The spooky month of October may be here, and while you may be afraid of black cats or a bump in the night, one thing that we hope you’re never afraid of is physical therapy. In fact, physical therapy can actually help you overcome a number of your health- or exercise-related fears. In today’s blog, we explain how connecting with a physical therapist can help you overcome some common fitness fears.
Overcome Your Fears With Physical Therapy
The prospect of surgery or injury recovery can be a little scary, but you can actually put a lot of these fears to bed by working with a certified physical therapist. Let’s take a look at some of the common fears we hear about from patients and why we’re such a good partner for helping you overcome these fears.
- Fear of Surgery – Many people are afraid of the prospect of surgery or surgery-related tasks like being put out with anesthesia or the recovery process after surgery, but physical therapy can sometimes help you avoid a procedure altogether. Many conditions respond well to both physical therapy or surgery, but because PT is much less invasive and much more cost effective, it is typically the preferred option. You can save yourself some time and money, and you can put those surgical worries to bed by pursuing a PT routine.
- Fear of a “New Normal” – If you suffer an injury or simply begin to feel the effects of a degenerative condition like arthritis, you may begin to worry if this is how you’re going to feel forever. Will you always have knee pain when you walk from now on? Is your shoulder ever going to feel better than it does right now? Is this your “new normal?” Don’t settle for a life with pain. Instead, connect with a physical therapist and strengthen specific areas of your body to help retain physical function and your quality of life.
- Fear of Letting The Team Down – We also work with a number of athletes who are afraid that their absence from a team sport is letting the team down. However, if you rush back from injury before you’re ready, not only could your athletic ability be compromised, but you could be at an increased risk for reinjury. Do what’s best for yourself and your team by committing to making a strong and speedy recovery after an injury, and the best way to do that is with the help of a physical therapist who can develop an individualized recovery plan for your specific injury and sport.
- Fear of Lost Independence – Finally, if you’re beginning to get a little unsteady on your feet, or tasks around your home are becoming more physically challenging, know that you can work to maintain your independence by working with a physical therapist. We can work to improve your balance, help you become more confident in your ability to move and perform tasks, and explain how to make your home a safer place for you to live if you are on your own. We understand how important it is for seniors to remain strong, capable and independent, and we can help you overcome the physical challenges that threaten your ability to do these things.
You should never be afraid of physical therapy, and as you can see, physical therapy can actually help you overcome a number of common fears that our clients have. To put these fears to bed and become a strong version of yourself, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.