With January over and February 2024 underway, the challenges of the year ahead usually come into sharp focus. Easter falls early this year, so those in education have a lot to cram in before the next break.
The day-to-day challenges we each face vary, and as you might expect, our physiotherapy work is as varied as the clients we help. A week’s appointments can range from supporting an individual’s sporting goals, to helping a client recover from an accident, to assisting with a long-term injury.
All our work is rewarding; however, there are some exceptional moments that make our role particularly special.
As an example, one client we engaged and treated had sadly suffered a serious fall. As a very active lady prior to her accident, the incident left her hospitalised for twelve weeks, with severely reduced mobility on her return home. As you might anticipate, frustration was usually not too far away, sometimes make the client feel that they were climbing the walls, rather than attempting the stairs!
Taking into account the severity of the injuries, recovery has been slow for the client, who approached Life Made Simple Physiotherapy for help in speeding her return to fuller physical health.
Fear of movement
As you might expect, one common psychological issue faced by those who have suffered serious injury is a fear of movement.
Concern that the body will not behave as it used to can prevent an individual from resuming day to day functions. An excellent example is that of the client mentioned above, who had not been able to climb the stairs in her house in a normal manner since her fall. Through physiotherapy and discussion, we identified that the main factor was fear of a further accident, rather than lack of physical capability.
Following just a few physiotherapy sessions, the client is now able to walk upstairs without help and with confidence: hugely rewarding for her, and for Life Made Simple Physiotherapy. It was great to work with her.
Change your behaviour
Another common factor in slow recovery from injury can be a tendency to become institutionalised. Extended stays in hospital or long-term medical treatment can – understandably – change how a person feels about themselves and their physical capabilities. Altering this thought process can really help in recovery, to bring the focus back to an ‘I can do this’ attitude rather than an ‘I’m too injured to do this’ outlook.
Referring back to our older client mentioned above, following her accident, she had been sitting in a wheelchair in the daytime, as in the first few months she found it easier to sit and rise from the higher seat. However, the habit persisted and some ten months on, nothing had changed. A simple transfer to a normal chair, with a firm seat and supportive arms, has helped to make her feel part of family life again, rather than someone, as our patient suggests, to be ‘looked after’, and has boosted her confidence to try new exercises and activities around the house.
Simple can be good
We can sometimes find that it’s the simplest changes that can be the most effective, although often it takes a fresh pair of eyes and professional knowledge to identify where changes can and should be made.
Life Made Simple Physiotherapy can help in your journey of recovery and rehabilitation.
Contact Us
We look forward to helping you with your physiotherapy needs. If you are interested in our services feel free to call us on 07309 272 555 or email Physio@Lifemadesimple.co.uk. Life Made Simple - expert physiotherapy in Guildford and Surrey.