Don't Think You Need Physical Therapy Treatment? Read This First!

Like many physical therapists, I've found that people from all walks of life will book consultations for various reasons; and I find it fascinating to hear their stories.

As a physical therapist, one of the first questions I ask new clients is asking what they want to get out of their treatment plan. What is your goal? Could it be managing pain, improving mobility, decreasing pain, or improving the quality of everyday life?

For many of my clients, physical therapy is the last resort. Yes, there are options such as medications and over-the-counter pain relief products; but before those options can be explored, I recommend consulting with a physical therapist first.

I had the opportunity to share small stories from my time as a physical therapist, and hopefully, in the end, there is something positive to take away. Whether it be learning the importance of physical therapy, or discovering how it can truly restore function, treat health conditions, and drastically change daily living.

The Marathon Runner with the Sprained Ankle

On a November afternoon a few months ago, I received an urgent call from a man—a marathon runner who sprained his ankle while jogging.

You may be able to see where this story is going. Unfortunately for him, this injury couldn't have come at a worse time. He was only five days out from running the New York City Marathon.

When we met for the first of his physical therapy sessions, he asked me plain and simple, "Will I be able to run in the marathon?" It was no surprise that that was the first of his concerns. He had trained his body and mind for over a year.

I got the impression—and later learned I was right— that he would run that marathon whether or not his ankle was in good condition. To set the record straight, I did say to rest, and he still said, "I'm doing it." I didn't want him to cause further injury to his ankle or, worse, cause other sports-related injuries. So, I did what any other physical therapist would do and helped him to the best of my ability.

Over the next four days, he and I worked hard on his functional mobility while continuously communicating about his prescribed exercise to get his ankle in the best shape possible. I began by progressively loading the ankle with non-weight-bearing activities and then transitioning to weight-bearing exercises.

We kept him in an ankle brace. With each session, I performed deep tissue massages around the ankle muscles to help reduce swelling. I gave him the necessary information to load the ankle without unnecessary stress.

After four days of manual therapy to strengthen muscles, we restored mobility in the ankle. We met over Zoom the day before his race to assess his condition, and although we knew his ankle would not be in top shape, we took the risk since he was adamant about running.

He went on the next day to run the New York Marathon, and for those of you wondering...he completed it!

The Woman Who was Scared to Leave her Bed

My elderly client hadn't been out of bed since a fall the previous year and had fractured her hip. As a result, she experienced a significant decrease in leg strength due to her prolonged bed rest.

Despite her scare, her goal was simple: walk with her walker from her bedroom to the kitchen and join us for meals. Sounds easy enough, right?

That's where things get complicated. The trauma from the fall caused an intense fear of any prolonged walking. She would spend days on end confined to one spot.

After our consultation and moving into the first physical therapy session, I brought up that she had hassles with her legs; she had lost a lot of muscle and, in turn, had gotten progressively weaker. Until then, she had no idea that her lack of mobility for so long was causing additional problems altogether.

To get her journey back on track, we started with exercises in bed to warm up the body. Then, bit by bit, with ‘graduated movement or exposure,’ we progressed through sitting at the edge of the bed, standing, and walking.

Her first goal upon starting was to walk from her bed with a walker to the kitchen table and sit while having a proper meal. But, much to my dread, I noticed that even when we were halfway there, she'd start panicking and force me to take her back!

However, I steadily worked patiently until, eventually, she was proudly able to walk confidently from one bedroom to the kitchen table. We're still working together, and our next steps are to give her the confidence to walk in the residence hallway. 

The Woman Who Dreamt of Paris

For many, growing old means settling down and setting up roots. Not for this 90-year-old client of mine! Her goal for years was to develop the strength and stamina to travel to France.

We started her on a program designed to improve her physical function. This involved lots of work on getting her legs strong. Through guided exercises, my client and I actively engage her physical capabilities while processing a variety of topics. 

We stroll around the apartment before transitioning to active movements like leg extensions and arm rotations using an elastic band; step-ups follow this on the pathway leading up to her balcony. Throughout her plan, we have enjoyable conversations about exciting things!

Physical therapy doesn't have to be all work and no play. My client remained motivated throughout the process by setting attainable goals and engaging in enjoyable conversations.

After a few months of hard work, she felt confident enough to take her trip to France. She's now in France and was adamant that she'd tell me all about her trip when she returns!

A Road Trip and a Knee Fracture Later

I'm working with a client who fractured his patella. He was taking a trip down to Florida, and on the drive there, he slipped and fell, fracturing his kneecap. 

After a successful surgery, this client returned to Montreal, where he remained in bed for two weeks. Finally, however, with regular practice and dedication, he progressed from sitting on the edge of the mattress to standing up and eventually even walking to the kitchen using only a cane!

Every time I visit this client's home, his passion for the kitchen is unmistakable. He loves to show off his impressive culinary collection, and I'm thrilled I was a part of his recovery journey. His wife often sends me joyful snaps of him chopping vegetables with a proud smile on his face - it always puts one on mine too! Before he knows it, he'll be walking up and down the stairs so he can keep his passion for woodworking alive!

The Man With Progressing Lewy Body Dementia

For some clients, the goal is to maintain their function. I'm currently working with a man who has Lewy Body Dementia, and, knowing it is a progressive disease, the goal was to maintain his function.

Seeing a loved one regress is difficult, so his family asked us to begin physical therapy sessions. Their goal was to see him delay his regression, and that’s precisely what we did. 

We wanted to improve any aspect of his daily life; getting in and out of bed is one example. Making independent bed transfers easier for him also helped relieve stress off his wife, so she doesn't hurt her back as much. 

With a spirit of ambition, my client was determined to push through his physical therapy. We enthusiastically tackled challenging balance and gait exercises during our sessions - always maintaining a fun atmosphere!

His positive mentality inspired him to persevere in mastering techniques such as sitting-to-standing transfers or even getting up from the toilet! Seeing this determination has been an enlightening experience for me: it's incredible how one can remain optimistic despite living with challenging conditions.

Finding Independence Following a Spinal Cord Injury

I'm working with a client who suffered a spinal cord injury and has no lower body function or from the waist down. When I started with him, he had to use the hospital bed buttons to raise the bed to get himself from lying to sitting. 

With a lot of hard work, we managed to go from lying to laying on his side to eventually him propping himself up from a lying position. The client was so happy because that gave him that extra independence in his life. He didn't need the caretakers to help him every morning with that transfer. 

We began physical therapy sessions mid-summer and recently achieved our goal with a lot of hard work. At first, it was extremely tough; he could not even roll on his side. But with continuous work of supine-to-side-lying transfers and moving into propping his body up from the side, we managed to get him to prop himself up entirely on his own. 

What made all the difference was doing everything bit by bit. I don't think we would have been successful as quickly if we had jumped right in. It was a testament to his dedication and determination, which I will never forget!

I'm so proud of him and look forward to the day when he can be independent in more aspects of life. Until then, we will continue to progress and build on his strength!

He never gives up or shows signs of defeat, even when the going gets tough. He's an inspiration, and I'm truly blessed to be a part of his journey.

What’s the Moral of the Story? Don't be Afraid of a Medical Treatment Plan

I'm passionate about providing the best care possible and creating a personal connection that allows my clients to feel supported and inspired on their journey. Understanding why they're motivated to get better opens up an opportunity for me to build trust with them - despite any setbacks we may encounter later.

Taking time out of each session to ask questions such as 'What is meaningful to you?' helps us progress in restoring functionality while fostering mental and emotional resilience throughout rehab or physio processes. It's gratifying when I see results!

It's important to remember that medical treatments are not something to be afraid of. On the contrary, they can significantly improve one's quality of life, provided they have been prescribed care and attention by a professional.

If you're looking for a physical therapist in Montreal to help you or a loved one with any physical therapy needs, please get in touch with me today! With my knowledge and experience, I'll provide customized treatments tailored to your needs.