Interview Yourself - First Question: How Do I Know if I Need Physical Therapy?
The days of relying on others is over. The world is becoming more self serve than we've ever imagined. Restaurants have kiosks to place your order. Grocery stores make you check out yourself and they don't pay you to do the job. And even in healthcare, primary care doctors are so overwhelmed with their patient schedules that they simply cannot think of everything when it comes to what you might need in order to remain mobile and healthy. Oh...and by the way, when you are able to move well, there is a direct connection to your overall health. When you move better, the fact is that you require less medical intervention and certainly avoid hospitals and nursing homes.
But, I digress. Listen. Primary care doctors are not the villain here. Trust me. The landscape of healthcare in America is such that there are less primary care doctors and more patients as the population ages...it's just a numbers thing and there are only so many hours in a day.
So..you must learn to be proactive and efficient with your time with your doctors. As days go by, I recommend that patients write a list of concerns that they can use to streamline their visits with their doctor and to also make sure all are discussed.
Physical Therapy is an underutilized modality for older adults despite the overwhelming evidence of it's value. So, how do you know if PT would be a benefit to you and your health? Interview yourself...ask yourself these questions and then tell your doctor that you feel that you'd benefit from PT. Here we go...
If any of these conditions are true in your life, you should get Physical Therapy:
I worry that I will fall.
I feel dizzy.
I've fallen in the past 3-6 months.
I've declined invitations to go out with friends or family because I'm unsteady.
It's hard for me to get up from a chair.
I have difficulty going up stairs confidently.
I'm weak from illness or injury.
I get tired, short of breath, or have trouble doing once-simple tasks.
I struggle to bathe, dress, or use the restroom.
I have pain that limits my activity.
I'm more dependent on my family or caregivers.
Of course, there are many more that I can add to this list but the basics are still the same...if there is something preventing you from fully enjoying your life, guess what...Physical Therapy can and will help you!
And you can actually get the full attention of one of our Physical Therapists right in the comfort of your own home and get great results. And insurance will pay for it. We can coach you back to moving better, feeling better, and living better. It's simply a better way. Tell your doctor you'd like to try PT.
Oh! And trust us...we are great...check out what our patients have to say about our program:
888-929-7677
Click HERE for more info about the Achieva Rehabilitation In-Home Physical Therapy Program
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