Advice On Doing Your Physical Therapy Homework

If you are in physical therapy, then the therapist will more than likely give you exercises to do at home. By doing these exercises, you will see positive results much faster than if you only participate in exercises during your limited visits to the office. However, it can be hard to get started out on a good routine you can follow regularly for your at-home physical therapy exercises. This article will provide you with tips on how you can get started and make sure you stick to a good routine. 

Pay attention to your pain

Take a few days to keep track of your pain and the times when it is at its worst and at its best. While some people may do best with exercising first thing in the morning or in the evening, these may be the times when your pain is aggravated the most. The time of day you choose to do your physical therapy should be the time when you are generally feeling your best.

Start slowly

While the homework your therapist gives you is important, you still want to make sure you ease yourself into it slowly. This way, your body will have a chance to get used to it. Also, an important reason for doing this is so you can catch any problems early and tell your therapist so they can change around the program if there is something that hurts you too bad. Start one exercise at a time and do that exercise for a few days, then add another one to your routine and do it for a few days before moving on. 

Have someone with you

When you start doing your physical therapy homework at home, it's a good idea to make sure someone else is home at the time, if this is possible. If not, then you should have a phone near you. You want to make sure you can get help in case something goes wrong or you hurt too bad to get yourself into a seat afterward.

Take medication afterward

If you are instructed to take your medication at a certain time, then follow the instructions. However, you should put off taking over the counter pain relievers until after you do your physical therapy exercises. This way, new pains that are warning signs won't be masked by the medications.

Now that you have a good idea of tips you should take when starting your physical therapy homework, you should find it easier to get through the exercises and stretches.

For further assistance, contact a local provider, such as St. Luke's Rehabilitation.