Attending therapy sessions is a necessary component of the healing and growth process for many people. However, traditional therapeutic sessions can become a chore, decreasing their effectiveness due to a lack of participation. Patients may go through the motions of therapy, getting little out of expertly-guided sessions. Others may skip sessions entirely, their boredom surpassing their interest in improving motor function or life skills. However, adding a novelty factor into therapeutic sessions is a unique and effective way to improve results and patients’ lives. Here are a few ways to do just that:
1. Turn Therapy Into Play With a Playground
All kids want to do is play, so when therapy is synonymous with a sterile white room, healing is hard. However, if you want them to engage with their physical or occupational therapy program, add a dose of fun. Take your therapy session onto the playground, using durable commercial-grade playground equipment as your go-to tool. Work on balance, complete mobility drills, and assess coordination in both structured and unstructured play.
Playgrounds can be installed indoors or out, giving this investment year-round potential. Use free play sessions to observe patient progress, how they engage with others and problem-solving skills. Incorporate playground sections like stairs, ladders, and rings into their treatment. Offer breaks from taking instruction to give kids time to reset and refocus on their session. This freedom can improve their engagement in therapy overall, helping them make progress without friction.
2. Use Nature to Stimulate the Senses
Getting outdoors has improved people’s moods, cognitive function, and physical health. Elevate your current treatment plan by using nature to boost your patients’ overall well-being and activate more senses. This can be as simple as taking your physical therapy session outside during consultations or completing exercise outdoors. Utilize public spaces like parks, walking paths, and gardens, coordinating therapy sessions in alignment with patient treatment plans.
Upgrade your facility’s space when possible, adding a rooftop or courtyard garden as a facility asset. If your office is in a business center or office park, use the green space there to enhance treatment sessions. Work with building managers to add amenities or gain approval to install garden beds and decorative plantings. You could even incorporate gardening into occupational therapy to apply fine motor skills and improve session engagement. When patients look forward to seeing their plant’s growth process, they may be more inclined to participate fully.
3. Experience New Terrains and Textures on the Beach
In both occupational and physical therapy, patients need to regain their abilities to enjoy life. However, when you’re recovering from an injury or feel like therapy is too hard, the pain factor makes it unenjoyable. Providers can help patients overcome this hurdle by taking therapy to the beach. Whether you’re in a coastal locale or not, waterside spaces are generally accessible to all with a little creativity. A lakeside beach may not offer crisp waves, but it gets the job done for both body and mind.
Water is known for its calming effect, which can help reduce the stress and anxiety that patients can experience. Sandy shores offer new textures and terrains, which challenge mobility, balance, and reaction time. Beach exploration adds more novelty to sessions too, making the goal of bending over for a shell more achievable. If your treatment plan calls for it, a canoe or paddle boat can offer physical challenges traditional equipment cannot. Use these field-trip-like sessions as a motivator for patients to achieve progress milestones or as a reward for consistent attendance.
4. Incorporate Equines for Layered Benefits
Animals are beloved creatures as companions, but they can also be great partners in therapeutic growth. Most notably, horses are fantastic as aids in physical and occupational therapy. Ranches and farms are a unique place to apply and test skills. Horse riding can improve core strength, endurance, and balance. Care tasks for the horse challenge dexterity and spatial awareness, and they require patience, which is a crucial skill for all.
Your patients will develop caring relationships with their horses, who are specially trained to do this work. Many find their patients become more calm while in the presence of animals, which can reduce stress during sessions. Individuals with disabilities may find comfort in equine therapy, which can be adapted for differing abilities. Finally, those whose therapy sessions are a result of a traumatic experience may also benefit from equine therapy. Caring for an animal provides a rewarding external goal and can boost one’s confidence during and outside of sessions.
Change the Setting to Change Lives
No matter the location, a therapist’s goal remains the same: to help patients achieve their goals. Get creative when you craft your treatment plans, considering community assets and those you can add to your facility. Collaborate with community partners to identify and assess potential alternate sites appropriate for your treatment protocols. Review accessibility, safety, and risk factors to ensure you select ones that meet your criteria.
Test potential new settings with your existing clients and get their feedback while monitoring their therapeutic progress. Once you’ve determined the right match, incorporate them into your treatment protocols and offerings. Celebrate your new range of therapies with your clients and share the good news with referring physicians. With an expansion of services, you can continue to make a positive impact in the lives of your patients.
