Get Patients Motivated
Exercise is a very important part of what we do as physical therapists, but most patients hate to exercise. I know that sometimes I even need the extra motivation to get up and go to the gym. So...what is a good way to get them motivated to exercise?
Working in the hospital, I have found that there are few things that tend to work, but you have to know the patient's personality a little:
1) Challenge them-some people feel compelled to achieve goals when they are challenged to complete them. It's sort of like when you were little and you tell your sibling, "bet you can't do this."
2) Get their family involved-some people just need the extra motivation to come from a loved one.
3) Guilt-this sounds kind of bad, but patients need to know the bad things that will happen if they don't comply with therapy. Also sometimes it‘s good to tell them that this is what their family wants (if it actually is) to play on the "disappointment factor."
Sometimes as an aide it is especially difficult to convince patients to do their exercises with you, but these have worked for me in the past.