The trouble with treating yourself
If you're dealing with chronic musculoskeletal pain, it can be tempting to try to heal yourself. Unfortunately, DIY physical therapy often does more harm than good, and one of the biggest reasons is simple: you may be performing exercises or techniques incorrectly. A licensed physical therapist understands how the body functions and has years of training in the proper form for each exercise, which is exactly what's missing when you're guessing on your own.
Overexertion slows healing
Pushing too hard in the gym after an injury or surgery can make things worse and slow down healing, which is exactly why working with a physical therapist matters when you're getting back into activity after trauma. At a session, your therapist may assign specific sets and reps for home, along with guidance on doing them correctly. You're free to do the exercises at home, but having a therapist involved makes it much easier to avoid overexertion and setbacks. Keep track of how you feel during home workouts, and tell your therapist about any tightness or weakness so they can gauge your progress and adjust the plan. Setting achievable goals helps keep you motivated, and attending every scheduled appointment, even when life gets busy, keeps the plan on track.
Following your therapist's directions matters
Following directions precisely, how many reps, how many sets, how hard to push, matters just as much as doing the exercise itself. Skipping steps or misreading an instruction can undermine your recovery or push you into activity you're not ready for. If it's hard to keep every detail straight after a session, ask your therapist for written instructions or a home program you can reference between visits, rather than relying on memory alone.
Take care of yourself during recovery
Recovery asks a lot of the body, so basic self-care matters throughout: enough sleep, good hydration, and reasonable stress management all support the healing your therapy sessions are working toward. If you're not sure how to fit those habits around your recovery, ask your physical therapist or another member of your care team for guidance.
When self-treatment isn't the answer
If you're dealing with foot or ankle pain, or any other injury, it's worth seeking professional help rather than trying to self-treat. Contact the experts at Tribeca Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment and get on the path to a real recovery.