Whether you're recovering from an injury, surgery, or you're learning to deal with a disease such as arthritis, physical rehabilitation will be an important part of your pain management and recovery plan. Below are three tips that are guaranteed to get you the most from your physical rehabilitation experience from a clinic like Nick Roselli Occupational Therapy.

Attend Appointments As Scheduled

It can be tempting to reschedule an appointment if you're having a particularly bad day pain-wise, but this can set you back in your recovery. Your physical therapist is a trained professional who determines what is best for you based on your injury/disease, medical records, and other factors. What they determine to be best for you includes the number of sessions required per week, and the length of sessions.

If you're having difficulty completing the exercises during your session, tell your therapist. They can determine whether it's time to ease up, or if you're at a point in your recovery where it's best to have you push through the pain.

Perform the Exercises as Prescribed

In between therapy sessions, your therapist will give you a list of exercises to perform at home. These will keep your recovery on track, as well as make it easier for you during your next session. Failure to perform the exercises as directed can lead to a standstill during your sessions when you should be working directly with your therapist to learn new things and push yourself furthest. 

Don't waste precious time during your sessions making up for lost time during the week. If you're having difficulty completing the exercises are prescribed, speak with your therapist. They may have prescribed too much too soon, or you may be doing the exercise incorrectly and need correction. 

Communicate Openly and Honestly With Your Therapist

Are the exercises too hard? Do you feel like your therapist is asking you to do too much too soon? Don't be afraid to be honest with your therapist. If you have concerns about your treatment plan, you may not be working it as faithfully and wholeheartedly as you should be. The more you communicate, the more you can understand why certain things need to be done as they are.

Your therapist is not a mind reader—while they understand physical rehabilitation is painful and tiring, they may not be able to tell when they're pushing you too far. Speak up and work with your therapist to make the best plan for you and your situation.

Physical rehabilitation can be overwhelming and exhausting. There may be times where the pain is too great and you just want to give up. Remember: Skipping appointments and not following the exercise plan as prescribed can lead to more pain and recovery time later. Communicate with your therapist—let them know what is working and what isn't so they can help you the best they can. Become an active part of your rehabilitation team to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your physical well being. 

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