Scenario:

You are now out of the acute/passive phase of your post op surgery.

You can now move your shoulder actively, bear weight through your lower extremity, and can stop using your walker, cane and crutches.

But…something is keeping your from moving your arm, bearing weight on your lower extremity, and from using your assistive device.

It is called FEAR.

Fear of pain, fear of re-injury, and fear of movement are common barriers in returning to normal life, work, or sports related activity.

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”- Jack Canfield

This type of fear is one of the most common emotions that our patients deal with.

Fear can limit full ROM, muscle guarding, hinder balance, and increase falls.

After having a rotator cuff repair, a patient told me, “It is hard for me to relax, because the fear of pain is hindering me from moving my shoulder.”

I was able to listen to my patient’s concern as well as provide comfort, and encouraging words to help my patient move their shoulder without fear of pain.

It is a process that takes time. That is one reason why coming to physical therapy and finishing the plan of care customized for you, is so important to your overall health physically, mentally, and emotionally.

 

Practical Ways to overcome Fear in Physical Therapy:

1. Come to your appointments planed out by you and your Therapist
2. Discuss your fears/concerns/goals with your Therapist
3. Participate and engage in your plan of care each session
4. Ask questions
5. Take part in your home exercise program customized for you
6. Finally Smile, laugh and have fun!!

 

As a staff of Physical Therapy Associates, one of our main goals is to provide a safe, confidential environment to discuss your fears and concerns, and together work towards providing you with the utmost care to meet your goal.

You should not have fear keep you from living your life to the fullest!!!

Together we can overcome Fear!

“For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”

2 Timothy 1:7

Overheard in the clinic yesterday: “I’m really not as bad as some people in here, I’m not sure I should be here.”

If this is how you feel about physical therapy I want to let you know that you DESERVE to be here.

• You deserve to not be in pain.
• You deserve to be able to sleep through the night.
• You deserve to be able to get your clothes on and off without help.
• You deserve to be able to get in and out of your car.
• You deserve to feel strong and secure.

This is something you are doing for yourself. And we are here to help.

We all have dreamed of being something when we were younger. It could have been an astronaut, an NBA player, or even something as simple as an artist. But as we age, suddenly these big dreams transform into ideas we simple consider unrealistic, and we push them to the side. But why is that? We should never quit dreaming big in the first place. Although these dreams may seem unrealistic to others, life is full of opportunities to secure these goals.

Think of it in this context. It’s the right thing to do for the world. Imagine an earth without the dreamers and innovators who made such huge contributions. There would be no cures for diseases. There would be no technology for our entertainment. There would not even be any electrical lights for us to observe each other with. Our world would not be remotely the same if those individuals had not dared to dream big. Dreaming big not only allows us to explore the deepest corners of our minds, but it gives us the tools to really leave our mark on this planet. Without our dreams, we have lost our biggest asset in order to achieve success.

Big dreams are what make the world go around. They are the reasons why we live in such a modern society today and are the driving forces behind so many successful people. We all have dreams and goals inside of us; do not let them fade away. There is too much of an opportunity to them actually coming true.

Being healthy from head to tail may be harder than it appears!  You can eat well, exercise and try to live stress free (or stress reduced!), and then something derails you. Like falling on your bottom. Jane was walking down the stairs and one foot went right out from underneath her! Months later her tail bone still ached and she couldn’t sit still for more than 2-3 minutes. She also noticed headaches came more frequently since her fall and her pelvic floor wasn’t quite as strong as it once was (those embarrassing urine leaks). Pills from her doctor didn’t help and as much as she tried to exercise the pain away, nothing was working. A friend suggested physical therapy to help and she decided to give it the good ol’ college try.

“I didn’t realized PT could treat the tail bone!”

When she came in to see us she said, ‘I didn’t realize PT could treat the tail bone!’ Of course we can!  Interestingly, her headaches were reduced and pelvic floor problems were fixed with treatment to the coccyx. You see, the tail bone works as a keystone for the pelvic floor muscles and provides the base for ligamentous attachments that run the length of the spine. PT for the tail bone has helped our patients with pain running down their legs, buttock pain, low back pain, abdominal pain and rib/thoracic wall pain as well. Don’t forget, everything is connected! If you want more information about tail bone pain call for a free 15 minute consultation with one of our therapists today!

One Life. One Body.