It’s amazing how connected everything is – not just anatomically, but also emotionally. Recently, one of my patients with an upper extremity injury was discussing her plans for an upcoming total knee replacement. She was describing how she was faithfully performing her pre-operative strengthening exercises, looking into a postop rehab facility, and setting up a schedule for her children to come and stay with her during her first couple of weeks home from rehab. As she described how nice and helpful her children were and that she really had nothing to worry about, I noticed that her right hand was progressively tightening into a fist. Very interesting. As my patient went to discuss a different aspect of peri-operative planning, her hand relaxed.
I couldn’t help but point out the irony of this connection to my patient, observing that her hand had tightened up at a pivotal moment during her conversation. The patient burst out laughing, and admitted that even though her children really were great and helpful, etc., etc., she was having a lot of trouble thinking about being dependent on someone else. She explained that she had always been the planner, the list maker, and the one in control, and it was really hard for her to think about relying on someone else for the first time in her life. Her tightening hand had given her away.
What have your patients’ bodies been telling you?
Anne Ahlman, MPT
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