Common Misconceptions About Physical Therapy and the Truth Behind Them

Physical therapy has become a nearly ubiquitous aspect of recovery from injuries and accidents in today’s world, but despite how common it is, there are still a large number of misconceptions about the process and about what physical therapists actually do.

With this in mind, here are a few examples of some of these common misconceptions about physical therapy and exercise in Napa County, CA and the truths behind them.

Physical therapy is only for people who have had traumatic injuries

There are many different people who can benefit from physical therapy, not just those who have experienced significant injuries or who have had to undergo surgical procedures. Physical therapy can come before surgery in many cases, and can in fact actually help to prevent it from being necessary. In some cases, physical therapy can even be more effective than surgery for treating certain types of musculoskeletal conditions. If you’ve been experiencing pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor about whether physical therapy is an option for you.

You don’t have to experience pain to get gains

You’ve probably heard the mantra “no pain, no gain” before, but this refers more to general exercise in Napa County, CA than to physical therapy. Usually you don’t have to go through pain to actually rehab your injuries. There will likely be some discomfort, but this is much different than true pain. If you’re experiencing pain when performing your exercises, it’s important to stop and talk to your therapist so you can either be instructed in how to perform the exercises without pain or how to modify your rehab regimen.

I don’t need to make any lifestyle changes

This couldn’t be less true. In fact, changes to your diet and your general exercise regimen are crucial in assisting your success in physical therapy and maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle moving forward. Cut out smoking, cut back drinking, make changes to your diet so you can lose weight and stay healthy and get your body up and moving. These are all things that are proven to lead to greater health for a longer period of time.

My job is done after I complete physical therapy

In fact, prevention is more effective than rehabilitation when it comes to keeping your body in good shape. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say, and you can keep using the principles you’ve learned through physical therapy to keep your body in good condition and prevent future injury.

Anyone can help me with physical therapy

A person might know a few exercises that were taught to them by a physical therapist in the past, but that doesn’t make them a substitute for a trained physical therapist. Everyone’s body is different, and only a licensed physical therapist should be entrusted with your physical therapy.

For more information about physical therapy and exercise in Napa County, CA and to clear up any misconceptions you may have, contact the team at Focus Forward Wellness & Physical Therapy today.

Categorised in: Exercise, Physical Therapy

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