Motivate Yourself to Stay Active During or After Physical Therapy

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The motivation to exercise often is a big problem for people who are thinking of starting physical therapy or staying active after treatment is completed. This is one topic of conversation we have with our patients here at Red Canyon Physical Therapy at our Frederick, Maryland office.

We can find inspiration in quotes, such as “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Then again, it has been said that “Well done is better than well said.”

So how can we turn words into actions when it comes to physical activity?

Step 1: Set goals for yourself to stay motivated

Before starting any exercise program, you should set short- and long-term goals for what you want to accomplish. These can be specific to function, such as being able to go up and down a flight of stairs or walking around a park for a period of time.

If you are involved in a physical therapy program, make sure you communicate with your therapist so that he or she can tailor a program to your needs and goals. In our Frederick office, we work with patients with a variety of movement-related therapy services, including sports medicine treatment and physical therapy for worker’s compensation-related injuries. A good short-term goal might be to walk for 15 minutes per day, five days a week; a good long-term goal might be to participate in a 5K walk. Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable because it is easy to get frustrated if they are too ambitious.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Step 2: Make exercise fun and grab a friend

Participate in physical activity that is enjoyable to you and then mix it up to keep it interesting. Go on a bike ride with friends, try out a kickboxing class, or join a softball league. If you don’t like something, try something else. Ask a friend, family member or neighbor to join your activities. You can motivate each other to continue and pursue your fitness goals.

These are some great ways to help motivate yourself to start exercising. Please stop by Red Canyon Physical Therapy in Frederick, MD so we can help you feeling great and exercising today.