Some Is Good, More Is Not Better

An important expectation to set with your patients after prescribing an exercise is the understanding of effort vs. outcome.

Sometimes, some is good, and more is not better—like a patient with knee OA you recommend to walk. A bit of movement can ease stiffness, but overdoing it can aggravate symptoms.

Sometimes, some is good and more is better—like stretching, where more time under tension often means greater flexibility.

Sometimes, less is more—like strength training, where lifting heavier for fewer reps beats going light for high reps.

And sometimes, more is the same—like doing extra sets of an exercise your body has already adapted to. Beyond a certain point, the benefit plateaus, and you’re just adding time without adding results.

The tip? Help your patients understand which category their exercise falls into—the sweet spot where effort equals results—nothing more, nothing less.