How to Get the Most out of Therapy

Happy 2018 everyone! As we start the new year here at Galloway Therapy, we would like to share some tips with you on how to maximize your time here during your appointments. Keep on reading to learn how you can get the most out of each and every session.

5 Tips on How to Get the Most out of Therapy:

1) Have a Goal

If you’re going to run a race, you need to know where the finish line is, right? The same is true for therapy: to have a successful treatment, you need to have a specific, objective goal in mind. Instead of saying you want to be pain-free, be a little more detailed. What activities or hobbies do you want to be able to do regularly without pain? How long does it usually take for a certain activity to begin causing pain? Creating a specific goal helps us as therapists help you gain specific results!

2) Get Into a Helpful Mindset

Sometimes it is easy to get into the habits of taking too many pain meds, ignoring when you’re in pain, or “just pushing through the pain” in an effort to get better. But actually those habits or mindsets don’t necessarily help you improve and may actually cause you more difficulties in the future. So instead, try to be mindful of which activities increase or decrease your symptoms and then tell us your findings next time you come in! That way we can help identify more accurately the root of your pain. To see progress in your path to a healthier body, it really helps to get into the right mindset about therapy!

3) Communicate with Your Physical Therapist

We do a lot of exercises and stretching here at Galloway Therapy! If something causes you pain, let us know! There are ways we can modify your activities to make it comfortable for you while still letting you benefit from the workout. We can even give you a different exercise that still works the same muscles but is in a better position for you. Many times certain exercises will be mildly uncomfortable but it should not be more than minimal discomfort. So be sure to communicate with us so we know how to best taylor your therapy session to fit your needs!

4) Listen To Your Physical Therapist

Your therapists not only have gone through years of schooling, but they also have a good deal of real experience under their belt. They’re your expert resource! So if they advise you not to use a vacuum cleaner for two weeks, make use of the excuse to hold off on the spring cleaning until then! If they encourage you to do a certain stretch at home on a regular basis, go ahead and set aside a time that works best for you to go through with that home program. They want the best for you, and will gladly give you the tools to get better!

5) Follow Through with Your Home Exercises

Everyone hates homework, especially when it involves physical activity. And unfortunately, even at therapy, you will likely be given homework that includes exercises or stretches to do at home on a regular basis. This home program is what really supports your treatments. It is the backbone of what we do. Those exercises are not a task that your therapist wants to burden you with … They are the pathway to getting better! Strength and mobility is important for you to have a good quality of life, to be able to do what you want to do, to participate in social events with increased endurance and decreased pain. It takes your putting in time to help yourself get better. Rome was not built in a day! So take a few minutes out of your busy day to complete that homework, and then brag about it to your therapist!

We hope these tips help you this new year to progress in your therapy and improve your quality of life!