Physical therapy is an incredibly popular treatment and rehabilitative technique for all types of people. PT can get you back to full strength after an injury or surgery, it can help restore your body following the trauma of pregnancy and it can help athletes improve their athletic performance, but physical therapy doesn’t just work in a vacuum, In order to get the most out of your sessions, you need to make some positive changes in other areas of your life. In today’s blog, we explore some daily habits that could be impacting the success of your rehab program, and why simple tweaks to your life can help you get the most out of your physical therapy regimen.
Habits That Can Hinder PT Success
Physical therapy will provide targeted training for your body, but you also need to take a step back and evaluate your health on your whole. Your body is working to recover or become stronger, and you can help this process along by ensuring you’re working to stay healthy in other aspects of your life. Here are some habits that can be detrimental to the success of your PT program.
- Poor Sleep– Sleep is a very important process for your body. It’s a time when your body is recovering from the physical trauma of the day and working to flush out toxins and waste products that are a byproduct of everyday life. If you’re not giving your body enough uninterrupted sleep, these restorative processes can suffer and serve to stunt your rehab. Strive to get at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night during your PT program.
- Unhealthy Diet– Poor diet choices can be pro-inflammatory, and inflammation can serve to slow the tissue recovery process or inhibit normal movement in areas like your back or your joints. There’s also the chance that you’re a little physically limited during your rehab, and if you’re packing on the calories, you may gain weight, which will only end up leading to more stress on your body. Give your body the vitamins and nutrients it needs to fuel tissue recovery after injury or surgery.
- Dehydration– Staying adequately hydrated is also helpful to muscle and tissue function. If you’re not drinking enough fluids or you’re dehydrating yourself with coffee or alcohol, it’s going to be tougher for healthy, oxygenated blood to reach the structures that need it the most. Always have a water bottle nearby when you’re at home or during your PT sessions so that it’s easy to stay hydrated. Be sure to replenish fluids after exercise or PT sessions, even if you’re not actively sweating.
- Smoking And Alcohol– Smoking causes a number of different problems for your body, and it actively complicates the tissue recovery process, so work hard to reduce or quit the habit. Alcohol can also cause problems for your rehab, as it too can cause tissue damage, but it can also lead to weight gain and sleep disturbances, two things we’ve already covered above. Really try to cut down on tobacco and alcohol use while your body is working to become stronger after an injury or surgery.
- Personal Work Ethic– Finally, one aspect we want to focus on is your personal work ethic, as this can work for or against you during your rehab. It’s great that you show up to your appointments at the clinic, but there’s a good chance you also have some home-based exercises that you’ve been asked to perform. If you’re not following through on your home exercises or you’re not giving the best effort at the clinic, you’re only cheating yourself. Conversely, if you give maximum effort and push to help your body heal, you stand a great chance at making the strongest recovery. Your personal work ethic can be an asset or it can be detrimental to your recovery, so make sure you use it to your advantage.
We can help you avoid these habitual issues that could have a negative affect on your recovery program. For more information on how to make the strongest recovery possible, or to talk to a PT about the individual issues you’re facing, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.