I love being a physical therapist. But during the summer of 2020, I hit a wall. I was burned out — emotionally exhausted from treating patients recovering from COVID-19 and coping with the daily stress and uncertainty of the pandemic. My baseline anxiety didn’t help matters. So, I turned to nature.

Many of us instinctively understand the positive effects of nature on our health and well-being, yet our lives are often too busy and disconnected to reap the rewards. How many of us have meaningful, restorative time in nature each week? While research supports nature’s benefits — lower blood pressure, reduced cortisol, decreased stress and improved mood — spending time outdoors is not yet a formal public health strategy.

As I began to prioritize nature in my own life, I also began to consider its potential for my patients. As a neurologic physical therapist, I work with people recovering from brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and other complex medical conditions. Some have spent months indoors in hospitals recovering. Could they benefit from nature?

Since that summer, I have begun intentionally incorporating nature into my clinical practice. I sought out a neuro-intensive home and community rehabilitation program with more flexibility to treat outdoors. Almost immediately, we found it made therapy more enjoyable — something many patients don’t normally associate with rehab. The health benefits quickly became clear, too.

For those working on walking or wheelchair skills, going outside presents a valuable opportunity to practice in real-world conditions — uneven terrain, unpredictable surfaces and varied environments. One former patient loved hiking but had suffered multiple fractures in an accident and could barely get out of bed. Once she was able to walk inside her home, we moved therapy outside.

Just standing in the sun and seeing trees from her driveway lifted her mood. We began with simple walks on the paved sidewalk overlooking Gooch’s Beach, then transitioned to the accessible trail at Hope Woods and other trails at Kennebunk Land Trust as her strength, endurance and balance improved. She later remarked that this was the biggest contributor to regaining confidence in her body.

I’ve had similar experiences with many other patients. One practiced steering his power wheelchair on the accessible trail circling the summit of Mount Agamenticus, while another walked with a rollator, building coordination and endurance. Both initially doubted they’d ever enjoy the outdoors again, and both left those sessions not only stronger, but more hopeful and connected to nature, to themselves and to their communities.

For those who can’t easily leave their homes, there are also small steps we can take to bring nature inside, such as opening blinds, adding indoor plants, setting up a chair by a window or placing a bird feeder in view of a window. If they can access a porch or patio, we can do strength or balance therapy outside. Even these small doses of nature can positively affect health and well-being.

Nature-based therapy isn’t just good for patients, it’s good for clinicians, too. I feel lucky to do what I love while enjoying Maine’s beautiful natural settings. I hope more health professionals will recognize nature as a powerful tool for healing, and that it will become a more accepted part of clinical practice. As we incorporate nature into clinical practice and advocate for it as public health infrastructure, we must also prioritize equitable access and safe experiences for all.

By helping patients connect with nature, we not only support healing, but also build a deeper appreciation for our interdependence with the natural world. My hope is that more people will want to protect the places that help us heal. For more information about the health benefits of nature, check out the Nature and Health Alliance at natureandhealthalliance.org.

“Nature Connects” is a monthly column showcasing conservation stories from people and organizations across Maine. To learn more or suggest story ideas, please email [email protected].