What is Optimal Loading?

We are a group of health professionals including Physios, Massage Therapists and Personal Trainers wanting to answer your common questions on pain and dispel any myths surrounding pain and exercise. 

The third topic in our blog series surrounding pain management surrounds the idea of Optimal Loading. You may have heard of the acronym RICE (meaning Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) however more recently this has been replaced with POLICE (meaning Protection, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, Elevation).

So what is optimal loading?

Optimal loading is a key concept in managing and reducing pain. It involves pushing your body within your pain limits to promote healing and improve pain tolerance. By engaging in controlled, moderate activities that keep your pain at a manageable level, up to 5-6 on the VAS scale (see previous blog post), you encourage your body to adapt and strengthen.

This process helps dampen pain receptors and increases your pain threshold over time. Optimal loading means finding the right balance between activity and rest, ensuring you're challenging your body without causing further harm.

It's about progressively increasing the intensity of your activities in a way that's sustainable and safe.

At Back2Front, we incorporate optimal loading into our physiotherapy and fitness programs. Whether through customized exercise routines or our various classes, we help you stay active within your pain limits. Our goal is to support your body's natural healing processes and enhance your overall resilience to pain. Remember, optimal loading is about smart, strategic movement that empowers you to manage pain effectively and continue living an active, fulfilling life.

For more on staying active while in pain, revisit Should I Rest When I'm in Pain? and Is All Pain Bad?.