Things Your Physio Wants You To Know
I’m highly trained and experienced, but you are the expert in your own body!
When working with clients, it's always a collaborative effort. Whether online or in person, we function as a team. You have the freedom to select exercises, veto others, and determine frequency according to your preferences and lifestyle. Your active involvement ensures tailored progress aligned with your needs. While I bring expertise and experience to the table, you remain the authority on your body.
Consider this: with only 10,080 minutes in a week, even with three 30-minute physio sessions, our direct interaction amounts to just 90 minutes weekly. This underscores the importance of your self-awareness and participation in achieving optimal outcomes.
You can do more for yourself than your physio can
What that means, practically, is that you can do more for yourself than your physio can. In my early days as a physio, I mistakenly believed I held all the solutions and took personal responsibility for my clients' rehabilitation. Through personal experience, I learned otherwise. Now, I approach my role more as a consultant or coach, providing hands-on therapy when needed and empowering you with education and guidance for self-rehabilitation.
I'm here to enhance your comfort and teach you techniques to aid your exercises, whether in-person or online. Together, we'll determine the right moves, frequency, and additional activities crucial to your progress, encompassing factors like breathing, stress management, sleep, and diet.
Not getting better doesn’t mean you will never get better
If your exercises aren't working, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be fixed – it probably means we need to try a new plan. I have a lot of tools to provide you to help you to feel better. I generally test exercises to see their benefit for clients, but sometimes they just don’t work, for any number of reasons. These can include:
- Doing the exercise differently when not supervised (more common than you may think).
- Changing the load of other activities, then getting a flare up because of the cumulative load.
- The exercise not being the best one.
- The exercise being too advanced or not advanced enough for the task it’s required for.
- Sleep, hydration, diet, community, home, connection, stress, family – these can all change how you respond.
- Sometimes we don’t know why the exercise doesn’t work, it just doesn’t.
- Sometimes you just haven’t done enough of the exercise to get the physical changes required to make a functional change.
As a client, it's natural to feel like you've hit a dead end when nothing seems to work, leaving you with a sense of hopelessness. But rest assured, I'm here to guide you through. Think of me as a vast hardware store stocked with countless tools. Initially, we'll try the ones closest to the front, the ones most commonly effective. If one doesn't quite do the trick during our session or throughout your week, we'll explore other options.
Don't worry if we need to switch aisles; there are plenty to choose from, and finding the right tool may require some trial and error. I'm continuously learning and adapting to ensure we find what works best for you. Additionally, I have resources for referrals to ultrasound, X-ray, sports doctors, GPs, or orthopedic surgeons if necessary.
My priority is your progress. If we're not seeing results after three sessions and consistent at-home efforts, I'll explore alternative approaches or refer you to another professional. My goal is your improvement, not maximising appointments.
Slow and steady is a great way to improve your activity level
When I design a program for someone, it's tailored to their needs, lifestyle, and injury healing process. While most clients progress steadily, some may push themselves too hard and experience mild soreness. That's normal, as long as it's not a recurring issue.
Occasional flare-ups help us understand your current capabilities and areas needing improvement. It's beneficial to discover your limits when returning to activity; it guides future progress. However, intentionally pushing beyond your limits isn't advisable. If you're a bit impatient, you'll likely discover your boundaries naturally. This indicates that you're working at an appropriate level and progressing as intended.
With years of experience, I aim to create a program aligned with your goals and injury recovery. If you do experience a flare-up, it's usually harmless, though uncomfortable. It may extend your treatment timeline but doesn't typically cause damage if you're engaging in normal activities. Occasionally testing your boundaries, sensibly and within tissue tolerance, can be beneficial. However, consistently pushing too hard may impede progress and lead to frustration. Let's work together to ensure steady and sustainable improvement.
Long term pain can be changed
Returning to your pre-injury level immediately upon starting treatment might hinder your long-term progress. Injuries often require patience; slow and steady wins the race.
While most injuries resolve and individuals return to normal, some cases require adjusting expectations. However, even with changes, we can lead fulfilling lives. Progress isn't always linear, especially with long-term pain, but small consistent efforts accumulate over time. Even a brief five-minute exercise routine contributes to progress. It's about consistency, self-compassion, and patience throughout the recovery journey.
Niggles don’t really go away on their own.
Persistent soreness beyond a week likely won't resolve without intervention. Niggles, if left unaddressed, can develop into habitual movement patterns, leading to long-term issues. While resolving niggles may take anywhere from one session to several months, it's crucial to prevent them from becoming chronic. Imagine not being able to perform simple movements like crossing your legs or turning to check while reversing a vehicle. Addressing these minor issues early can prevent larger problems down the line, ensuring a vibrant life as you age.
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