Potential

Search for the word “potential” and you will find a definition that centers around something involving an unrealized ability. That unrealized ability indicates that there is room for change, adaptation can occur, and things can be different. That applies to many different aspects of daily life, and most certainly applies to physical therapy.

We all have a select amount of potential. We all have a ceiling that we are capable of reaching, but where that ceiling lies is the tricky part. After an injury there is a maximal level of recovery that is attainable, sometimes we return to our previous level of capacity, and often there are residual deficits.

As a patient you want to know how long recovery will take and what the anticipated outcome is. The truth of the matter is that in most cases, no one knows. This is hard to grapple with, but it is the reality. We have typical tissue healing timelines, they provide a framework with which to operate, however they should not set expectations. Expectations create a story that, in reality, may be inaccurate and later cause disappointment.

Although this sounds somewhat bleak, there is hope. We all have a certain amount of potential, and with a good coach we can fully realize our capabilities. As a physical therapist I take it upon myself to coach patients through their recovery, and we work together to tap into that unrealized ability.

Austin Ulrich, Physical Therapist