“What’s there to be optimistic about?!” you may be asking
Well, for one thing, there’s physical therapy. It can reliably relieve pain and help keep you moving more freely. So there’s that!
Now hold that thought.
Did you know that optimism about health care options may be healthful in itself? It might even help you live longer and enjoy a better quality of life along the way. The Washington Post recently reported on studies suggesting that optimism can improve blood pressure and overall heart health.
Recent study optimistic about optimism
The article, “People Who Are Optimistic Tend to Have Healthier Hearts, Study Finds,” is fascinating, encouraging, and, yes, optimistic. Recommended reading!
I especially liked this part:
In a new study, researchers found that “positive psychology interventions,” including gratitude exercises, optimism training, and mindfulness-based practices, are associated with consistent improvements in cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors.
“Positive psychological interventions are structured strategies designed to help people build emotional resilience,” said Rosalba Hernandez, an associate professor of social work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who led the study. “It’s not about ignoring stress or forcing people to feel happy all the time. It’s about building emotional resources.”
What I like about being a physical therapist is that it opens the door to optimism for patients experiencing pain or limited movement. Knowing you can count on physical therapy is an emotional resource.
I once had a patient with excruciating pain in his left arm. He had been told it was a pinched nerve — what I would call cervical radiculopathy — and that surgery was the only real cure.
No wonder he looked discouraged when he arrived.
We didn’t completely relieve the condition during the first visit, but he did have a breakthrough. Through our consultation and exercises, he realized his pinched nerve was something he could help manage himself. He could head off future problems. He left with recommended exercises, a follow-up appointment, and a new outlook.
Empowerment engenders optimism
A positive physical therapy outcome still requires work by the patient. That’s part of the beauty of it. Patients feel empowered once they understand the condition causing the pain and learn practices that can improve it.
We think of Cedar Hill as an optimistic space. And it’s not just positive vibes. It’s the proven science of how the body responds to movement and exercise, guided by expert care. There’s good reason for optimism.