Suffering an injury is not only painful but also incredibly frustrating and prohibiting. Whether you’ve endured a serious affliction from an accident, left a minor pain too long and let it develop into something more concerning or your injury is a result of sport or demanding physical activity, physiotherapy is going to help you immensely. Regular trips to the physio are really essential to achieving recovery and getting back to full mobility. No matter what type of injury you’re dealing with, these tips and tricks will help you on your way to a speedy and seamless recovery.
Seek help right away
The worst thing you can do when you’re injured is to let it fester, no matter how small you feel the issue might be. If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, then you should absolutely seek professional help as quickly as possible. This can be your physio, general practitioner or even a massage therapist to begin with, but ultimately you should be heading to a specialized physiotherapist.
Listen, learn, repeat
Repetition, listening, and learning are key to physiotherapy treatment, as a lot of your recovery will often depend on a few take-home exercises and posture adjustments. You’ll have to be committed to your treatment and your own recovery in order to repair your injury alongside your physiotherapy.
Collaborate with your therapist
Your physiotherapist is going to work with you to ensure that your injury heals as quickly and healthily as possible. This means that you’ll need to come to your sessions with a certain amount of responsibility and intent. Bring all of your effort and will to your trusted physio clinic and you’ll find that your recovery is very successful. Be honest and open about how exercises are working for you to get the treatment that you need.
Keep an open mind
Physio is an all-encompassing, holistic discipline and therefore sometimes calls for a bit of an open mind when undergoing treatment. Your recovery will involve a multitude of different methods, including dry needling, ice and heat therapy, Pilates, massage, stretching and ultrasound – just to name a few! Make sure that you keep your mind open and flexible when working through the treatment process with your physiotherapist to get the absolute most out of your sessions.
Visit your physiotherapist regularly
This is a big one, particularly if your injury is on the more severe side. Regular sessions, alongside your take-home exercises, are what will cure you in the long run. Therefore, it’s imperative that you commit to attending your sessions regularly. Your recovery process just isn’t going to be effective if you’re not showing up for your recommended schedule, so this one is a basic requirement of you. Sustained availability is going to be really important when you’re hunting for the right physiotherapist, so be sure to inquire about this nice and early on to avoid any disappointment or inconvenience down the line.
Be as active as you can
This goal should only be in your sights if you still have a certain level of mobility available to you and your physio has given you the all-clear to engage in some light physical activity. Your physical condition is going to benefit from short walks, stretching, and conscious exercising, and if your physio recommends it then you should definitely be as active as you can during your recovery. This is especially essential if you’re a professional athlete or your lifestyle heavily depends on physical fitness and activity.
Eat and drink properly
You should always be consciously nourishing yourself, however, this is even more important when you’re recovering from any kind of injury. Getting the right nutrients is going to help your body to restore and repair itself, giving you the energy you need to nurse yourself back to full health. Ask your physiotherapist about diet recommendations to ensure that you’re as healthy as possible during the recovery process.
With these tips alongside the guidance and treatment of a professional physiotherapist, you’re sure to make your recovery as easy and as fast as possible.
