Can DIY PT Do More Harm Than Good?
If you are dealing with chronic musculoskeletal pain, it can be tempting to attempt healing yourself. Unfortunately, DIY physical therapy often does more harm than good for several reasons. First and foremost, you may be performing incorrect exercises or techniques. A licensed physical therapist understands how the body functions and has years of training on proper form for each exercise.
1. Overdoing it
Overextending physical therapy after an injury or surgery can only make matters worse and slow down healing. That’s why working with a physical therapist is so critical when beginning back at the gym after such a trauma. At your physical therapy session, they may assign you homework with specific sets and repetitions for each exercise or provide some guidance on how to do them correctly.
While you are free to complete your exercises at home, having a mobile physical therapist on hand can make it easier to avoid overexertion and set yourself back. Keep track of how you feel while performing home workouts and inform your therapist of any tightness or weakness you experience. Doing this will allow them to assess how far along you are in recovery and adjust the program accordingly. Setting achievable goals also helps motivate you as you make progress towards full recovery! Finally, ensure to attend all appointments as scheduled without missing any due to unexpected events.
3. Not following directions
Following directions can be challenging for some people, particularly those with difficulty paying attention. This may cause them to miss the point of an instruction and misinterpret information. It could even lead to other issues such as refusing to participate in the activity or engaging in another activity of their choosing instead of listening to what you have to say.
If your child struggles with following directions, try targeting this skill during therapy or classroom activities. This can help them learn to follow simple instructions in different contexts and apply those skills when at home doing activities in everyday life. Play Simon Says or set up an obstacle course where students have to follow commands before moving on; both of these methods are simple ways of working on this skill that are enjoyable for all ages!
4. Not taking care of yourself
A PT test is the science of measuring blood clotting. This clot-fighting technology measures prothrombin and thromboplastin concentrations, two coagulation factors which help prevent and repair blood clots. Furthermore, it can tell you if your doctor is on track with anticoagulant therapy. In order to maximize their chances of passing with flying colors on this exam, those taking it should take care of themselves before, during, and after. You might even want to consult a medical expert for the most effective ways to do so.
To get started on your journey to better health and recovery, contact our team of specialists at Direct Orthopedic Therapy today!
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