Stronger physio, stronger clients: The gym connection.

… and why it might be the best decision I’ve made for both my body and my clients.

People often assume that because I’m a physiotherapist, I’ve got my own training completely sorted. After all, I know how to build strength, rehab injuries, and prescribe exercise. But knowing and doing are two very different things, especially when life gets busy (hello recent house move!).

So this year, I decided to join a gym—not just to train but for accountability, consistency, and measured progress, all of which are game-changers when you’re juggling work, life, and trying to look after your body.

Accountability matters!

Even when you know what you should be doing, it’s easy to let your own training slip down the priority list. Joining a gym gave me the structure and motivation to show up, sometimes for short sessions, sometimes for more focused rehab or prehab work, but always with a sense of purpose.

Just like I encourage my patients to create habits around movement, I needed to do the same for myself.

Why are fixed machines a win for Hypermobility?

Although I own a fully equipped pole and aerial studio, we don’t have fixed resistance machines. That’s one of the main reasons I joined a gym, to have access to equipment that supports my strength training and rehab, especially when managing hypermobility.

As someone who lives with hypermobility, I’ve come to really value what fixed gym machines can offer. While they’re often overlooked in favour of free weights, and yes, free weights are fantastic for functional movement, machines have a unique advantage for hypermobile bodies:

• They provide external stability, which means I can target specific muscles without over-recruiting compensatory patterns or risking end-range overload.
• When your joints naturally go further than most people’s, that extra control is key to building strength safely and effectively.
• Machines allow me (and many of my clients) to work within a safer, more controlled range, which is often crucial in managing pain and improving long-term resilience.

Why it’s also great for my patients…

Joining a gym hasn’t just helped me physically, it’s also a huge asset in my work as a physio. I can now:

• Test and measure progress more accurately.
• Understand the machines and environments my clients are using in their own gym routines.
• Demonstrate safe and tailored modifications for hypermobile individuals or those rehabbing an injury.
• Bridge the gap between clinical rehab and return to performance or everyday function.

It’s also reminded me that strength work doesn’t need to be fancy to be effective. Sometimes, a simple leg press, lat pulldown, or seated row, done consistently and progressively, is exactly what the body needs.

Final thoughts…

Whether you’re hypermobile, dealing with an old injury, or just trying to build better habits, a gym environment can offer structure, measurable progress, and support. And no, you don’t have to “be fit” before you join. You just have to start.

I’ll be continuing to share what I learn from my own training and how it influences the way I treat and coach at Pole Kinetics PT and Free Your Body Therapy.

If you’re curious about how gym-based strength training might benefit you, especially if you’re hypermobile or rehabbing, get in touch. I’d love to help.

Warm regards,

Jane x

Chartered Physiotherapist & Founder of Pole Kinetics PT