Happy Physical Therapy Month!!
It’s the end of physical therapy month. Although this should have been posted at the beginning of the month, that definitely isn’t a reflection on how I feel about physical therapy or my therapists. I’m just a big procrastinator but I see my therapists, in person, more than most people in my life. I’m the type who hates last minute rushing. I love being prepared. Even though I hate rushing, I also shine at last minute cram sessions.
October is National Physical Therapy Month — a time to recognize and celebrate the physical therapy profession, spotlight the many benefits of physical therapy, and show the impact that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants have on improving the health of society. National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM) is celebrated in October to recognize the physical therapy profession, raise awareness about its benefits, and honor the work of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants (PTAs). The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and its components began celebrating Physical Therapy Week in the early 1980s, and the first NPTM was celebrated in October 1992.
One of the most important things I have learned from physical therapy is the importance of “steps”.
When we are young and learning the actions we need to, we aren’t taught the individual steps or even have to give them much thought. The people teaching us don’t even need to know the mechanics or anything besides demonstrating it. It’s a real “monkey see, monkey do” situation. A mistake is easily resolved by picking up and righting a light toddler.
As an adult, losing abilities that you have been able to do all your life is frustrating and learning to do things again isn’t easy. You sometimes have memories of being able to do these things without even thinking about them but this time, you are bigger and not as easy to pick up. This time, there’s farther to fall. This time, it’s so helpful to understand the mechanics and steps to every movement so it computes with the experienced mind of an adult, instead of a blank slate. When you’re little, you are fearless enough to learn fast because you feel completely safe and loved. You don’t have all the experiences of life and fear getting in the way. When you are older, you know someone won’t always be there to catch you when you fall. The time in our lives that we get to feel that complete contentment, is when we need that fearlessness to learn everything we do. We get to feel that way when we are too young to remember it though. Isn’t that just so wonderful haha
Physical therapists have worked so hard to learn these very valuable steps and how to work safely with adults while being so understanding of our frustrations. That is a wonderful ability!
Repeating the same things to hundreds of people and sometimes repeating the same thing to one patient hundreds of times. All with a smile. Helping us remember all of the steps needed to do the simplest thing. Just going to get a drink used to be a quick and easy thing but now I have to think about EVERYTHING! Something that used to take 2 minutes, now takes 8. They aren’t just teaching you how, they also take the time to explain why.
Frustrations and fears are many with disabled people. Physical therapists put you at ease and often make a bigger difference than they realize. A lot of people only focus on how someone treats them but I find that you learn so much about someone by watching how they treat everyone else too. All different types of people.
I’ll never forget this: an older gentleman came in. He seemed to be a masculine man who took care of everyone but suddenly had everything taken from him. He was obviously scared and so lost! Most disabled people completely understand that look in someone’s eyes. It’s one of those complex feelings that you can’t fully describe, you just either know it or you don’t. That look of fear, confusion, frustration, etc…..
He was obviously feeling hopeless but trying so hard anyway. The therapist had him practicing on the stairs. His shoe fell off. That may seem like no big deal but sometimes it’s little things that, after going up the creek without a paddle, are the light winds that finally just push you over the waterfall. When you see someone crying because the store ran out of gum, it’s rarely ever about the gum!
He was so upset. My heart broke for this man. The way the therapist handled it was so impressive! The way he spoke to this man was so supportive! Letting him know that it was ok and that he was understood without being condescending. Helping him feel better while preserving his dignity. That’s a valuable skill for physical therapists. That’s a skill that can’t be taught and what makes a huge difference to your patients. That makes a giant difference in the kind of therapist you will be.
I thank my therapists, in my head, every day! When I can suddenly do something better or something I couldn’t do before. For example: When the weather gets bad, I get really shaky. One day, I was making cupcakes. I was a bit extra wobbly and looked at the weather forecast and it didn’t show anything. Then I realized that I was wobbly because I wasn’t holding on! Even when I turned to grab my phone to check the weather. I didn’t even notice or try to do that, I just did! I thought- there’s nothing wrong, my therapists just rock! Those tedious exercises people think are a waste of time really become such an important “step” to doing something you want to do! Never doubt a therapist!
I want to thank my therapists from the bottom of my heart! There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the things they have taught me, save my life several times a week and save me from injuries several times a day! After I got sick, most of my friends and family disappeared. So thank you for being a place I love to go and people I love to see! For being family to me! I LOVE YOU ALL!
