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5 Keys to Success With Injury Rehabilitation

Want to get the most out of your Injury Rehabilitation Program?
Doctor of Physical Therapy in Oceanside, CA shares his tips on getting the most out of your treatment…

Physical Therapy treatment can be an important and often necessary component in recovery from injuries, gaining relief from chronic pain, rehabilitating after operations, and correcting dysfunctional movements. With most Physical Therapists now educated at a doctoral level, we can offer a wide range of evaluative and treatment techniques and tools, and a wealth of knowledge and advice to help you through a multitude of conditions. As your Physical Therapist guides you on your road to recovery and optimal physical function and performance, here are 5 important ways that you can maximize your success in getting back to your best:

1. Choose a Physical Therapist that can spend time with you.
  At Pipeline Physical Therapy we find that the more one-on-one time we spend with our patients, the more likely they are to reach their goals in a shorter timeframe. We schedule patients every 45-60 minutes allowing our therapists ample time to assess your progress and adjust your treatment each and every visit.
  Many patients may not know when given a PT referral that they are free to choose who provides their treatment.
2. Be Consistent with your attendance
  Your Physical Therapist will work with you during you initial visit to determine a frequency and duration that works with your schedule and gives you the best chance of success. It is then your responsibility to attend each appointment as recommended, in order to make it worth your time and effort. Maintaining a consistent schedule with your PT allows frequent progress to occur and decreases the chances of exacerbations of symptoms.
3. Do you Home Exercise Program!!!
  Most patients are not able to attend Physical Therapy every day due to busy schedules, insurance allowances, or financial responsibilities. Therefore, your PT will often give you homework to further your progress on your own. This is perhaps the most important part of your rehab. Your PT is your guide in providing the tools for you to help yourself recover. Just 2-3 hours spent with your PT will not override 168 hours per week of activities that may be contributing to your pain. Consistent performance of corrective exercises/activities is required to retrain dysfunctional movement…. And YES, we can usually tell if you have been doing your exercises.
4. Continue practicing your Physical Therapy after discharge.
  The exercises and education provided by your therapist is not only meant to correct dysfunction, but to maintain proper movement patterns. Therefore, this should become part of your daily routine. Even though your PT may not be telling you weekly to “fix your posture,” “walk this way,” or “land like this,” you should continue to do so along with performing you home exercise program. This should help to minimize exacerbations of the symptoms that initially brought you to PT.
5. Stay in touch with your Physical Therapist
  Being discharged form PT treatment does not mean you are cut off. We love hearing from former patients about how well they are doing AND love to help when you are not doing so well. Don’t hesitate to contact us via phone, email, or text for advice.