Addressing the Lack of Patient Adherence to Exercise Within the Physical Therapy Clinic and Creating Infographics to Improve Patient Adherence

The primary objective of this applied knowledge project is to develop educational materials to enhance patient adherence. The World Health Organization defines adherence as “the extent to which a person’s behavior…corresponds with agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider.” Within the physical therapy field, non-adherence to exercise is a significant problem linked with increased duration of treatment, more patient complaints, reduced positive clinical outcomes, and even surgical intervention. Multiple factors affect patient adherence, making it hard to pinpoint a singular cause. Clinical observations and research suggest that belief in the rehabilitation process may suffer due to a prolonged recovery period, lack of immediate visible improvement, persistent pain, and lack of physiological understanding of the recovery process. This project aims to address the factors that inhibit adherence, specifically physiological knowledge regarding their recovery, to educate patients and improve adherence outcomes. To achieve this, the project will develop infographic pamphlets focused on Anterior Cruciate Ligament rehabilitation. These materials will also incorporate accessible scientific language that ensures clarity for a broad audience. These pamphlets will also include explanatory text and visual aids to enhance the patient's physiological understanding and aim to improve adherence to prescribed exercises. Key Words: Adherence, Physical Therapy, ACL recovery, Infographics