In a world where we have a wealth of information available at our fingertips, it can be hard to know what is real and what is just gossip. This is true for many things in Physiotherapy as well, and a lot of what we do in clinic is educating our patients on what the science actually says. Today we’ll go over 5 common things we hear from our patients, and what the truth actually is! Hopefully, you can use this information to make more informed choices about your health.
Physiotherapy Myth 1: Physiotherapy is going to be really painful
The saying “no pain, no gain” is often associated with physiotherapy. In truth, physiotherapy is a constantly evolving field and techniques have changed. A lot of manual therapy techniques are great for relieving pain, and helping you move easier within a treatment session.
Now, there may be some techniques, movements, or exercises that can be uncomfortable, but a good therapist will always let you take the lead with what you can handle.
Physiotherapy Myth 2: I need imaging and a doctor’s note before my appointment
In reality, Physiotherapy is often the most helpful touch point for a lot of pains and injuries. Beyond ones that need medical assistance such as fractures, your regular strains, sprains, spasms, nerve impingements may achieve a faster resolution by heading straight to a Physiotherapy clinic.
Physiotherapists are experts at treating based on symptoms, and can often puzzle out a diagnosis based on their testing. Instead of waiting weeks for an MRI, ultrasound, x-ray or doctor’s appointment, get started with a Physiotherapy session to jumpstart your recovery. Additionally, where a medical referral and imaging may be warranted, your Physiotherapist will help make that decision and can provide the doctor with a detailed report to make the process more efficient.
Physiotherapy Myth 3: I have arthritis, there’s nothing else I can do because it’s bone on bone
As physiotherapists, our goal is to change this mindset even for the people we don’t see in Physiotherapy. In reality, imaging on an x-ray or MRI have a very low correlation with actual symptoms, or what people feel. Someone on an x-ray may actually present with moderate or severe degeneration in a joint but feel no pain or discomfort at all.
Ultimately, most conditions can be improved and surgery delayed or completely avoided with Physiotherapy. It is normal for our bodies to experience wear and tear, but the issue gets compounded when we give up on moving it and exercising it. That leads to atrophy (weakening) of the muscles, forcing the joint to bear more pressure. Instead, the solution is to strengthen and mobilize everything to maintain and even improve your quality of life again. Even if you have been living with arthritic changes for a long time, it is never too late to get started!
Physiotherapy Myth 4: My physiotherapist can “fix” me
In previous years, Physiotherapy was treated more as a passive service where people would lie down on a bed, and receive treatment. As we mentioned before, research has caused a shift towards a more collaborative efffort between patient and practitioner. While hands-on treatments are still a big part of Physiotherapy, they alone will not be able to make long-term changes.
For this, we need active rehabilitation. These include the exercises, the lifestyle changes, the movement you are doing outside of the clinic that works hand in hand with what our physiotherapists do inside the clinic. This allows your body to make those tissue adaptations, building strength, endurance and flexibility that will keep your body happy into the future. Your physiotherapist can give you the tools you need to succeed, but they can’t do it without your help.
Physiotherapy Myth 5: I injured myself, I just need to rest until I get better
Relative rest is needed after an acute injury, but too long and the injury will not heal properly and can turn into a chronic issue. In fact, after a lot of surgeries the hospital starts Physiotherapy sessions as soon as possible. Of course, what Physiotherapy looks like will be different depending on which stage of healing your’re in.
Earlier on, we still follow the rules of RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevate) but we want to continue gentle range of motion and even muscle activation exercises. Afterwards, as soon as we are able to, we start building up capacity in the tissues by stretching and exercising them. We always respect pain and ensure we don’t over do it during each stage, but some discomfort is expected. If you don’t follow a progressive rehabilitation process, you may end up losing mobility, strength and set yourself up for a future injury.
Have another question about a topic not listed?
Look for PhysioNow! We have many expert clinicians ready to assist you and ease your worries. If you have an injury and are not sure how to proceed, a Physiotherapist can help you out! We have 10 locations across the west GTA including Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and Etobicoke. Book with PhysioNow today for your first assessment and treatment!
