10 Mar How we individualise rehab for every patient at Melbourne Hand Rehab

No two people are the same; we all have different interests, ideas, lifestyles, and motivations. Some people play sport, music, some like to cook, read, paint, craft or draw. We are individual and unique.

So why shouldn’t it be the same when it comes to healing and rehabilitation? 

Well, good news, at Melbourne Hand Rehab it is! We tailor our therapies to the individual. True, there are guidelines and protocols for certain conditions that we follow, but they are just that – guidelines. They guide us in developing a therapy program tailored to you and your experiences, interests, and goals.  

Take, for example, someone who plays football every week, with training 2-3 times a week. Their goals and needs are going to be completely different than someone who enjoys staying in, reading a book, or crocheting a blanket while having a glass of wine. As therapists, it’s our job to look at you as the individual and focus on the activities that you want to get back to doing, and what is most important to you! When you come for an appointment we may ask you questions that seem kind of irrelevant to your injury more than just what hurts, such as what are your hobbies and interests, do you live with any one, what do you do for a living, This is because we want to know you as an individual, we don’t believe in cookie cutter therapies.  

What does individualised rehab look like?  

The way we Individualise is by working on specific activities and the movements involved in them, the strength required for them, and the dexterity involved, then we can create exercises and activities to simulate the goal. For example, I recently had a patient who wanted to get back to riding a motorcycle. This was difficult for 2 reasons, vibration of the bike, and ability to pull the clutch. So in individualising his rehab, we focused firstly on the vibration using vibrational devices, massage guns, increasing intensity and tolerance, then moved to sitting on the bike with it running but not riding to get comfortable with the real vibrations of the bike. Then the next component is the pulling of the clutch. Using a Cando bar and some firm Theraputty, we simulated the action of pulling a clutch – at first quite difficult, but with practice it became easier and easier. Now he is able to ride his motorcycle and use the clutch safely…..Goal achieved!

Although some of the things we do may seem uncouth, and a bit odd, trust the process. We individualise rehab for you to guide you towards success.