Physical therapy is a form of treatment that is provided by physical therapists, also known as PTs. These professionals work to help their patients increase their strength, regain their mobility and return to their daily activities. In a world where pain medications are often overprescribed and surgery is seen by many people as the only solution, physical therapy is often overlooked as an option. However, physical therapy can be instrumental in helping you find relief from your pain without the use of prescription medications or an invasive procedure. Unfortunately, it is something that many people really don’t understand, so they shy away from it. In this blog post I’d like to clear up some common misconceptions that may be holding you back from getting physical therapy.
The First Common Misconception is that Physical Therapy Hurts
This is probably the most common misconception, because with physical therapy you are being pushed to do exercises and stretches that help you recover from your injury. So when this happens there will be times where it will be uncomfortable or painful, but it shouldn’t be unbearable. If it is then you should talk with your physical therapist about what’s going on, so they can make adjustments to the exercises that might make it more comfortable for you.
At Rx Rehab Physical Therapy we offer things like manual therapy where we use metal tools, needles, and our hands to do deep tissue massage. With this manual therapy, the idea is to actually help relieve pain not cause pain. That being said, sometimes there can be discomfort and pain but, oftentimes it will actually feel good.
Second Common Misconceptions is Physical Therapists Only Help you Recover from Surgery
This is very untrue. Although we help people recover from surgeries like knee replacements, rotator cuff tears, spinal fusions, etc., our clients come to us for much more than that. Our number one goal at this clinic is to help prevent surgeries from happening in the first place. The sooner you’re able to see a physical therapist when you have a problem the more likely you are to avoid surgery. So, if you’re having some aches and pains it’s an ideal time to get in and see if a physical therapist can help. Preventative care is key to avoid surgery. Here are some examples of physical therapy beyond the acute post-surgical period:
- Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
- Sports Injuries
- Joint Pain/Arthritis
- Joint Replacement Rehabilitation
- Spinal Disorders/Back Pain
- Neck Pain/Headaches
- Physical Therapy for Knee Pain, Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, Hand, Hip, Ankle and Foot Disorders
Third Common Misconception is You Have to Keep Going to Physical Therapy Forever
One reason that some people are hesitant to see a physical therapist for their injuries or chronic pain is because they worry about needing treatment forever. While some cases may require long-term physical therapy, this is not usually the case. Oftentimes your injury will clear up in just a matter of weeks. That being said, your healing time will depend on the severity of the injury.
Ultimately, the goal of physical therapy is to get you back to your daily activities with little or no pain, no matter how long that takes. As soon as you reach this goal, your therapist will encourage you to stop going for further sessions. However, your insurance company may require that you continue going even if you feel like you’re better. If this happens, talk with your therapist about whether it’s truly necessary for you to continue or not.
The Fourth Common Misconceptions is that Physical Therapy is Expensive
Now there is definitely some truth to this some of the time and some of the time it’s completely false. Many people assume that working with a physical therapist is expensive and not covered by their insurance. Typical visits with a physical therapist can often be covered by your insurance provider. However, this does vary based on the type of coverage you have. We would suggest contacting your insurance provider to confirm what your out of pocket cost would be. You can also click here to learn about EOB (explanation of benefits) and what type of insurance RX Rehab accepts. And if the remaining costs are still not affordable after insurance is applied, we can work with you to figure out a solution. Our ultimate goal is to help you heal.
Physical Therapist in American Fork, Utah
As you’ve read above, there are quite a few misconceptions about physical therapy floating around. Fortunately, most of those misconceptions can be dispelled by understanding the facts. If you or someone you love has sustained an injury or undergone some form of trauma, consider consulting a physical therapist. At Rx Rehab Physical Therapy in American Fork we can discuss what treatment options are available to you. There are many therapies to consider when healing, so be sure to learn about all of them.