Are You Going to Physical Therapy? These Are Three Unexpectedly Crucial Questions Your PT Will Ask—And Why They Are Important
You may be limping as a result of a pickleball injury. Or perhaps your shoulder has been defiantly frozen, refusing to carry anything heavier than a coffee mug. Or maybe every time you stand up, your knees begin to sigh and creak as though they are negotiating an early retirement.
Your doctor may have recommended physical therapy for whatever reason you reached this point, and now you are preparing for your first appointment, resolved to do whatever it takes to return to your version of normal.
But be aware that your physical therapist will ask you questions, and they will not be idle chatter, before you put on your sneakers and get ready to be stretched, prodded, and straightened. They use these purposeful, focused, and frequently unexpectedly illuminating questions to create a customized treatment plan for you.
Your physical therapist will almost probably ask you these three important questions, and you might be surprised to learn how important they are.
1.What Do You Find Difficult to Do Now?
In other words, how is your actual life being limited by your pain or injury?
There is more to this than a list of symptoms. In addition to your diagnosis, your physical therapist wants to hear your narrative. They want to know what aspects of your everyday life have been taken over, including getting dressed without flinching in agony, raising your toddler, or climbing stairs.
David Nolan, PT, DPT, of Massachusetts General Hospital, states, "We are not here to treat a shoulder—we are here to help someone reach for the cereal bowl again."
Your physical therapist can begin making connections by figuring out what tasks or motions you are unable to complete. This will allow them to determine which joints are too tight, which muscles are not functioning at their best, and how these limitations are causing your suffering.
Therefore, do not only state, "My knee hurts." Say: "The park's steps feel like Everest, so I have not been able to go for my evening walk in weeks." Your therapy plan can be more focused and successful if you are more explicit.
you can dream a little while your physical therapist plans the next steps.
Perhaps you and your partner would want to go hiking again in the mornings. Or, at the beach, chase after your dog without dragging anything. Or play tennis pain-free, without having to worry about your knee giving out in the middle of a serve.
They will consider the big picture rather than simply the apparent problem location.
For instance, your therapist may recommend balance exercises, agility training, and upper body stretches to help you improve your swing mechanics if your knee hurts but you still want to return to the tennis court. Moving like yourself again is more important than simply recovering.
3. Are You Prepared to Make a Decision?
Perhaps the most significant—and least appreciated—question of all is this one.
Recovery is not a solitary event. There is no magic in physical therapy. It is a collaboration, and it can only succeed if you are prepared to be there at home as well as at the clinic.
Let us face it, life gets hectic. Exercises are neglected. Motivation waned. Your therapist will be better equipped to create a plan that works for you rather than one that sets you up for failure if you are open and honest with them about what you can actually commit to.
"It probably will not be enough to achieve lasting change if you are simply doing the work when you are in the clinic," Nolan adds.
You will not be condemned to everlasting stretches every morning because of that. The frequency and intensity of your workouts will probably decrease after your discomfort is under control and your strength has returned. However, a little upkeep will always be important.
And if you are feeling uncertain or overburdened? Say so. Drill sergeants are not physical therapists. They work together. Additionally, the more open you are, the more probable it is that they will create a program that you can truly adhere to.
Conclusion: Physical Therapy Is Not the Only Kind of Therapy
Despite their apparent simplicity, these three questions reveal all the factors that contribute to the success of physical treatment.
Your PT is interested in more than simply your pain. They want to know what you are aiming for, how it is changing your life, and how prepared you are to put in the effort to get there.
Give a truthful response. Give specifics. Keep your curiosity alive.There is more to physical therapy than just muscles and joints. It is about getting your confidence, purpose, and mobility back.
And a talk is the first step in that.
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