In my 20+ years in Physical Therapy, I've noticed that there are primarily two types of patients that come in for care. Type 1 is looking to partner up with you and get things taken care of the best they are able to. Type 2 is looking to you to fix the problems.
Type 1 folks tend to be diligent with their home programs and understand that the 2-3 sessions in the week only make up a small piece of the rehab continuum of the week. They tend to see the process as something they are actively involved in.
Type 2 folks usually see the process as one where they come in and you work your magic on them to make things better. Often home programs are hit and miss, whether its exercise, stretching, applying ice, etc....
There was a time in my life where I saw this as a character issue, thinking that some folks are lazy and don't want to take responsibility for their care. I don't so much believe this anymore. While it certainly may be true that some folks are not as helpful as others in the rehab process, I've adopted a different attitude.
Realistically no one wants to hurt or be limited in their function. Some folks just don't have the personality type to go after it the way others do. Some folks are born poor time managers and just never get around to certain things. Or there are a myriad of other reasons why some folks just want you to do it for them versus be more pro-active in the process.
Much of life is like this, some folks have strengths where others are weak. It's not our place to judge harshly as much as it is to try to be creative in helping them in their journey. Remember, given the choice, no one likes pain....
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