Exercise physiologist guessing weights at Zarett Rehab

The Assessment Comes First

V, our Exercise Physiologist, guessed dumbbell & barbell weights blindfolded for our social media platforms. Even an experienced professional couldn’t guess the weights, so why should you?

Before any weight gets picked, we test strength, range of motion, and how you move through a task. We check where pain shows up, as this baseline is the starting point.

How We Set the Starting Weight

We don’t start from your max lift. We use RPE (rate of perceived exertion), a 0–10 scale. Early on, the target is low, often a 1–3. The weight should feel easy. The goal is what your tissue can handle that day, not what you could lift on a good day.

How the Weight Changes

As you progress, weight, reps, or range of motion increase gradually, whcih is progressive overload. We adjust one variable at a time and track how you respond. If pain increases instead of just effort, we hold back.

At Zarett Rehab & Fitness

Your starting weight and progression come from your own assessment, not a template. Feel free to schedule an appointment with us.

Mikael La Ferla

Mikael La Ferla

Mikael La Ferla is the Marketing Manager at Zarett Rehab & Fitness, a physical therapy and fitness clinic in Philadelphia. He writes about physical therapy, injury recovery, and staying active in Philadelphia, working with Zarett’s physical therapists to turn clinical expertise into practical guidance for patients. Mikael holds an MBA from Rutgers University and is also a Senior Accountant at PMC Property Group, bringing a background in finance to his work in healthcare marketing. Outside the office, he enjoys cooking and playing squash.

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