Professional Action Plan: Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is more than just the mending of bodies; it is a holistic endeavour that encompasses the intricate interplay between the physical and psychological dimensions of healing. Drawing inspiration from sports psychology concepts of motivation, communication and interpersonal, as an aspiring physical therapist, I can harness their power to create an environment that not only facilitates physical recovery but also nurtures the psychological well-being of their patients.
Psychological Elements
As determined earlier, the intended career field under discussion for this paper is physical therapy. As a multidimensional field encompassing various psychological elements and dimensions, physical therapy plays a crucial role in the overall well-being and success of rehabilitation patients. With a particular interest in the field, I have understood that these psychological aspects are intertwined with the physical aspects of treatment and contribute significantly to the effectiveness of the therapy process. Therefore, I intend to further comprehend the unique demands of this anticipated career field by determining if these psychological elements are relevant and can be viable as targets for my action plan.
The most significant element of physical therapy is patient empowerment and engagement because physical therapists must work closely with patients to set goals, create treatment plans, and monitor progress. Therefore, empowering patients to participate in their recovery actively will foster a sense of control and involvement, leading to increased motivation and adherence to the prescribed exercises and interventions. When the empowerment seems to be slowly taking shape, there is a need to involve the physical and physiological aspects or experience, i.e., pain management and perception, such that the patients as clients understand the relationship between pain and movement. Caneiro, Bunzli and O’Sullivan (2021) explain that pain perception can reduce fear and anxiety associated with movement, which makes patients more receptive to therapy, perhaps a significant reason for the need for patient education on pain perception.
Motivation is also another element often accompanied by adherence because physical therapy requires that patients be motivated to commit to their treatment plans and adhere to exercise routines since it can be challenging. Physical therapists will employ motivational strategies like positive reinforcement and goal-setting techniques to enhance patients’ commitment and compliance with prescribed interventions to ultimately realize the set expectations (Bäck et al., 2020). While there can be emotional distress and frustration, physical therapy incorporates the coping and stress management element, where patients are advised to express their concerns and fears as they also get educated on stress management techniques and coping strategies. Significantly, the education should be accompanied by communication because it ensures the professional builds rapport while setting expectations and ensuring that patients understand their condition and the treatment options. In general, physical therapy builds upon motivation and adherence, coping and stress management, and communication and education elements.
Linking the Psychological Elements to Theoretical Knowledge on Sport Psychology
Patient empowerment relates to ensuring independence such that the main intent (facilitating long-term independence and sustainable function) is achieved with major recognition of the patient’s sense of powerlessness. While this empowerment can emulate the job’s specific requirements in using skills and knowledge to ensure the patient gains as much as possible, communication is important. Communication creates rapport and ensures patients comprehend their conditions, treatment plans, and expected outcomes to actively participate in rehabilitation and adhere to prescribed exercises and interventions. With communication components of empathy and understanding, the patient’s fear and anxiety are alleviated as the treatment approach is reinforced. As Ahlsen and Nilsen (2022) discuss, communication is the beginning of ensuring patient-centred care in physical therapy. Therefore, communication will not only establish the trust needed for effective therapy but also ensure the care is personalized through patient involvement in decision-making and communication of lifestyles, preferences and goals.
Interpersonal skills relate to motivation and adherence because patients need to be motivated to adhere to their prescribed exercises and interventions, which requires strong interpersonal skills. Therefore, physical therapists will build rapport and trust, creating a supportive environment where patients feel
Download this sample Order this paper