Physiotherapy for gym & strength training
Physiotherapy for Gym and Strength Training Injuries
Lifters are a specific type of patient: usually well-informed, usually already tried three things off the internet, and usually being told by everyone else to stop training. Stopping is rarely necessary. Modifying the programme intelligently almost always is.
What we see most in gym & strength training
Shoulder pain in pressing
Bench and overhead work with a volume spike or a technique change; often a cuff endurance and scapular control issue rather than damage.
Low back pain in deadlifts and squats
Usually load progression outrunning tissue tolerance rather than a technique fault alone.
Hip pinching in deep squats
Anterior hip impingement-type symptoms at end range, influenced by depth, stance and hip structure.
Elbow and wrist pain
High-volume gripping, pressing frequency and sometimes bar or grip position.
We look at your programme, not just your joint
Bring your training log or programme to the appointment. The cause is usually visible in the last four weeks of loading: a jump in volume, a new movement added at intensity, a deload skipped, or the same movement pattern hit four days a week.
Modifying rather than stopping
There is almost always a version of the movement you can keep training.
- Change range — box squats, block pulls, floor press
- Change the implement — trap bar, dumbbells, neutral grip
- Change tempo and load rather than removing the movement
- Keep training everything that does not hurt at full intensity
Pain does not always mean damage
Tissue tolerance is trainable, and pain during loading is often a sensitivity signal rather than evidence of structural harm. That distinction matters — it is the difference between a two-week modification and six months of avoidance. We explain which one you are dealing with at the assessment.
Returning to full loading
We rebuild towards your previous numbers with a planned progression rather than testing a max and hoping. Where relevant, we compare side-to-side strength so a compensating limb is not hiding the deficit.
Common questions
Do I have to stop lifting?
Very rarely. In most cases we modify the movement, the range or the load and keep you training.
Is my technique the problem?
Sometimes, but load progression is the more common culprit. We will look at both rather than assuming.
Should I get a scan?
Usually not first. Imaging findings are common in pain-free lifters, and a scan often adds worry without changing the plan.
Can you work with my coach?
Yes. We are happy to send the modifications directly so your programming and rehab pull in the same direction.