Busting Myths About Physical Therapy

If you’ve never done physical therapy before, you may be wondering what the process is like. Unfortunately, there are a number of myths about what physical therapy involves and who it’s for. Let’s break down each of these physical therapy myths so you can get familiar with the facts!

Myth #1: You must see a doctor prior to going for physical therapy

Think about it this way: If you were experiencing spinal issues, you’d likely call up a chiropractor. A physical therapist works in the same way. Physical therapists are the leading experts in understanding, treating and preventing musculoskeletal injuries. If you’re experiencing regular pain anywhere in your body, physical therapy could be right for you. You don’t need to see a doctor first.

Myth #2: Good physical therapy involves more pain

There’s a misconception that you must experience pain in order to get on the road to recovery. The fact is that treatments vary, but the whole idea is to lessen pain. If you’re experiencing pain, you want to head to a physical therapist to help solve that problem.

Myth #3: Physical therapy is all exercise

The reality is that exercise is only one component of a high-quality physical therapy program. The process also involves patient education and manual therapy. A combination of all of these will put you on the path to relieving your pain and recovering full use of your musculoskeletal system.

Myth #4: Every physical therapist offers the same program

While physical therapists all must be licensed and go through similar training programs, they often use different approaches. Physical therapists come from a wide range of backgrounds. You’ll want to talk with several physical therapists before finding one who is right for you. If you’re experiencing knee pain, for example, you’ll want a physical therapist who specializes in this area. You’ll also want to ask questions about their process to see if it works for you.

Myth #5: Physical therapy is about fixing your body

Unfortunately, no one can simply push a button and make it all better. The fact is that physical therapy is a long-term process with peaks and valleys. But with effort and time, you can heal your body and live with far less pain. Physical therapy may even help you to enjoy your favorite activities again.

If you’re concerned about physical therapy risks in Napa County, CA, the best person to talk to is a licensed physical therapy expert, At Focus Forward Wellness & Physical Therapy, we’re always happy to discuss our process. With each client, we begin with a thorough evaluation to identify the cause or causes of pain and dysfunction for each client. We utilize a comprehensive approach to discover all of the contributing variables to your particular condition. Following assessment, you’ll set goals with the help of your physical therapist and develop a treatment plan to optimize healing.

Our team of licensed physical therapists specializes in Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT) and offers a whole-person approach to wellness, in that we treat the whole body and not just the symptom. Contact us today for more information or to book an appointment!

Categorised in: Physical Therapy

This post was written by Writer