Why Is Setting Goals In Rehabilitation So Important?
Establishing goals with patients is a standard practice within the realm of rehabilitation. But why set goals? What is the purpose? In this blog we will discuss the significance of setting goals during the rehabilitation process.
Let’s start with the basics. What is a goal? A goal is “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.”1
Why do we use goals to direct rehab? In short, we use goals to direct our interventions towards specific outcomes.2 To get more definitive, goal setting is a core process used in rehab that is used to engage individuals in their rehabilitation, to get people on board with therapy directives, to help the therapist be more person-centered, to help measure progress, and of course, to aim for desired outcomes.3
To set goals, we need to figure out the patients ‘Why.’ I like to begin by asking the patient simple questions such as 1) “What can’t you do since your injury that you want to get back to?” 2) “What are you finding more difficult since your injury that you’d like to be easier?” 3) “How will you know when you’re ready to stop coming to see me? AKA How will you know when you are ready to return to the activities you love?”
The patient usually responds with something like this:
Patient: “I can’t lift heavy weights anymore because it hurts, I want to get back to being able to lift heavy.”
Therapist: “Why is lifting heavy weights important to you?”
Patient: “Because I want to get stronger.”
Therapist: “Why is getting stronger important to you?”
Patient: “Because it gives me confidence, which improves my mental health.”
Therapist: “Why is being confident and managing your mental health important to you?”
Patient: “Because it allows me to be a better mother to my children, and I want to be an example of strength for them.”
This conversation can go in so many different directions, but it usually ends up at the conclusion: finding the real purpose behind your goal. This is the long-term goal, what I usually call the “end-game” goal. This purpose can maximize patient engagement and motivate a patient to participate in rehabilitation in order to achieve their goals.
After finding the true purpose behind a patient's goals, we break up the long-term goal into attainable short-term goals. By creating short-term goals, this allows the patient to hit specific milestones throughout rehabilitation and will help to keep sight on the long-term goal. In contrast, if a patient isn’t hitting their short-term goals, this allows the therapist to reassess the plan of care and change what is necessary in order to achieve the short-term goal.
If your physical therapist doesn’t take the time to evaluate your goals with you or discuss with you their plan to help you achieve those goals… then it might be time to find a new physical therapist. At The PATH, we take your goals seriously. Finding your true purpose and motivation is what helps us drive you to achieve your goals.
Dr. Samantha Benavides
Co-owner
PT, DPT
References
www.dictionary.com. 2022. Definition of goal | Dictionary.com. [online] Available at: <https://www.dictionary.com/browse/goal> [Accessed 27 January 2022].
Melin J, Nordin Å, Feldthusen C, Danielsson L. Goal-setting in physiotherapy: exploring a person-centered perspective. Physiotherapy theory and practice. 2019 Aug 25:1-8.
McPherson KM, Kayes NM, Kersten P. MEANING as a smarter approach to goals in rehabilitation. Chapter 6 in Rehabilitation goal setting: Theory, practice and evidence. 2014 Jul 10:105-119.
