Essentials for Success during Patient Education for Motor Tasks

 

Ultimately, the patient/client's attitude regarding exercise and movement as a treatment for pain, weakness, stiffness, loss of function, etc., has the greatest influence on motor learning. A careful, thoughtful, exercise program will have little effect in carryover and learning if your patient is not committed to participating in an exercise treatment plan to reach his or her goals.

Tips to Maintain Patient Motivation

1. Maintain a positive, supportive relationship between the teacher/therapist and learner/patient/client

2. Tailor the instruction to the individual's learning style (visual, verbal, kinesthetic), or providing multiple methods of instruction for the same activity
3. Assess patient motivations and concerns, including whether or not they value exercise as a form of treatment for their condition; consider individual or cultural differences which may impact success when learning a new motor skill
4. Consider patient impairment, functional limitation, and disabilities, particularly if there are challenges in attention, cognition, and memory

Tips to Build Rapport During Patient Education

• Be prepared: Have solid ideas and some options for your session before you start
• Match your patient: Provide an exercise opportunity in which your patient can be successful. Feedback is immediate and includes specific information about accuracy.
• Pace your patient: Provide multiple and regular exercise interventions which encourage he or she to work to the edge of their comfort zone; guidance and feedback from you is intermittent
• Lead your patient: Provide safe and progressive challenges which allow the activity to carry over to multiple environments. Patients can self-assess what they need to do differently and what they can do effectively with little to no input from you.
• Respect your patient: Consider environmental or cultural barriers which may impact their ability to complete the exercise/motor tasks in the manner you recommend; adapt approaches and programs to the individual while working toward PT goals.
• The "Compliment Sandwich". Congratulate your patient: try to end your treatment on a successful note. Include a positive - area for improvement- followed by another positive when concluding your treatment.

 

toc | return to top | previous page | next page