Rehab in the home.

Independence ties directly with self-esteem, one of the basic human needs outlined in Abraham Maslow’s infamous Hierarchy of Needs. To be able to do things for oneself can be easily considered the most prominent goal of every individual that is on a journey of physical rehabilitation. This is where the principle of Specificity plays a big role. There are a lot of components involved in the performance of our usual Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and though general improvements in strength and flexibility through targeted training methods may enhance performance, no training method will reap better results than task specific practise - that is, practising the task that you wish to improve i.e. walking, dressing or feeding.

And your practise is the most specific if it were carried out in the environment where the task is ordinarily performed. Herein lies the argument for “Rehab in the home”. Yes attending therapy sessions at a clinic has its merits but where else can you recreate the exact conditions and obstacles that you would encounter at home, other than home? We would often hear our favourite Sportsperson report that they are always trying to simulate the conditions of match day in their training to best prepare them for their contest, from every detail like the competition surface, to their walk out music on the day. Every athlete would agree that specificity in their training enhances their sport performance.

The concept of Specificity has been the bed rock of training in sports for the longest time. Athletes that prepare by mimicking match day conditions are less likely to encounter surprises on the day, so they can focus solely on executing their skill. 

The rehabilitation process is no different. To become better at performing an ADL it’s best to practise it in the setting where it would usually take place. So why not train in the same vein as your favourite Sportsperson and implement the concepts of Specificity to optimise your performance? Undergo rehab in the home.