Physical therapy is a powerful form of healthcare that helps people restore and
improve movement, reduce pain, and prevent future injury. It can help individuals recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, rehabilitate after surgery, or simply maintain good physical health.
Most physical therapy visits are held at off-site locations. However, some physical therapy patients are not able to get out of the home for their appointment; therefore, a homebound physical therapy alternative is necessary.
If you or a loved one are homebound and need to plan an in-home physical therapy session, here’s some valuable insight for how to best prepare for your in-home visit.
Gather Your Medical Records and History
For your physical therapy to go well, your therapist will need a baseline for performance. Accurate records provide a comprehensive history of your condition, which allows the physical therapist to develop an individualized plan of care that best meets your needs.
Gathering all relevant medical records before beginning physical therapy can help ensure that your treatment is effective and efficient.
Medical records may include any past diagnoses, lab results, imaging reports (e.g., x-rays or MRIs), and notes from other healthcare providers such as primary care physicians or surgeons. Having these documents readily available will give your physical therapist valuable insights into the nature of your condition so they can create an appropriate treatment plan for you.
Prepare List of Questions for Physical Therapist
If this is your first at-home physical therapy experience, you’re going to want to ask plenty of questions.
Asking questions allows you to better understand the nature of your condition and what is expected during physical therapy. It also gives the therapist an opportunity to answer any doubts or concerns that may arise during your treatment.
Some of the most important questions to ask before an in-home physical therapy appointment include:
- How much time a week should you dedicate to physical therapy?
- What does physical therapy involve?
- Will physical therapy make me sore?
- What’s expected of me during my physical therapy session?
- What relief should I experience from physical therapy?
Clean Up Your Home Before Physical Therapy
Before starting physical therapy, it is important to ensure your home is clean and organized. Physical therapy requires space for fluid movement and constant motion. A neat and tidy environment can help create an atmosphere promoting healing and recovery. We say clear out the clutter that could become a distraction and a danger.
Additionally, working with a home health aid and at-home physical therapy can help create a comfortable environment for your appointment beyond cleanliness.
You, your home health aide, and your physical therapist can work together to create a space where all necessary supplies are easily accessible at any point during the appointment.
Some of the most common items an at-home physical therapist would need for a successful appointment include light resistance bands, tubing, light weights, stability balls, and foam rollers.
Get Ready Physically and Mentally for Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is equally a mental achievement as it is a physical one. So, you must be mentally prepared to take on the challenges of your appointment. One of the best ways to mentally prepare for physical therapy is to remind yourself ahead of time that you have set expectations in the long term. You won’t heal overnight or even within a couple of sessions.
Keeping your expectations in check can help you enjoy the little accomplishments you achieve each session.
Pain Relief at Home with Angel Home Healthcare Services
If physical therapy is part of your recovery process from home, make sure you put your healthcare in the right hands. At Angel Home Healthcare Services, we have a team of physical therapists that can tailor your at-home physical therapy to meet your long-term recovery needs.
Contact us today to learn more about our services.