It’s important now more than ever to stay in good health. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis has removed a lot of ways that we usually stay healthy. For those who attend physical therapy, you’ve likely been told to avoid going to your doctor’s office. The good news is, there are many ways to continue your routine at home. There are also ways to help motivate you to stick to your routine.
Here are four ways to continue your physical therapy at home when you are stuck inside.
1) Buy Your Own Equipment
Typically, it would not be possible or practical to buy your professional-grade equipment for your home. However, with access to medical facilities restricted, this is something you may want to reconsider. Websites such as jasonmedical.com allow you to buy online and have equipment delivered to your door, without breaking the “stay at home” order currently in place.
Parallel bars, training stairs, and standing boxes are some tools available for purchase. Buying your equipment to practice at home will also encourage you to stick to your routine since it is a financial commitment to purchase. A different benefit is that when the lockdown is over, you will still have equipment.
If you still have contact with your physical therapist, then perhaps get some advice before jumping into this purchase, but there are some significant advantages to it.
2) Educate Yourself
Sometimes it is hard to keep up with therapy because it doesn’t make sense. A way to combat this is to research the benefits of each exercise you do. Some tasks are to increase mobility, while others may prevent harmful scar tissue from forming over wounds. They’re certainly not useless exercises!
Your doctor or therapist will be able to explain what these benefits are in detail to help you understand. Not only will this motivate you to do your exercises every day, but it will also allow you to perform them better!
3) Set Alarms
Decide what time you’ll do your physical therapy beforehand, and set alarms for those times each day. A set schedule will give you a constant rhythm, allowing you to keep your momentum and exercise consistently every day. Eventually, you won’t need the alarm to remind you, and you’ll look forward to your scheduled time.
You’ll feel more motivated to complete tasks with more time in the day. You should also set the alarm for the morning so you can get up with enough time in your day for everything. This includes your physical therapy, three square meals, and at least eight hours of sleep a day!
4) Multi-task
Since you’re completing exercises in your home, there’s no reason not to do it in a way you’ll enjoy. Freely listen to music or a podcast while you exercise. You can even turn on the television and watch a show or movie during your exercises.
It’s also easier to squeeze your therapy into your day this way. If you don’t have a set block of time to do it, break the routine up into smaller chunks of time. While you wait for your food to cook or during errands, are perfect times to break it out.
In Conclusion
Staying inside does not mean the end of your physical therapy. There are many ways you can take this time to remain consistent in your routine, even without others physically present. These tips will help you stay healthy and strong during these strange times.
Be sure to record your progress each day. A journal will help you keep track of your pain levels and progress in your therapy. It’s a great way to hold yourself accountable and motivate yourself to have a consistent routine. Plus, if you have one, you can let your therapist know where you are when you see them again. Along with these other tips, you’ll become a better you when the crisis is all over.
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Main Picture Credit: Bodies in Balance Physical Therapy
