As a Physiotherapy clinic specialising in Sports & Spinal Injuries, we have a proven track record of helping clients and athletes go from injury to performance, every step of the way. 

But what’s the secret to achieving this success? 

Is it just our theoretical knowledge and expertise in teaching people what exercises to do? 

Or is there something else that binds the “practical know-how” with understanding human behaviour and psychology? 

Let’s read what our Physiotherapist Ryan Tan has to say about his personal strategies to help you best stay on track, despite the ups and downs you’ll experience as part of your recovery journey. 

1: Have absolute clarity on where you are now, where you want to be (goal), and how you want to get there.

Being crystal clear about your goals is something you need to really spend the time to think about, and your Physiotherapist will be able to give you realistic timeframes to achieve your goal, and how much work it’ll take to get there. 

Once you’ve established what you want to achieve, the next question is HOW you are going to achieve your goal. I actually think the ‘how’ is just as important, if not MORE important, than the end goal. 

It’s the physical and mental process of achieving your goal that'll help you inside and out of the gym. 

Our style of Physiotherapy here at Physiologic is to almost always advocate for early, active rehabilitation.

Apart from improved physical outcomes, we want our clients to feel empowered, and that they are taking their rehab into their own hands, from Day 1 to D Day. 

2: Having realistic Expectations

Setting realistic expectations will usually involve your Physiotherapist’s input here. For example, if you are recovering from an ACL reconstruction, you generally should not return to sport any earlier than 9 months post surgery, and if you can push it out to 12 months your risk of reinjury is greatly reduced. 

Modern Physiotherapists will typically set ‘objective based criteria’, while still respecting natural healing time frames. That means, that until you can fulfil certain criteria, like regaining a certain range of motion, or muscle strength requirements, don’t expect your Physiotherapist to progress you to the next stage of your recovery. 

These criteria should be explained to you, so YOU have clarity on YOUR progress, keeping you accountable and (hopefully) motivated to stick to your plan. 

Your Physiotherapist should also let you know about certain symptoms, or fluctuations in your symptoms and function that you should expect. 

In recent years, I’ve been way more proactive in telling my clients from the get go, that they SHOULD expect to have flare ups, or slight regressions in their progress and symptoms throughout their recovery journey. 

In fact, most of my clients going through lengthy recovery journeys DO experience flare ups. And that’s normal. Progress isn’t linear. 

But as long as the general trend is positive, getting you closer to your end goal, you’re on the right track. 

Who’s keeping YOU accountable? 

It might seem like you’re the ONLY one on your journey sometimes. We’ve asked YOU to set your own goals, do your own rehab…but who’s going to help keep you on track when you’re tossing up between a lazy day off or getting yourself to the gym? 

Tell your closest friends and family what you’re going through, and how important it is to you to achieve ‘your goal’. 

Keep them updated on your progress, celebrate little wins, and tell them when you’re struggling. 

It goes without saying that having a good relationship with your Physiotherapist is one of the key things that’ll help you along your recovery journey. Most good Physiotherapists are invested in your progress, and want to see you succeed. We got into the profession because we want to help others! 

Conclusion

Every single person coming through our doors is unique, has their own preferences, and their own personal struggles. Success stories come from tailoring our approach to each individual, partnering with them to achieve their ultimate goals. 

However, the 3 strategies that seem to help the most, as described, are 

1: Getting clarity on your goal, and how you want to achieve it. 

2: Having realistic, challenging expectations 

3: Having a support system that keeps you accountable. 

If you need any help finding a health professional to help you on your journey, or have any questions about your recovery journey, please feel free to contact us! 

We’re always here to help.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Tan, the Clinical Director at Physiologic Hong Kong, has over a decade of experience helping clients navigate lengthy recovery journeys. With extensive experience in sports and spinal physiotherapy, Ryan specializes in crafting individualized treatment plans that keep clients motivated throughout their rehabilitation process.

He holds a Certificate of Spinal Manual Therapy (COSMT) and is trained in Osteopathic Spinal Manipulations (OMT), both of which equip him with advanced skills in spinal care. Ryan’s background includes working in renowned Complex Pain Clinics in London, where he collaborated closely with Pain Consultants and Spinal Neurosurgeons to manage complex spinal conditions.

In Hong Kong, Ryan partners with leading Orthopaedic Spinal Specialists to deliver comprehensive treatments for individuals dealing with persistent spinal injuries. His expertise in tailoring approaches to each client's unique needs ensures effective and sustained progress. If you're facing a long recovery journey due to a complex sports or spinal injury, contact us for a thorough and obligation-free assessment!