Thinking of Starting Your Workouts in 2026? Why Seeing a Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist Can Help
- Laura Gerber
- Dec 23, 2025
- 6 min read
Key Highlights:
Seeing a Physiotherapist or accredited Exercise Physiologist before starting or adjusting your workouts sets a strong, safe foundation.
Tailored plans consider your body, past injuries, fitness level, and goals to maximise results and reduce injury risk.
Regular check-ins and tailored guidance keep you accountable and motivated throughout your fitness journey.
Proper guidance helps you train smarter, sustain progress, and enjoy workouts that feel good while delivering results.
January is a great time to make some changes in your routine and tweak your lifestyle to propel you towards your goals.
Maybe you’re considering moving your body more or curious about the gym but not quite sure where to
begin. Maybe you’re curious about strength training for beginners but don’t know where to start. Or maybe you’ve already started lifting and are wondering why it feels harder than you expected.
If you’ve ever thought:
“I want to start, but I’m scared of getting injured.”
“I’m already training, but my body feels sore, tight, or stuck.”
“I’m trying so hard, but I’m not seeing results.”
You're not alone, and we are able to support you in making this transition happen smoothly.
Showing up with enthusiasm is a helpful way to start making strides in your routine but can be tricky to turn into long-term commitment and discipline, which is where you are going to build strength and resilience to prevent injury and improve your health.
At Women’s Health Hub, we’ve worked with many of those who walked into the gym ready to go… and yet a few weeks, or sometimes a few sessions later, they were dealing with soreness, pain, frustration or worse is, they gave up because it felt hard without feeling good.
This isn’t because they weren’t motivated. It’s about starting with the personalised foundation your body needs. Seeing an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist when you want to begin your fitness journey is a great way to learn the foundations of exercise and movement, as well as find ways to fit exercise into your lifestyle.
While part of our role is to push you to try things you didn't know you were capable of, we also help you understand and tune in to your body, move with confidence, and build strength in a way that feels safe, sustainable and enjoyable.
We can help set you up for real, sustainable success.
When You’re New to the Gym
Starting the gym can feel overwhelming. Machines, weights, and terminology can all be confusing. You might wonder:
What exercises should I do? How heavy is too heavy? Is this pain normal or a warning sign?
And when you want results, you can easily fall into the trap of trying what everyone else is doing or what you saw online, without knowing if it suits your body. While well-intentioned, these programs aren’t designed around your body, your movement patterns, or your history.
A Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist begins by understanding how you move, your goals, and what your body needs right now. From there, a personalised exercise program is created to help you build strength safely and progressively.
Instead of guessing or pushing through discomfort, we focus on:
Your current strength and mobility
Past injuries, niggles, or pain
Your lifestyle, stress, sleep, and recovery
Your personal goals
This allows you to start at the right level of intensity for your body
This approach helps reduce the risk of injury, builds good technique early, and allows you to train with clarity rather than guesswork.
If You’re Already Training but Something Feels Off
So many people also come to us not because they haven’t been training, but because they have been training and it’s not working the way they want.
Maybe you:
feel stuck with your lifts or experience plateaus
get niggles that don’t go away
feel like you’re putting in effort but seeing minimal results
notice pain that shouldn’t be part of your training
This can often have to do with your routine and whether you are meeting physical activity guidelines and getting enough sleep and water intake. It could also have to do with how you are loading and moving your body. Having your movement assessment can help to see if you might be overloading (or underloading) in certain lifts or exercises.
A Physiotherapist or an accredited Exercise Physiologist doesn’t just give you workouts. We assess your movement patterns, lifting technique, and training load to identify areas that may be contributing to pain or limiting progress. Sometimes small changes in technique, exercise selection, or progression can make a significant difference.
Why Working with a Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist Helps You Train Smarter
Personalised Assessment
Starting or returning to the gym can feel overwhelming. Everyone’s body is different, from past injuries to movement habits to fitness levels. A Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist will take the time to understand your body, your goals, and your lifestyle. This means your workout plan is designed specifically for you and is safe, effective, and realistic for where you are right now.
Goal-Focused Guidance
Whether you want to get stronger, improve your energy, build confidence, or manage a health concern, your physiotherapist or exercise physiologist works with you to clarify your goals. Together, you’ll create a step-by-step plan that’s achievable and motivating, so every session feels purposeful.
Injury Prevention and Support
One of the biggest misconceptions about working with a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist is that it’s only for people with injuries. The truth is the opposite: prevention is a huge part of what we do.
If you’re coming back from an injury or dealing with lingering aches, your physiotherapist or exercise physiologist can also design a program to help you get back to your favourite activities safely.
Good training supports your joints, muscles, and nervous system so you can continue exercising consistently over time. Rather than stopping and starting due to injury or pain, you build strength in a way that your body can adapt to and recover from.
Building Confidence
The gym can feel intimidating at first, especially if you’re trying something new. With guidance, you’ll gain confidence in using equipment, performing exercises correctly, and navigating the gym environment. It’s about feeling capable and comfortable in your body, not just getting through a workout.
Consistency and Motivation
Staying consistent is often the hardest part of any fitness journey. Regular sessions with your physiotherapist or exercise physiologist provide support, accountability, and feedback, helping you celebrate progress along the way.
Knowing that your program is tailored to you makes it easier to stick with it and see results you can feel and enjoy.
Preparing for Your First Session
Your first session with a Physiotherapist or an accredited Exercise Physiologist is designed to be straightforward, welcoming, and informative. Think of it as a chance to get to know your body and set yourself up for success, rather than just another workout. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare.
1. Bring your history
Share any past injuries, surgeries, or ongoing aches. Even minor niggles matter. This helps us understand how your body moves, what limitations might exist, and how to plan your exercises safely. The more details you provide, the more personalised and effective your program will be.
2. Share your goals
Be clear about what you want to achieve, whether it’s building strength, improving endurance, enhancing flexibility, losing weight, or simply moving more comfortably in everyday life. We will use your goals to guide exercise selection, intensity, and progression, making sure your program aligns with your priorities.
3. Wear comfortable clothing
Clothes that allow full movement make it easier for us to observe how your body moves through different exercises. This helps identify areas of weakness, mobility restrictions, or patterns that could increase injury risk, so your plan is targeted and effective.
4. Be open and honest
Talk about what feels easy, what feels difficult, and any discomfort you notice. We are here to support you, not judge. This open communication ensures exercises are adjusted to your capabilities and comfort, giving you confidence and safety as you progress.
By the end of your session, you and your exercise physiologist or physiotherapist will be on the same page about your goals and have a treatment plan so you can maximise results.
Start Strong, Stay Strong
This New Year, consider starting your workout journey with a little extra guidance. Whether you’re new to exercise or already training, working with a Physiotherapist or an accredited Exercise Physiologist can help you train smarter, safer, and more empowered.
The goal isn’t just to start strong this year, it’s to keep going. Let’s turn those New Year’s resolutions into action!
If you’d like personalised guidance, don’t hesitate to contact us or book an initial consultation with us.
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