Although we try to make your physical therapy program enjoyable, we understand that it’s probably not your favorite thing to do. We oftentimes field complaints about numerous aspects of the physical therapy process, and trust us when we say that we hear you. We know that it can be challenging or frustrating at times, but we know that you can overcome these issues and restore immense physical function after an injury or surgery. With that in mind, we wanted to use today’s blog to spotlight some common complaints that we hear about physical therapy, and how you can overcome these issues to make the strongest recovery possible.
Common Issues With The PT Process
Here’s a look at five complaints that we sometimes hear from patients, and an explanation of how we work with the patient to overcome these challenges.
- Progress Is Plateauing– If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you may have run into a situation where you were able to lose weight pretty easily early on in your program, only for your progress to stall a bit as time went on. Sometimes the same can happen during physical therapy. You may make bigger strides at the beginning and assume that you’ll continue healing on the same trajectory, but that’s not always easy. One way to avoid plateauing is by working with a physical therapist. They’ll constantly be evaluating and reevaluating your strengths and deficits so that they can adjust your PT program to your current needs. Making these small tweaks to your program is key to avoiding progress stagnation.
- It Hurts– We’ve talked about this topic on our blog in the past, but know that physical therapy should never be painful. However, good physical therapy will be uncomfortable. Pushing you out of your comfort zone is how you make the most progress, so know that you’re going to be a little uncomfortable during your sessions. It’s nothing you can’t handle, just know that a little discomfort during your exercises is normal.
- It’s Taking Too Long – The fact of the matter is there is no quick fix to heal your body after an injury or surgery. It’s going to take some time to get back to full health, even if you really commit to an individualized care plan. However, if you work with a physical therapist who can tailor a routine to your specific needs and your progress, you can potentially shave some time off your rehab as opposed to following a generic recovery plan you found online. Working with a physical therapist almost always leads to a shorter recovery time than if you try to recover on your own.
- Accessibility– For some people, it can be hard to get to a clinic if they just suffered a severe injury or underwent a major surgery. They may not be able to drive themselves, and arraigning transportation may not always be reliable. That’s just one of the reasons that we offer telehealth PT sessions. You can connect with a PT and go through a personalized physical therapy session from the comfort of your home or wherever you can find an internet connection. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to connect with our team.
- It’s Hard – Physical therapy isn’t going to be easy. We always tell our clients that you are going to get out what you put in. If you only give half effort during your sessions because it’s hard work, know that you aren’t going to make the strongest recovery. Now is a crucial time for recovery to take place, and if you aren’t going to put in the work, you’re only cheating yourself. Surround yourself with friends, family and a PT team who will encourage you to give it your all during your in-person or home-based exercises.
Let us help you overcome any challenges you’re facing during your PT routine. For help with any of the above issues, or for assistance with a specific injury or surgical recovery, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
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