Knowledge is empowerment

As a PT I’ve often thought about how great it is to be able to treat myself when something happens - a rolled ankle, a back strain, aches, pains, bruises, and so much more.

The more I learn about the body and pain, the more I have to question what is actually going on. I’ve been thinking recently about why I am able to heal faster and help my patients heal faster than the average person with the same injury. Do my tissues actually heal any faster than someone else’s? Probably not.

So what’s actually happening that drives my progress? Two years ago I pulled my hamstring running down the first baseline in a softball game and immediately knew what I had done and immediately went into planning mode based on what I knew would work best given the latest research on how to treat this issue.

Hundreds of questions flooded my brain before I even limped off the field. How was I going to work the next day? Will I be able to take care of my kids? How long is this going to take to feel better? What if I need surgery? Why did I let this happen to myself? And on and on and on…

Without the information and confidence in what I was going to do to help start the healing process it is likely I would have an increased level of fear and stress. This fear and stress can create it’s own negative cascade of events and physiologic responses that will impact how my body feels over the coming weeks, months and years (long after the tissues have already healed).

Our bodies are strong, resilient, and adaptable. With the right knowledge, you can reduce your fear, stress, and anxiety and get started on research-backed activities that will promote tissue healing and the recovery process so you can help those tissues heal and reduce further irritation and damage at the same time that you can feel more in-control of your response.

If you’re ready to break the fear and pain cycle and to start feeling empowered to make the best decisions for your unique circumstances reach on out or book a discovery call to learn more.