When life bleeds into rehab

Let’s talk about loss.

And not just loss of function, or mobility like us therapists of talk about… but the loss of something or someone loved– a partner, a parent, or a cherished pet.

A few days ago, I suddenly and unexpectedly lost my beloved cat Penny to an accident which has seriously rocked me and caused me more distress and grief than I was expecting or thought possible.

I don’t think I realised just how attached I was to her until I became suddenly detached from her!

Grief isn’t just emotional. It’s physical. It’s cold. It’s raw. It’s painful. And it’s all-consuming.

It kicks your routines out the window, punches your motivation in the gut, nukes your momentum, and makes even the basic of tasks feel pointless.

This last few days have made me reflect about times when I’ve seen sudden changes in some of my patients moods, behaviours, and symptoms with no clear reasons or mechanisms?

Or why they’re not as motivated or engaged as they were before no matter how much I try or different things we do?

Maybe its because their world just fell apart.

Maybe its because they have experienced something sudden unexpected that has deeply affected and changed them.

And if it has – we don’t need to play at psychotherapists. But we do need to be decent humans.

So ask them if everything is ok?
Listen to what they have to say.
Give them space.
Drop the intensity, lower the frequency.

Or just stop and let them focus on the most important thing at this moment in time.

Sometimes people with pain and injuries need less massage and kettlebells, and far more listening and compassion.

People are not just MSK pathologies and rehab doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Life bleeds into it… always.

So next time a patient’s motivation nosedives or their attitude changes for no obvious reason… don’t just think non-compliance, or poorly motivated person. Think life!

Because helping people as a physio isn’t just about moving joints, rubbing muscles, soothing nervous systems. It’s far more about helping people with lifes ups and downs, of which there are many.

All the best
Adam

PS: make sure you let those you love be that family, friends, pets know as often as you can because you will never know when you wont be able to until its too late!