Too much tactile cueing may not be good

I have spoken of the importance of using tactile cues in order to get a particular muscle contraction or movement to occur.  However, continuing from the previous entry, when dealing with older clients/patients, sometimes too much manual cues may be detrimental.  When you are performing the higher risk exercises mentioned before (standing exercises without support), you are trying to build your patient's self-confidence --- SELF- Confidence.  They must rely on THEMSELVES.  You are there to perform a job, and usually can only work with your patient for a limited time, so you really want them to be safe when you are not there.  Having them walk or perform exercises with your hand on them for security purposes, when they do not really need that much assistance, provides a false sense of security.  When you are not there, they do not feel your support, so their self-confidence may be greatly diminished.  If they do not need it, do not provide it.  I feel the same way about gait belts.  Many therapists use gait belts no matter what.  Usually, a clinic or hospital makes it protocol for liability purposes.  But when the patient is discharged, they will be walking on their own without that gait belt -- without that sense of security.  Use common sense.  If your patient needs the assistance, provide only what they need.  Do not over-assist because you will be under-rehabilitating.  Sometimes you are causing more harm than good by training your patient in an overprotected environment.