Myths can sometimes keep you from getting the help you need. We all deserve to live pain-free and function at our highest level. That’s why it’s important that we recognize misconceptions and address them properly – especially so when it concerns your health.
In this article, we’ll debunk the top 10 myths we commonly encounter in the PT clinic. Stick around to see if you believe in any of them and perhaps you can share some with us that we missed!
Common Myths About Physical Therapy
From thinking that physical therapists are not independent healthcare providers to confusing them with Chiropractors and fitness coaches – physical therapy has its fair share of myths.
Here are ten of them along with an explanation of why these statements are wrong:
1. Physical therapy is only for post-injury rehab
Physical therapy deals with a lot more than post-injury rehab. A lot of people don’t know the true scope of PT and its role in preventive care. Prehab is a vast area of physio where your therapist trains your body to avoid injuries in the first place.
Although a major domain of physiotherapy is post-injury rehab and reducing pain, that’s not the only thing we do.
This lack of awareness about preventive physical therapy is a primary reason why people don’t think to consult physical therapists for minor pain – even though that pain could be a way for your body to warn you that something’s wrong.
2. Physical therapy deals only with musculoskeletal conditions
Physical therapy has a few different speciality areas other than musculoskeletal (MSK). The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) lists nine specializations in PT.
These are Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiology, Geriatrics, Neurology, Oncology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Sports, Women’s Health and Wound Management.
Oftentimes when people think of physical therapists they think of us treating joint pain and muscular injuries in the clinics or in sports.
But today PT is much more than that.
You can come to a physical therapist for jaw pain, breathing issues, headaches, vertigo, balance problems and so on.
Physical therapists have a big role in treating patients in the ICU and cancer wards. They also help pre and post-surgical patients improve their lung capacity, mobility and return to function.
3. I can learn exercises from YouTube. I don’t need a Physical Therapist.
This myth goes back to the deep-rooted and wrong belief that physical therapy is only a bunch of exercises.
Although learning stretches, flexibility drills and strengthening exercises from online sources is great, it can’t compensate for a licensed physical therapist’s qualification and personalized care.
A detailed assessment of your body structures and baseline function is critical for knowing what kind of therapy regimen will best suit you. You can’t get that from generalized YouTube videos.
Two patients with the same diagnosis might need different rehab programs because of their individual risk factors and functional status. Physical therapists are experts in determining the levels of impairment or limitations and the way to approach them that can generate the best results.[i]
The generalized online content can help you work on yourself after you’ve consulted a physical therapist. And you know for sure what structures need strengthening, and where you need to work on flexibility.
4. You need a doctor’s referral to get Physical Therapy
A physician’s referral is not necessarily needed for you to get physical therapy in most countries. A doc’s referral was a prerequisite to seeing a physical therapist up until a few years ago, but today you can walk into a PT clinic for a consultation – the same as you would do at a doctor’s office.
5. Physical Therapy is too expensive
The cost of a PT appointment is not that high although that depends on where you live.
One reason why some people believe in this myth is that they don’t consider physical therapy to be essential for health and wellness. So when they look at the cost of PT care, they think it’s too expensive.
Physical Therapists mostly charge the same as any other healthcare field such as dentists or pediatricians. Again, that depends on which country or region you live in and on your insurance plan.
This myth that PT is expensive can keep people from seeking help at the right time. They tend to suffer until the situation gets really bad. So you should do your own research to see what the cost of physical therapy is in your area and make the best choice for yourself.
6. The physical therapist will tell me to stop doing what I love
This is a common myth amongst athletes, recreational players and fitness enthusiasts. They believe that if they go to physical therapists and complain about their pain, then they’ll be asked to stop playing the sport they love.
That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
One of our primary goals in physical therapy is to get you back to doing all the things you want to do or did before the injury. The treatment plans in PT are designed by keeping your goals front and center.[ii]
The only reason why a physical therapist will ask you to stop playing a sport or going on long hikes or anything else that you love is that it could cause serious harm to your health.
But other than that, your physical therapist will help you improve your strength, flexibility, endurance or whatever you need to get back to optimal health.
Most times pain is the main reason why people come for PT. And this pain could be the result of an injury or prolonged overuse.
Your physical therapist will help you heal from the injury and then build up your strength to prevent a recurrence. After that, you can usually go back to your normal activities.
7. Physical therapy requires too much work
Some people who are used to a sedentary lifestyle sometimes fear that PT will require them to work a lot. But that isn’t entirely true.
Although the success of your therapy does largely depend on active participation, physical therapists are careful not to overload your systems.
They design the treatments according to your baseline levels and functional endurance. That way you can progress at a comfortable speed and maintain your improvements for a long time.
8. Physical Therapy is painful
This is a common myth amongst those who have either never tried PT or have had the misfortune of being treated by some subpar physical therapists.
Our goal is to help reduce your pain and then begin rehab. In most cases when patients come to physical therapists complaining of pain and anything else, pain is the first thing we treat. That’s because you can’t actively participate in rehab if you’re in pain.
Even after the initial pain subsides, the rest of the treatment should also not cause you unnecessary pain. There can be some discomfort and maybe even some soreness as you begin to retrain your body. But all progression in your exercises is carefully calculated so that you don’t have to endure unnecessary pain.
Patients recovering from stroke or periods of immobilization due to fracture or surgery can find the initial PT sessions to be painful. That’s because your body has to get used to the activity and relearn movements. But it tends to get better after a few sessions and physical therapists keep using different approaches to minimize pain throughout treatment.
9. Physical Therapy is basically just massage therapy
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this one.
Patients avoid PT because they don’t believe a massage is going to help them. Again this is a myth that is common amongst people who have never tried physical therapy.
Massage therapy is only one passive component of physical therapy. Physical therapists use several different approaches to manage your condition and move you towards recovery.
These can include electrotherapy such as therapeutic ultrasound, specially designed active exercise regimens, joint manipulations, retraining of movements and soft tissue mobilizations to name a few
10. I just need Physical Therapy for a couple of weeks
A common myth we encounter in PT clinics is that patients come in thinking that physical therapy is a silver bullet that will fix them right up.
They don’t realize that sometimes PT can take a while to get you back to a hundred per cent. Although you’ll likely start seeing results after a few sessions.
The more complicated or chronic your condition is, the longer it will take to heal. Physical therapy can also mean a lifelong treatment regimen as is common in patients with arthritis and Parkinson’s.
For some patients, physical therapy means learning to change movement patterns. That could also take more than just a few sessions and you might have to keep at it even after the end of the clinical PT session.
Don’t Let Misconceptions Hold You Back from Seeking Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is nothing new. But the medical speciality is still growing some hundred years after it started as a separate profession.
We see a lot of patients in the clinic that delay seeking treatment because of misconceptions about what physical therapists do and what the scope of this field is.
If you suffer from pain, injury, limited activity or just looking for a physical checkup, then reach out to a physical therapist to see how they can help you. You might be surprised at how convenient and helpful PT might be to get you back to your optimal health!
[i] https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/85/12/1301/2805056?login=true