Rest to Progress

December 8, 2023

I was looking at the calendar this week and startled myself with how close we are to rotating once more around the sun. With December and Christmas just around the corner many thoughts begin to circle. Family. Delicious food. A cool beer. What will my New Year’s Resolution be? For those who have experienced an injury or illness and going through a critical period of rehabilitation, “what will happen to all my progress over Christmas?”


The Christmas period can be a busy time for many people; balancing end of year proceedings at work, seeing all their family and friends, keeping physically fit and trying to keep that holiday weight off. One aspect that is often overlooked is taking time to look after ourselves and our mental wellbeing.  The point of this piece comes from a question I had from a concerned patient who has been religiously attending the gym as part of their rehabilitation. They experienced a workplace injury and subsequent surgery. For them family is the most important thing in their life and is a major driving force and motivation. Their concern was that they had a dilemma around wanting to continue to attend the gym to progress themselves and feeling that this would take away from spending time with their family.


To some the answer may be a simple. Stop the gym for a period and see the family, or to others it may be focus on the rehabilitation missing family for a year is a small sacrifice. I could see this was troubling them and it comes up regularly from patients over this time. My answer to this is in two parts. The first is based on the relationship of mental well-being and its impact on the long-term recovery of physical illness and injury. Ensuring that the patient is happy and content with their life means they are more likely to have a positive mental state and be better equipped to engage with their rehabilitation programme. Simply stay engage as much as you can but take the time to enjoy yourself with your family. Have that extra day off to enjoy the sun and relax with the Christmas dinner.


The second is less of an answer to the patient and more to us as clinicians. How can we help modify the programme to facilitate this period. A simple and common solution is modifying the exercises in a way that they can be performed at home. Utilise home based items or home-based equipment if available. Making sure to clearly relay that this is a temporary modification to ensure there is no regression in an accessible way.


Simply put, rest to progress. Rest the mind and relax the body. Do this for a short period to come back refreshed and ready to kick goals make meaningful gains. When we address both the mental and physical aspects, that is when we can help get the most out of our patients.

 

References and Resources:

  • https://www.physio-pedia.com/Mental_Health_Issues_and_Rehabilitation
  • Ohrnberger, J., Fichera, E., & Sutton, M. (2017). The relationship between physical and mental health: A mediation analysis. Social science & medicine (1982), 195, 42–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.11.008
  • Lamers, S. M., Bolier, L., Westerhof, G. J., Smit, F., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2012). The impact of emotional well-being on long-term recovery and survival in physical illness: a meta-analysis. Journal of behavioral medicine, 35(5), 538–547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9379-8


Cameron Addison     

Workers Compensation Specialist (AEP, ESSAM)

Exercise Rehabilitation Services – WA

     

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