Patient education is truly the cornerstone of physical therapy care. It involves educating or training patients, their families, significant others, and/or caregivers in order to optimize physical therapy services and overall recovery. Instruction is essential to the physical rehabilitative process and may be used throughout the entire course of care.
Patient education may include:
- Fall risk precautions
- The patient’s condition/diagnosis
- Performance enhancement
- Precautions for injury
- Transitioning to new settings or lifestyle
- The plan of care
- A new wellness or fitness program
