Getting injured is no picnic, but it won’t do you any good to stay down in the dumps during your recovery. The best you can do is pick yourself up and look for a solution.
Your doctor may have recommended that you go to physical therapy, so you’re looking into that. You may seem skeptical. But you should know that for many, physical therapy has profound effects.
Before starting physical therapy, however, there are some things to keep in mind. So that your treatment goes off without a hitch, follow the below advice.
1. It’s Smart to Pick a Therapist Who Has Experience
If given the option, pick a physical therapist who is well qualified to handle your medical condition.
Say you’re recovering from a back injury. Then, it’d be wise to look for a therapist who has a proven track record of effectively treating patients with back issues. You must check for their qualification and also ensure that they have completed the required PT Hours Online.
Before proceeding with a certain therapist, find out some details. You should ask things like how long therapy will last and if you need to bring any physical therapy equipment.
It would also be ideal if you got along well. It’s essential that you feel comfortable being honest with them during your time there. If you don’t feel like you can be honest, it may set you back in your recovery.
See if you can schedule an initial appointment to get to know a therapist better. Then, you’ll have a better idea of how they conduct their sessions and whether you’d work well together.
2. Put in the Work and Do Your Homework
Don’t go to physical therapy for something like a knee injury, and expect it to heal up overnight.
Depending on the injury, it may take weeks or sometimes months to fully heal. Mentioning this isn’t to discourage you, only to remind you that it’s essential to stay the course and not give up.
Throughout the process, it’ll be up to you to put in the work. Doing the work means you need to practice the exercises and stretches on your own time.
If you don’t focus on your “homework,” then your therapist will likely notice. Plus, you may not get better as quickly as you’d like.
To expedite healing up your injury, make sure you do the exercises your therapist recommends.
3. Activities in Conjunction with Therapy Can Help
Focusing on therapy is important, but you should supplement your sessions with other activities.
For example, swimming at the local pool may speed up your recovery. Likewise, if you can go on short walks or do yoga, that can be beneficial too.
Plus, besides helping you physically, activities like these can support you mentally. Your mental health is just as important as your physical therapy treatment. So, it would be in your best interest if you stayed positive throughout your treatment.
You can also use natural treatments in conjunction with physical therapy. I will dive into this more next.
4. Natural Treatments Can Speed up Your Recovery
Another way to speed along your physical therapy is by using natural treatments.
Essential oils are a simple yet powerful way to reduce inflammation. They also promote positive mental health during recovery. In the same way, marijuana or CBD cream can help with pain, inflammation, and stress.
For instance, you may be recovering from back surgery. CBD for back pain has proven effective, so you may want to add that to your treatment plan.
Physical therapy plus natural treatments should get you back in fighting shape in no time.
5. It’s Vital to Not Forget Everything You Learn Post Therapy
It’s a relief when you’re doing better and you seem to have recovered. And yet, it’s still wise to apply the same exercises moving forward.
Your therapist likely gave you some exercises that you can practice regularly. It’s up to you to not abandon ship. Don’t forget their advice, but rather, take it seriously!
Applying the same exercises now and in the future will prevent repeat injuries and new injuries. Plus, they’ll be excellent for mobility and flexibility.
Conclusion
Physical therapy may seem like a pain — literally! But it would help if you took it seriously so you can be on your way to recovering.
At times you may feel like giving up, but your perseverance will see you through.
By following these tips and making enough effort, and before too long, you’ll feel better!
