Many patients suffering from pain will go to the physical therapist to help find relief from their pain. However, over the course of treatment, some of that pain will begin to go away and many lose their motivation to continue.
If your treatment isn’t over yet or if you find that during your physical therapy treatment you begin to lose motivation along the way, you may be looking for ways on how to stay motivated during physical therapy.
Research shows that only 35% of physical therapy patients fully adhere to their plans of care.
Unfortunately, it turns out that most patients simply aren’t doing their prescribed physical therapy home exercise program. The most common reasons cited are lack of motivation, questions regarding self-efficacy, and perceived barriers to exercise. Motivating yourself to stick to an at-home physical therapy regimen can be tough, but it’s crucial for recovery.
Your physical therapist will partner with you to create a treatment plan to support your goals. Although your therapist supports and sets your course of treatment; it is not entirely up to your physical therapist to keep you motivated and on track. There are some things you can do to help yourself prepare for success during your physical therapy treatment:
Find a Purpose:
Remind yourself of why you need physical therapy and what you are working towards; whether that be to be able to comfortably walk up stairs or to run a marathon. Big or small, finding purpose will help motivate you and keep you on track.
Set Realistic Goals:
Before starting any physical therapy, you must set short or long term goals that can be accomplished. Make sure to remain in touch with your therapist so that he can tailor this for your betterment.
Partner Up:
Try to find a partner that can support you and help keep you accountable for attending physical therapy or keeping up with your at-home program. They may want to join you in getting more active and it can be a lot more fun to follow your course of treatment with the support of a partner or friend.
Track Progress:
Always try to keep a record of your recovery and the effects of physical therapy in reducing your pain. By knowing the progress you will stay motivated along the way. It provides a great way to visually see how far you have come!
Make Your Treatment and Exercise a Habit:
The more you are active and follow your home exercises, the more you will feel energized and motivated to continue. Once it becomes a habit, you will find yourself missing your daily active routine if you stray from your physical therapy plan.
Don’t Hurt Yourself:
This one is more common than you think, especially after a few therapy sessions and patients start to feel better. It can be tempting to do too much too fast. If you’re anxious to get back to your normal physical routine, discuss it with your physical therapist first. And if you find yourself doing more at home, take frequent breaks.
Recovering from an injury can be a difficult thing to do. You may experience slow progress, and your motivation can be hard to hold onto during your course of rehabilitation. It may be difficult to keep your spirits up enough to continue. By working closely with your physical therapist and following some of the tips above, you can hopefully find the motivation to stay focused during your recovery process. For a physical therapy partner who wants to help you meet your health and wellness needs; contact EverStrong Physical Therapy in Bellingham, Washington!
