5 Benefits of Home Physical Therapy
Physical therapy has some amazing benefits, such as lowering patient treatment costs by 72%. This type of treatment can help patients heal faster, increase mobility, and reduce pain from injuries and falls.
The option of home physical therapy makes it even more convenient. It allows individuals to undergo treatment from their own houses.
If you’re wondering how physical therapy is different or if it’s worth it, read on to learn about five key benefits.
1. Easier for Patients With Limited Mobility
Possibly the biggest advantage is the convenience that home physical therapy offers.
How it works is that home health agencies send a trained physical therapist to visit your house or residence to perform physical therapy. Your physical therapist will walk you through various treatments and techniques to improve or restore functional mobility, all from the comfort of your home.
This is beneficial for several reasons, but it’s extremely useful for patients with mobility problems. For these patients, traveling to treatment is either very difficult or impossible.
Many patients also find it more comfortable to receive therapy in a familiar location and may be able to relax more. For individuals that may be recovering from an accident, this can put them at ease and help them focus on treatment. Plus, at-home therapy is generally less stressful, especially for new patients.
2. It’s More Personal
At-home treatment is more personal, as it allows a physical therapist time to talk to the patient and help them through the exercises in a quieter and more relaxing environment. There are no offices or equipment and no noise to worry about.
Home care also allows a physical therapist a chance to see how a patient moves in their own home and assess their condition in a new way. This can create a bond between the therapist and the patient, putting both at ease.
Maintaining a happier outlook and being a happy person overall also have some beneficial health benefits. Receiving treatment at home can make patients happier, possibly making their treatment more effective.
Another reason that patients can meet their goals faster is due to the one-on-one care that at-home therapy provides. In-home therapists work with their patients on a more personal level, giving them undivided attention and providing encouragement and guidance.
3. Physical Therapists Can Identity Safety Issues
Visiting the home of the patient allows a physical therapist to look for any safety issues. Examples include clutter, decorative rugs, poor lighting, etc.
Older adults can prevent dangerous slips and falls by limiting hazards such as:
- Long extension cords on the floor
- Objects on stairs and walkways
- Area rugs without non-slip backing
- Poor lighting
- Stairs without a railing
- Slippery tubs and showers
- Wearing slippery footwear
Too much clutter in a home, especially on stairs and near walkways, and slippery surfaces are exceptionally hazardous. At-home physical therapy allows a therapist a chance to evaluate the patient’s home and see how they move around at home and conduct day-to-day activities.
Providing safety tips and reducing hazards is one of the best ways to prevent injuries in the first place. It can also help to stop further injuries if the patient is currently recovering from an accident or fall.
4. Helps Patients Visualize Progress
It’s often easier to heal when a patient can see themselves making progress. It’s difficult to imagine what increased balance looks like, but it’s easier to imagine what they’ll look like moving through the home with ease and confidence, preparing meals in the kitchen, or doing laundry.
Patients can imagine this much more clearly, which can give them a concrete goal to work toward. It can also inspire them to work hard and perform their exercises as instructed so they can get better soon and return to a normal life.
The power of visualization has helped many people, from entrepreneurs to professional athletes. By visualizing themselves accomplishing a task, such as landing a job or crossing the finish line of a marathon, people can help make it happen.
Visualization techniques are especially useful during physical therapy, as patients are often in pain or struggling to regain their mobility. It can be frustrating and discouraging at times. However, keeping a positive attitude and imagining reaching a goal can help keep them on track and working past obstacles.
That isn’t to say that patients can’t use visualization techniques in a clinical setting, but being at home can make it easier. It’s a familiar environment, so it might be simpler to imagine making it up the stairs or getting into their car.
5. Patients Get Continued Treatment
The problem with going to physical therapy appointments in another location is that there’s always the possibility of cancellation. If patients feel tired or achy, or they can’t find reliable transportation, they might cancel.
Physical therapy is only useful if patients continue to use the techniques taught to them and continue to receive treatment. Missing appointments can set them back, taking more time to heal and return their functional mobility.
When a physical therapist visits a patient’s home, they don’t have to go anywhere. That’s the benefit of home nursing care and in-home physical therapy. Patients are more likely to follow through and continue treatment, keeping them on track toward recovery.
The Power of Home Physical Therapy
Patients can experience these benefits and many more when they start home physical therapy. Home caregivers provide one-on-one treatment that can help patients recover from injuries faster and put them on the right path toward regaining strength and mobility.
Are you interested in learning more about home physical therapy options for yourself or a loved one? If so, Med1Care is here for you, offering home health care in Toledo. Our caregivers are dedicated to providing the best service possible, helping seniors improve their strength, balance, mobility, and independence.
If you want to learn more, fill out our therapy services request form.
