What is ‘locus of control’? (Hint: it is not a bug)
Locus of Control and Rehabilitation
Starting or restarting exercise after an injury can be overwhelming, and it's easy to put it off for weeks, or even months. However, by approaching it from a different perspective, you can make it easier and create long-term habits that will benefit your overall health.
Locus of control refers to an individual's belief in their ability to control events that impact them. It has been extensively studied and has been shown to have a significant impact on various aspects of an individual's life, including their physical and mental health, as well as their overall well-being.
In physiotherapy, a patient's locus of control is an essential factor in their rehabilitation. Patients with a higher internal locus of control tend to be more proactive, motivated, and compliant with their rehabilitation plan. In contrast, patients with a higher external locus of control may feel like their recovery is out of their hands and may be less motivated to take an active role in their rehabilitation process.
However, every patient is different, and it's important to understand their ability to cope with new information and the overwhelming feeling of getting back to their previous level of function. By approaching with curiosity and taking the time to gather enough information, you can kickstart the rehab journey between you and your patient.
As a physiotherapist, it's important to understand your patients' locus of control and tailor their rehabilitation plan accordingly. After doing this job for nearly 10 years I often see two approaches with my patients.:
For patients with a high internal locus of control, we can offer guidance, support, and a structured plan to help them set and achieve their goals.
For patients with a high external locus of control, we may need to provide more encouragement, motivation, and reassurance to help them take an active role in their recovery.
We can work together with our patients to achieve their rehabilitation goals, improve their overall health and well-being, and ultimately help them regain control of their lives.
A Personal Approach
I once had a patient who was struggling with her rehab journey. She was feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and frustrated, and had been to a few clinicians before me without much success. I decided to take a different approach and focus on one small thing at a time. By finding small wins each day and each week, we were able to build momentum and she started to see progress.
The key is to understand your own locus of control and how it impacts your rehabilitation. If you have a high internal locus of control, you may be more proactive, motivated, and compliant with your rehabilitation plan. On the other hand, if you have a high external locus of control, you may feel like your recovery is out of your hands and may be less motivated to take an active role in your rehabilitation process. Enter with curiosity, nil judgement and the ability to share empathy with another human is our job.
As a physiotherapist, it's important for me to understand your locus of control and tailor your rehabilitation plan accordingly. For patients with a high internal locus of control, we can offer guidance, support, and a structured plan to help you set and achieve your goals. For patients with a high external locus of control, we may need to provide more encouragement, motivation, and reassurance to help you take an active role in your recovery.
By working together and taking a patient-centered approach, we can achieve your rehabilitation goals, improve your overall health and well-being, and ultimately help you regain control of your life.