Physical therapy is quite popular nowadays when it comes to treating pain and discomfort. However, there are several myths about this treatment method which prevent people from taking its full advantages. When you do not have a clear idea about any particular treatment technique, you surely do not feel like going for it.
Over the years physical therapists have successfully treated different types of health problems with physical therapy. And the best part is that physical therapy helps in improving the overall well-being of a person.
In this post, we will discuss some of the common myths about physical therapy.
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Myth – You Can’t See A Therapist On Your Own
It is a very popular myth that you need to have a physician’s referral to consult a physical therapist. And that’s the reason, most of the people don’t see a therapist until and unless their doctor asks them for the same.
Fact – You Don’t Need A Doctor’s Referral to Consult a PT
If you are suffering from pain and discomfort, you can visit a well-known physical therapist in your area to treat your condition. Yes, you do not need any referral from a physician to consult a PT.
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Myth – Physical Therapy Treats Only Injuries
Most of the people believe that physical therapy is only for those who are struggling with a pain caused by injuries. So, when they face neck pain, back pain, and knee pain without facing an injury and accident they refuse to visit a physical therapist.
Fact – It Can Treat The Pain Caused By Both Injures And Illnesses
All kinds of musculoskeletal pain which are either caused by injuries or illnesses can be easily treated with PT. So, whether you are experiencing a knee pain because of a sports injury or due to arthritis, you can take PT services to heal it. In other words, pain caused by prolonged illnesses like arthritis can also be treated with PT.
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Myth – Any Healthcare Professional Can Offer PT Services
One of the biggest myths about PT is that any healthcare professional can offer physical therapy services to patients suffering from pain and discomfort. People who believe that anyone can give PT services, do not understand what exactly is done by the therapists when they treat patients.
Fact – Only Licensed Physical Therapist Can Treat Patients
It is totally incorrect to say that any medical professional can offer PT services to patients because only licensed physical therapists are allowed to treat patients suffering from pain and injuries.
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Myth – A Physical Therapist Can Treat All Types of Health Conditions
Some people believe that any physical therapist can treat all kinds of health problems such as pain caused by neurological disorders and sports injuries. They believe that they can consult any therapist to treat all kinds of problems.
Fact – A Physical Therapist Specialises In A Particular Area
It would be completely incorrect to say that, any physical therapist can treat any kind of health problem because they are actually trained in a particular area such as pediatrics, sports medicine, and orthopedics. In addition to that, they also specialize in geriatrics and cardiopulmonary.
It clearly says that, when it comes to consulting a physical therapist, you need to know about their area of specialization.
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Myth – PT is All About Performing Different Exercises
Some people believe that PT is only about performing different types of exercises. They think that a PT only suggests different types of exercises to treat pain and discomfort caused by musculoskeletal conditions.
Fact – PT is Much More Than Exercises
It is true that PT services offered by your therapist consist a lot of important exercises but they also use other techniques to heal the pain. Some of the important techniques used by them for reducing pain include dry needling, cupping, acupuncture, and massage therapy.
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Myth – Surgical Treatments Are Better Than PT
A large number of people across the world, still believe that surgical treatments are always better than PT when it comes to treating injuries and illnesses. So, whenever they receive grave injuries to their body parts, they go for surgical treatments to recover from their condition.
Fact – PT is Equally Helpful
If you have received an injury recently which is creating huge pain, you can consult a PT for treating it. Over the years, non-surgical treatment methods like PT have successfully treated patients struggling with serious injuries.
There is no denying the fact that, physical therapy is one of the most effective ways of treating pain and restoring mobility. Whether you are facing a foot & ankle pain or low back pain, everything can be treated effectively with PT. When a physical therapist like Synergy Rehab designs a treatment plan for a patient suffering from enormous pain, they first try to pinpoint the primary cause of the problem. For coming to a conclusion, they try to refer a patients’ medical history along with asking them to perform certain physical activities to understand their range of motion. Once they come to know what exactly is causing pain and discomfort, they create a perfect care plan which includes different PT techniques.