If you’ve been injured or have had surgery, you may need physical therapy as part of your recovery plan. A Physical Therapist can be incredibly instrumental in helping you regain the healthy form you enjoyed before your injury or operation.
But, make no mistake about it – this will be a journey. You may be experiencing pain or limited mobility after an injury, and you may need help performing certain movements at first. But you can make your recovery process easier on yourself by following these three tips while on this particular journey.
1. Be Sure to Communicate
It’s essential that you are open about what you are feeling physically while you’re going through physical therapy. That means being honest and detailed with your Physical Therapist about what happened to you and what physical limitations you may have. Looking at your medical history together can also give them a better picture of what they can do to help you on your recovery journey.
Part of that communication is also asking questions. Understanding your treatment plan will help ensure that you’re following instructions correctly and effectively. For example, your Physical Therapist will gladly explain what they have in mind when they are having you do a particular exercise or stretch.
2. Create Goals to Chase
One way to measure your progress is to create certain milestones when you start physical therapy. When you hit them, you’ll feel a great sense of satisfaction that can serve as motivation to keep on pushing. Start off by creating small, realistic goals so that you can build up to achieving more ambitious feats. Creating and sharing your goals with your Physical Therapist will help you effectively work toward them.
3. Do Work At Home On Your Own
Your physical therapy encompasses more than the work you do in your Physical Therapist’s office or during your personal sessions with them. You’ll likely have plenty of extra things to do at home to continue making good progress. Be sure to ask them about an at-home routine if they haven’t outlined one for you already. Doing this is the difference between sticking to the timeline and having setbacks.
Physical therapy is a journey, and it can be a tough one. But following these three tips and maintaining an optimistic attitude can speed up your recovery and smooth out the bumps in the road. Above all, it’s vital to have an empathetic and trustworthy Physical Therapist that can help you with these tips. In need of a top-tier Physical Therapist? Feel free to contact Athletic Advantage today!
