There are a lot of misconceptions out there about physical therapy—one of the most detrimental being that physical therapy often doesn’t work. Like most things in life, a big part of succeeding with physical therapy is about showing up. Today, we’re going to explain the importance of completing your course of care and how Luna can help you make it happen.
Why Do Physical Therapy?
Whether it's due to injury, age or a particular condition, so many of us suffer from pain. Physical therapy is a powerful way to learn how to prevent or manage your condition and achieve long-term health benefits.
The majority of patients who are diagnosed with musculoskeletal pain are referred to a physical therapist, and for good reason. Physical therapy is known to reduce pain and improve mobility. It helps patients improve symptoms faster and with less associated costs. So, rather than asking, “Why do physical therapy?” we should really be asking, “Why not do physical therapy?”
Why Patients Quit Physical Therapy
Consider this—the average outpatient course of care only consists of seven to ten sessions. This typically takes about six weeks to complete. And yet, 70% of patients don’t finish their entire course of care. As beneficial as physical therapy may be, the treatment doesn’t work if the patient is not willing to fully participate. So, what’s holding people back?
Patients can be tempted to quit physical therapy for a number of reasons. Maybe they went to a few appointments, started feeling better, assumed they were fully healed and stopped showing up. Perhaps life got in the way and the idea of scheduling an appointment, driving in traffic to get to a clinic, and spending valuable time in a waiting room didn’t sound appealing.
Staying the Course (of Care)
Let’s be real—we all have lives outside of the PT office. Even highly motivated patients can have a hard time squeezing multiple physical therapy exercises into their daily routines. But the body takes time to heal, and without total commitment to your course of care, physical therapy treatment is likely to come up short.
So, how can you help yourself complete physical therapy? First, adjust your expectations. A good physical therapist will educate you throughout the process to help you understand how your muscles work and why it takes time to increase mobility and flexibility. Knowing up front how long it’s going to take to get results will help you gain a more realistic view of the treatment and increase your chances of sticking with it through the end. From there, you’ll want to remove any other roadblocks that might prevent you from completing your course of care.
Taking it to the Finish Line With At-Home Physical Therapy
If the idea of going to a clinic is holding you back, know that there are other awesome alternatives for you to take advantage of. Luna, for example, is an at home physical therapy service that allows patients to receive care from their home or office. You can book an appointment online, get matched with a licensed therapist who specializes in treating your exact condition and receive physical therapy at home.
Imagine being able to receive the care you need exactly when you need it. With Luna, you are in control. We deliver convenient care to your door so you can avoid the traffic, babysitters, waitlists, waiting rooms, and time away from work associated with traditional PT care. As a result, you’ll be much more likely to complete your entire course of care and get better faster.
Ready for physical therapy to help you heal? Let Luna show up for you!
