For some people seeking physical therapy services the answer to that question is “YES!” In fact, the people that are seeking independence are the people who turn out to be model patients at Moshen. But, before you take the reins and run to the internet to treat your own torn ACL there are some things you should know about how Moshen fosters independence in patients, and it doesn’t start with Google!
Our process begins, like most, with an evaluation. I’m not talking about a quick and dirty 5-minute once-over. I mean sitting down in a comfortable environment and putting together your whole story. When a patient schedules an appointment with Moshen, that is the only patient on the therapist schedule at that time. We’ll leave no stone unturned in seeking what deficits have contributed to your injury. We assess posture, flexibility, strength, and range of motion among other things. Once we’ve dialed in some areas to target, we educate. Our philosophy is that if you understand what is going on then you’ll be better prepared to participate in treating your injury. It is not uncommon to pull out anatomical models, anatomy books, and yes, even the occasional Google image search to make sure that you’ve got a grasp on what structures are contributing to your condition.
Once we’ve figured out what’s going on and we are sure that you have a good understanding of the underlying causes, we build a program to start addressing your deficits. This is where our unique app comes in. In that app you will have a customized list of exercises and stretches to work on including videos and descriptions with how many sets and reps need to be done. The exercises are designed to be done at home. As you go through the exercises your therapist will be able to see your progress. You will have the ability to chat back and forth with your therapist and adjustments can be made to your program. With the app, it’s like having a PT in your pocket! The only thing you need to come back to the clinic for is reassessments or anything that you absolutely can’t do on your own. Talk about independence!
So, I repeat, yes, you CAN do this on your own as long as you are armed with the right knowledge and tools, but that doesn’t mean you need to go through it alone!
