Suffer An Injury? Here’s How to Stay Motivated Through Physical Therapy

Did you know that half of American adults will suffer from an injury that lasts longer than 3 months?

Needless to say, over a hundred million Americans need physical therapy every year. But not everyone goes through with therapy – and so many don’t ever fully recover from their injuries as a result.

If you’ve ever been one of the millions who suffer from an injury, you know how hard it can be to stay motivated. Physical therapy can be painful, and even expensive. But it’s crucial to the recovery process nonetheless.

Are you currently in a physical therapy exercise program? If so, you may be looking for tips to help you stay motivated.

That’s why we’re here to bring you these tips to help you stay motivated on the road to recovery. Let’s get started!

Set Realistic Goals

How long does physical therapy take?

Some injuries take longer to heal than others. Mild injuries may only require a month of physical therapy. Other injuries may require several months – even years.

Your physical therapy exercise program will depend on the extent of your injuries. In the beginning, it’s important to set realistic short-term and long-term goals. By breaking them up, you’ll avoid getting discouraged. Your doctor and physical therapist can work closely with you on this.

Expect your physical therapist to change up your exercises every couple of weeks. You can also break these exercises up into milestones.

By achieving smaller, more realistic goals, you’ll feel the excitement build each week. And as a result, you’ll stay more motivated with each passing week.

Reduce Your Stress Levels

How will you manage to get around? Will the injury impair your ability to work? How long does physical therapy take?

These are some of the common types of questions you may ask yourself after an injury. It’s normal to feel stressed immediately following an injury. But staying calm and collected is most important to your recovery.

Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and staying busy can help in big ways. Being consistent with your at home physical therapy can also go a very long way. After all, exercise is often one of the best cures for stress.

Practicing mindfulness is another great way to keep your stress levels down. Meditation and breathing exercises can even relieve your pain!

The less stressed you are, the more you’ll get out of your physical therapy exercise program.

Don’t Let Money Stress You Out

Money to be one of the biggest sources of stress – even for people who aren’t injured! And it’s no secret that injuries can rack up serious medical bills.

Take advantage of any paid time off you can receive through work. The more you can rest, the better.

Depending on your financial situation, you may not be able to take much time off from work. Even if this is the case, it’s still possible to manage your stress levels. Keeping a calendar of your meetings, medical bills, and doctors appointments can help. It also helps to manage your time better so you can work smarter – not harder.

Not only can working closely with your therapist and doctor keep your stress levels down. An injury attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve. The less stressed you are about money, the more you can concentrate on your recovery. To learn more about personal injury attorneys, you can click for more information.

Track Your Progress

Your physical therapist will measure your physical improvements at each appointment. But at home physical therapy is just as important as the work you’ll do at your therapist’s office. So, it’s important to track your progress at home, as well.

Keep daily records of your pain levels. You can do this in a notebook, a calendar, or on printed copies of body diagrams.

You should also try to describe the pain as best as possible. For example, some types of pain may feel like jolting or stinging. Other types may feel tingly or numb.

Then, record when and how the pain improved when you applied different pain remedies. For example, applying ice and heat may help more than ibuprofen or painkillers. That way, if you experience pain, you’ll know the best course of action.

Additional Ways to Track Your Progress

Record how you feel after doing at home physical therapy. Does it help to make the pain go away or does it make it worse? Share these recordings with your physical therapist so they can help you.

Taking pictures of your injured body part is also important. You’ll be able to see how the physical therapy helps you regain mobility and function. It’s safe to say you’ll feel pretty good when comparing newer photos to your older ones.

Have Fun Motivating Yourself

It’s not uncommon to meet people experiencing similar injuries to your own. Chances are they have a similar physical therapy exercise program as you.

Having a physical therapy buddy can help you stay motivated. Not only will you both encourage each other. You’ll both bond over your recoveries and become friends in the long run.

Your physical therapist legally cannot share any specific information about other patients. But they can pair you up with other patients who have similar injuries to your own.

It also helps to listen to music while you do your physical therapy exercises. With every achievement, treat yourself to a new playlist. Fill them with lots of positive and upbeat songs that you’ll love singing along to.

Stay Motivated Throughout Your Physical Therapy Exercise Program

With anything, the results you yield will depend on the work you put in. When it comes to recovering from an injury, this philosophy couldn’t hold more truth.

People often overlook the importance of physical therapy. But if you’ve suffered an injury, a physical therapy exercise program is crucial. And with these motivational tips, you’ll be able to optimize your recovery.

There’s no better time to focus on yourself than following an injury. For more inspiring self-improvement advice, check out our blog today!