Day 9

Day 9

Today the clinic was closed, so along with studying for my shoulder test, I focused on researching more about how your mind plays a role in getting better physically, specifically with chronic pain. Instead of researching whether there is a connection between the two, I focused more on ways physiotherapists can actually implement mental health practices into their treatment.

I found a case study through the National Library of Medicine that discussed how physiotherapists can positively impact patients beyond just the physical side of recovery. One part that stood out to me stated, “As experts in exercise and education, they are able to increase individuals’ confidence in their ability to be physically active, leading to positive health outcomes such as decreased pain and shortness of breath and increased health-related quality of life in people with chronic diseases.” The study also talked about how stress, anxiety, poor cognitive functioning, and negative mood or emotions are all risk factors for the development and chronicity of low back pain.

One treatment option that has been studied and proven to be effective is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. I researched CBT further to get a better understanding of what it actually involves. I found another article through APA.org that explained the basics, stating that “the psychologist and patient/client work together, in a collaborative fashion, to develop an understanding of the problem and to develop a treatment strategy.” The original case study discussed how some clinics bring in outside psychologists to work with patients, while in other situations physiotherapists themselves implement CBT-based treatments.

I asked Diane about whether implementing these kinds of practices would work at Ragged Mountain PT. She told me her sister is actually a psychologist, so she already has some exposure to that field. She said while these methods could definitely benefit patients dealing with chronic pain, chronic pain is not the majority of conditions she treats at the clinic. Most of her patients are recovering from injuries or surgery.

If the amount of chronic pain treatment Diane dealt with at Ragged was greater, I think CBT could be a really beneficial addition, whether that means bringing in outside mental health professionals or implementing some of the techniques directly through Diane herself, especially because she has a degree in psychology. At the same time, this brought me back to the point I made last week. While chronic pain is important and very real, most patients at Ragged are dealing with physical or post-surgical injuries. From my own experience, those injuries can still take a major toll mentally. When someone has multiple injuries, re-injures something, or feels like recovery is taking forever, it can become mentally exhausting.

Older patients especially seem more vulnerable to becoming discouraged. As the body weakens over time, injuries become more common, and some patients seem frustrated knowing there’s a chance they may end up back in PT again in the future. One thing I’ve noticed throughout this project is how well Diane prevents this mindset from taking over. She creates deep, personal connections with her patients and makes PT something they actually enjoy showing up for. Her patients genuinely look forward to seeing her throughout the week, and I think that plays a huge role in their motivation to stay consistent with exercises and improve physically.

To conclude, chronic pain is 100% real, and research shows that mental health practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can positively impact recovery for patients dealing with it. While chronic pain is not the main focus of Ragged Mountain PT, I still believe mindset has a major impact on physical and post-surgical recovery as well. Based on my research and observations, I think creating a positive environment and building strong personal connections with patients can significantly improve the overall recovery process.

Hours today: 4

Total Hours: 43