The Benefits of Integrating a Medically Oriented Gym to Your Physical Therapy Practice

The medically oriented gym resembles a traditional fitness club with a few exceptions. In essence, it’s a fitness center that bridges the gap between medicine and fitness. Practice various physical therapy exercises daily to rebuild strength and improve mobility. Exercises are based on the science of exercise and are supervised by medical staff including licensed physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and exercise physiologists.

Physical therapists work closely with patients to help them achieve their personal fitness goals while keeping their physical limitations or medical condition in mind. Many of Certo’s clients began as physical therapy patients and transitioned to the MOG once finished with physical therapy sessions.

What are the Benefits of Integrating a Medically Oriented Gym?

Adding a MOG to your physical therapy practice provides several benefits. A few of the benefits are highlighted below:

1. Add cash element to your practice. Like a traditional gym, the MOG concept is cash-based. Clients pay a monthly fee or fee for special exercise classes offered.
    
2. Opportunity to build lasting relationships with customers. In the traditional physical therapy model, patients leave after completing physical therapy. The MOG model allows patients to have a smooth transition to the gym after initial physical therapy sessions. Physical therapists can stay in touch with patients to help them achieve long-term goals.
    
3. Better meet the needs of medically compromised patients. A MOG gives patients traditionally uncomfortable with going to the gym a chance to get in shape.
    
4. Meet the needs of the community. A community with a medically oriented gym serves the fitness needs of all members of the community. Individuals hesitant to join a gym due to weight or medical concerns can receive evidence-based fitness instruction from licensed physical therapists who have their own physical therapy practice, physical therapy assistants, and exercise physiologists trained in working with individuals with their condition. This team of dedicated experts can help medically compromised individuals achieve long-term fitness and health goals while minimizing the negative effects of disease.

To learn more about the MOG concept listen to the full podcast with Russ Certo, PT and owner of Grand Island Physical Therapy is the founder of the MOG concept at PTTalker.com.

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