If you have a loved one who is currently going through physical therapy, you may be wondering what you can do to support them. The process can be difficult, but with the right support system in place, your loved one can make great progress. Here are some ways that you can support your loved one during physical therapy.
Provide Emotional Support
Your loved one will need a lot of encouragement during this hard and painful process. People working at Teton Therapy PC know how important it is to have someone around them at all times to ensure they’re okay emotionally. You’ll need to ask how they feel and boost their mood on every corner so they’ll be happy to go on recovery sessions.
For example, if your loved one is going through physical therapy, providing emotional support can be just as important as providing practical support. It can be difficult to watch someone you care about struggling with pain or fatigue, but it’s important to remember that they are still the same person, just going through a tough time.
Try to be understanding and patient, and offer your support in whatever way you can. Whether it’s just being there to listen, or helping with day-to-day tasks, your loved one will appreciate your efforts.
Help Them With Exercises
They’ll probably get homework from their physical therapists and they’ll feel much better doing them with a helping hand. If you can, help them with their exercises. You don’t have to be a physical therapist yourself, but just having someone there to encourage them can make all the difference. Plus, it’s a great way to show your support!
Helping them with exercise is one of the best ways that you can show support for your loved ones as they go through physical therapy. It can be difficult for patients to stay motivated during their therapy sessions, but if you are there to help and encourage them then they will feel much better about doing their exercises.
Additionally, do the exercises along with your loved ones! This way, they will not feel alone while doing their physical therapy and you can help motivate them to finish their exercises. Helping them with exercise is a great way to show your support for your loved ones during this difficult time.
Set Realistic Goals
Having to work toward something will make the transition much easier. You should set certain goals for your loved one such as the following:
- Get out of bed by a certain time
- Be able to do X number of steps
- Do physical therapy for X amount of time each day
- Eat well
- Sleep a certain number of hours
- Take medications as prescribed
Make sure that the goals are attainable and will give your loved one something to strive for. Having smaller goals rather than one big goal will also help to make things seem more manageable.
Keep a journal of these goals and help your loved ones to track their progress. This will not only help to hold them accountable but will also give you both a sense of accomplishment as they see how much they have improved.
Run Errands For Them
It’s very likely that your loved ones won’t be able to do all the things they normally do while they’re going through physical therapy. That’s why running errands for them can be a great way to support them during this time.
You can help by doing things like grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, or even just running simple errands that they may not have the energy to do themselves. This will free up their time so that they can focus on their recovery and get better.
So next time you’re thinking about how you can help your loved one who’s going through PT, remember that running errands for them are a great way to lend a helping hand.
Once they see how much care and effort you’re putting into helping them, they’ll be sure to appreciate it and feel supported. And that’s what we all want in the end, right? To feel loved and supported by our family and friends when we’re going through tough times.
Help Around The House
Another great way to support your loved ones during these tough times is to do their chores for them. This means taking out the trash, doing the laundry, and even cooking dinner. It may seem like a small thing, but it will make a world of difference for your loved one. They’ll be able to focus on their physical therapy and get better without having to worry about household tasks.
Their house needs to be clean no matter what. After all, an unclean environment can lead to infection. Make sure the atmosphere around them is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. This way, they can focus more on their physical therapy and healing.
So, if you have the time, offer to help around the house. It’s the least you could do for your loved one.
Celebrate Small Victories
An injury can be tough on the mind of the person suffering it, but you need to keep them motivated. One great way to do this is to celebrate small victories. If your loved one is going through physical therapy, for example, then every time they make a bit of progress, you should be there to encourage them and help them feel good about it.
Let them know that you’re proud of their achievements, no matter how small they may seem. It’s important to keep celebrating these small victories because they can really help your loved ones stay positive and motivated throughout their recovery process.
A good way to celebrate would be to take them out to their favorite restaurant or to do something they love. This will help show them that you’re celebrating their success and that you’re happy with their achievements. It’s also a great way to spend time together and make some great memories.
Injuries can be tough on the mind of a person and emotional support is very much necessary in order for them to recover fast and accordingly. Help them with their exercises and set some realistic goals they must reach every day. Run some errands for them and keep the house in order. Finally, make sure to celebrate every achievement and progress with them to keep your loved one motivated while going toward full recovery!