Common Misconceptions About Physical Therapy in Napa County, CA

Everyone is bound to get hurt at some point in their life. Whether it’s from a car accident, a sports injury or just everyday wear and tear, your body might start showing signs of limited mobility and pain or discomfort one day. As a way to combat this pain and improve functionality and quality of life, many people go to physical therapy and work with trained professionals.

You probably know at least one person who’s received physical therapy before. However, despite how common physical therapy in Napa County, CA is, there are a lot of things people don’t quite understand. From who needs physical therapy to how effective it is, we’re here to clear up some of the most common myths and misconceptions regarding physical therapy and its benefits:

• My pain isn’t bad enough: One of the biggest reasons people in pain don’t go to physical therapy when they should is because they believe their pain or discomfort isn’t bad enough to seek help. Although many physical therapy patients are recovering from serious injuries or surgeries, an equally large number of patients are everyday people who are feeling the effects of arthritis, back pain and more. In fact, a major part of PT is preventing injuries and building strength, not recovering from pain. If you have even the slightest pain and think physical therapy will help, go ahead and make an appointment.
• It’s not that effective: Some patients are torn between receiving surgery or going to physical therapy for their pain, particularly in cases of chronic pain. This stems from the idea that physical therapy isn’t very effective. However, physical therapy has been proven to improve results in patients and be just as effective as other methods like surgery, going so far as to be considered an alternative for some conditions.
• Physical therapy is supposed to hurt: A lot of people believe that physical therapy is going to hurt based on the old saying, “No pain, no gain,” but this could not be further from the truth! Although some movements might make you slightly uncomfortable, physical therapy is not supposed to hurt you. Your therapist will check in with you to monitor your pain levels during your sessions, changing the exercises as needed to keep you comfortable.
• I can do physical therapy at home: Some people think that physical therapy is just a string of exercises and stretches and might believe they can save money by just doing it on their own at home. This is a big mistake and could actually cause more harm. Physical therapists are trained to create individualized treatment plans for each patient, meaning the exercises one person does might not be right for you. Additionally, they are able to see when your body might be masking or compensating for pain and can help you correct it to prevent future injuries. Unless you are a trained physical therapist, you should continue to rely on the experts.

If you suffer from chronic pain, are recovering from an injury or are interested in improving your overall strength and wellness, visit us at Focus Forward Wellness & Physical Therapy. For over a decade, our licensed physical therapists have offered a whole-person approach to wellness, serving clients with a variety of ailments with personalized physical therapy in Napa County, CA. Call us today to learn more about our services!

Categorised in: Physical Therapy

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