My name is Marilyn Baker, and I have horrible allergies. I’m 42 years old and have been suffering from allergies since I was a child. I have seasonal and environmental allergies. Allergies plague me year round. When I was young, my parents even moved to a dryer area in the hope of helping me. Over the past eight years, I have done extensive research both through doctors and online. I have managed to come up with some combinations that have helped me a great deal. My allergies aren’t gone, but they have become manageable. I do have to have allergy shots, but I also use some natural remedies. I am happy to be able to share my findings with you here on my blog. I hope you can find some of this of value.
Seeing a physical therapist after you've had an injury or been through surgery can help you get back to your healthy self as quickly as possible. Under this professional's guidance, you'll go through a variety of exercises — often designed to strengthen weak muscles and restore your range of motion — in the clinic and learn how to practice them at home, too. Succeeding in physical therapy is partly dependent on your ability to learn the exercises and your dedication to practicing them between sessions, but there are a number of other simple strategies that you can focus on to make the most of your time with your therapist. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Make Goals Together
Depending on the extent of your injury or surgery, you may be starting to get moving again with very simple exercises, which might seem discouraging. For example, after a knee or hip replacement, you could be essentially learning how to walk. To avoid letting your discouragement sabotage your progress, talk to your physical therapist about setting a number of small, short-term goals. The main goal might be able to eventually run with your grandchildren but, for now, you should have smaller goals, such as taking 10 steps or using the stairs with ease. These smaller goals will be easier to meet and can help you stay encouraged and moving forward with your therapy.
Make Sure You Understand Each Exercise
While it's ideal to work with a reputable physical therapist who takes a patient-friendly approach, you might occasionally have trouble following the instructions of your therapist. Don't just agree to what he or she says and then leave the appointment having no idea how to perform a given exercise; you'll waste the week between sessions if you can't do the exercise correctly. Always make sure that you understand the ins and outs of each motion and don't be afraid to repeatedly ask questions if you need to.
Share Your Frustrations
Remember, your physical therapist is a medical professional who is used to dealing with all sorts of patients. If you're feeling discouraged about your struggles or apparent lack of progress, share these concerns. There's no point in giving the impression that everything is fine — if you do, your therapist could start you on a new set of exercises before you've mastered an earlier set, which could pose further challenges. If you share your frustrations, your therapist can consider switching up your exercise regimen or even providing more encouraging feedback for you.
Contact a center like Spokane Sports & Physical Therapy for more help.
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