Making the most of your physio treatment

Seeing a physiotherapist is an important investment in your health and recovery from pain or injury. Here are a few tips to help get the best outcomes from your treatment sessions...

1. Know what your goals are and ask questions.
If you are clear on what you hope to achieve through physiotherapy, this can help you and your therapist to work together to direct treatment towards these goals.

Understanding your condition also plays an important part in recovery, it means that you can make better choices to protect your body and and allow it to heal, and you will know better how to prevent future injuries.

Before each treatment, it can help to take a few moments mentally to prepare some questions and consider what your short and long-term goals might be. 
 
2. Do your exercises.
Targeted home exercises are almost always an essential part of your recovery as they help your body to support itself through healing and recovery. Exercising is an important way to help correct biomechanical imbalances and reduce excess stress on body structures, as well as helping tissues to strengthen as they recover.
 
3. Follow your therapist's recommendations.
Throughout your recovery, your therapist will guide you as to which activities you should avoid and how much rest to take. Return to sport and activity should be gradual, so as not to stress the body too much too soon when it is still healing. 

Rest is just as important a part of recovery as strengthening. Following the advice given by your therapist can ensure that you don't injure yourself again and that you get the most out of your body.
 
4. Be patient with your progress.
It can be frustrating waiting for your body to heal. Returning to sport too early or giving up on treatment are common mistakes that lead to further injury or impaired healing. Recovery takes time, a general rule is often that the longer a condition has been present, the longer it will take to resolve. 
 
If there is a part of your condition or injury that you are struggling to understand, be sure to seek clarification with your physiotherapist. Two-way communication is key.