusiastic “Yes!” to a hesitant “Sometimes…” or even an evasive “No.” But why do we keep harping on about these often repetitive and tedious exercises? Isn’t it our job to ensure you get better? Why should you bother with them? Let’s break it down:

1. It Will Keep Your Costs Down

Yes, everyone’s favourite reason! Doing your prescribed exercises will help you achieve your treatment goals faster. All exercises we recommend are carefully designed to support and enhance the treatments we provide during your sessions. While we may only see you once or twice a week, you can do your exercises daily—even multiple times a day! The more you do them, the faster your recovery, which means fewer visits and ultimately lower costs for you.

2. Reduce the Risk of Further Injury

Your body is a complex system that must withstand physical stressors. If parts of the body are weak or inflexible, they may fail under pressure, leading to injury. Think of it like the weakest link in a chain. Inflexibility or over-flexibility in muscles and joints can result in strains, sprains, and other injuries. By doing your exercises, you build up strength and mobility, reducing the chances of injury by ensuring your body can handle physical loads more effectively.

3. Because You’re Getting Older

Aging comes with changes in the body, one of which is the increased deposition of collagen in muscles, tendons, and joints. Collagen is what prevents your tissues from stretching too far. Unfortunately, as we age, we produce more collagen, making it harder to maintain flexibility. The good news? Collagen is part of a connective tissue matrix that also includes elastin, which does help you stretch.

By doing your exercises—especially stretching—you can remodel this connective tissue, reducing the restrictive effects of collagen and improving your range of motion. You may not be able to stop the aging process, but regular stretching and mobility work can help your body maintain movement and flexibility for longer.

4. Guidelines and Evidence Support It

It’s no secret that exercise is beneficial for your overall health. So, why not use it to address your specific condition? There is ample evidence supporting the use of exercise (both targeted and general) to help manage pain and degenerative conditions, including:

• Low back pain
• Knee pain
• Arthritis
• Shoulder problems

At Thrive Body Clinic, we are experts at prescribing exercises for most injuries and painful conditions. We stay up to date with the latest research, ensuring the exercises we give you align with current best practices and guidelines but more importantly that they are something you’ll easily be able to fit into your life.