What is the Be Activated approach to Physiotherapy, and how is it different from regular treatment?
The Be Activated approach is a client-centered framework for treatment which seeks to empower the client in taking personal responsibility for their own healing process. It helps align both practitioner and client with the fundamental principles of the body, specifically, its two survival priorities:
- Keep Breathing
And 2) Keep Moving
Instead of simply administering passive treatments to a local injury site, the physiotherapist uses specific muscle and movement tests to assess the body as whole, working to discover what strategy the client’s body has chosen to meet these two key priorities, how the chosen strategy impacts the client’s condition or injury, and provide the client with the education and tools to reorient their mind-body system toward healing and improved performance.
How does the Activation process work?
It all starts with the breath – specifically, rediscovering our diaphragmatic breathing pattern.
When we are stressed (example: in the case of injury or pain – both chronic or acute) the body must continue to find a way to meet its priorities for survival – oxygen intake and movement. To meet the demands for oxygen, the body will often default to a pattern of short and sharp breaths, primarily using the upper chest and neck muscles. This is excellent for getting us as much oxygen as quickly as possible, but is only meant to be used for a short period. Similarly, when the body has to move, it will find one way or another to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even if it means using more effort than usually necessary, or recruiting multiple muscles to accomplish the job meant for just one. When we are unable to come out of these emergency strategies, we end up stuck in a high alert, high tension, and high effort state, even long after the threat has passed or the physical injury has healed. This can lead to lingering aches and pains as well as compensatory movement habits that hold us back from feeling and performing our best. The longer the body stays in its compensatory strategy, the more compromises it will make in how it moves – these compromises put us at further risk of injury, and continue to over-stress old injuries.
Through the use of movement assessments and muscle tests, paired with specific neurolymphatic, neuromuscular, and myofascial manual techniques, coaching cues, and education, the physiotherapist is able to help the client gain awareness of their compensations and rediscover their diaphragmatic breathing pattern. This return to a diaphragmatic breathing pattern allows the body to shift from an active “fight or flight” state to a relaxed “rest and digest” state which allows the body to let go of old tensions and postural habits, more effectively learn new movement skills, and better respond to therapeutic exercise.
Most importantly, the Be Activated process provides the client with a clear understanding of how their body responds to stress, and gives them the skills and knowledge necessary to shift out of their stress response. In being able to return to relaxed comfort and performance, the client is empowered in their personal responsibility for their recovery.
Who is Be Activated for?
Everyone!
From children to older adults, from office workers to weekend warriors and professional athletes, regardless of whether the injury or pain is acute or chronic, everyone can benefit from better understanding how their bodies are designed to function.
If you’re stuck in your healing journey, and are curious about experiencing the Be Activated approach, please feel free to reach out to Chris at ckrammer@restorerehabandwellness.ca or book your initial with him!
Author: Chris Krammer
Chris Krammer is a Registered Physiotherapist and avid human performance enthusiast. Initially inspired by his love of sports and training, Chris pursued a Bachelor’s of Kinesiology at UBC, with the goal of becoming a Strength and Conditioning Coach. During his undergraduate, Chris worked as a personal trainer for older adults, and as a Student Strength Coach for the UBC Varsity Athletes. During this time, he became frustrated by the impact of recurrent pain and injury on his clients and athletes, and resolved to pursue a Masters in Physical Therapy, aiming to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to help solve the problems that limited his clients’ performance and enjoyment of life.