Research Assessment #2

Physical Therapy (For Teens)

          In last week’s research assessment, I began to explore some of the most pressing questions I had about physical therapy and how it helps people. This week, I decided to take my newfound knowledge in stride and delve deeper into the basics of what it’s generally like to experience physical therapy, all the while comparing it to my own experiences during my six months of it after my knee surgery. Unsurprisingly so, I learned that people’s reasons for entering physical therapy, treatment plans and appointment frequency are all widely different and varied. No two physical therapy experiences will ever be exactly the same, and keeping this in mind, this article explains what you can generally expect from a first time appointment with a physical therapist.
          The main point of physical therapy is to help a person regain their full strength after suffering from an injury or illness. However, physical therapy is also used to help manage chronic pain that can be caused from anything as serious as severe arthritis to something as simple as bad posture. When patients do it all right, they can help themselves by preventing permanent damage and recurring problems with pain. But this is no easy task. Physical therapy is grueling and is almost guaranteed to make you sweat. I considered my own rehabilitation sessions as a genuine full body workout. A lot of the time, physical therapy makes you feel uncomfortable and exhausted, and completing your physical therapy journey is a true test of will power. The key is to breathe through it and stick to your routine, because the difficult challenges you will face in the clinic will always reap incredible rewards. I personally almost quit every time I went in to see Devon, my physical therapist who helped me with my journey, but I told myself I was enduring it so rejoin my teammates on the field and be able to do what I love again, pain-free and stronger than ever. Upon entering on your first ever physical therapy appointment, you can expect to be evaluated on your pain levels and injury/illness severity. It’s important to dress ready to work out, because you will most likely be doing exercises during your first visit. Physical therapists waste no time in beginning your treatment plan after they assess you. I remember my first appointment as one of the toughest workouts I’ve ever endured. It’s been well-established that physical therapy is tough work, but that tough work doesn’t just stay within the walls of the clinic - physical therapy gives you homework.
In my opinion, the homework you recieve is one of the most important parts of physical therapy. Speaking from experience, these at-home exercises that are assigned to you are annoying, but they’re also one of the most crucial parts of the recovery process seeing as most of the benefits of physical therapy come from the routines you do at home. For example, my recovery process was expected to land me about eight months in the clinic, but because I was diligent with my exercises daily, I got off to a strong start and ended up finishing completely in six and a half months. Just like in school, homework in physical therapy matters, and keeping up with it and doing it well can only benefit you in the long run.
          And the last important thing the article brought to my attention that I am just now realizing I did a poor job for myself is this - you have to remember to congratulate yourself. No matter how small the achievements are, both inside and outside the clinic, you have to remember to stop and celebrate the successes. Everything is a step in the right direction. It’s a long and difficult process, as I’ve learned through both my own experiences as well as my research, and credit needs to be given where credit is due.
          While I delved deeper into what the average physical therapy visit is like, I gained a greater insight as to what the first few steps in physical therapy are like as a whole. While I still haven’t begun my search for a mentor or done any hands-on learning, I am still unbelievably excited and anxious to experience what the realm of physical therapy is like from the therapist’s perspective firsthand.