Westport, Darien, Greenwich, CT     (203) 247-2143
DAVID CURTIS PT
  • Home
  • About
    • About David
    • Blog
  • Where Does It Hurt?
    • Back Pain
    • Neck & Shoulder Pain
    • Knee Pain
    • Total Joint Surgery
  • Telehealth
  • Contact
    • Contact Information
    • Talk To David On The Phone
    • Ask About Availability
    • Apply To Work With David
  • Home
  • About
    • About David
    • Blog
  • Where Does It Hurt?
    • Back Pain
    • Neck & Shoulder Pain
    • Knee Pain
    • Total Joint Surgery
  • Telehealth
  • Contact
    • Contact Information
    • Talk To David On The Phone
    • Ask About Availability
    • Apply To Work With David

Physical Therapy: Common Misconceptions Debunked

9/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Physical therapy has always been shrouded in mystery, and the truth is many people don’t really know what it is. Some think that physical therapists only stretch muscles, or rehabilitate athletes. Others feel as though physiotherapy is an intense massage, or even just a way to avoid being stiff after a workout. As a physical therapist with many years of experience, I can honestly say that, despite all these conflicting ideas about physical therapy, one thing remains constant: most people believe we heal pain. And yes – we do heal pain, but what most people don’t understand is that physical therapy is NOT only about healing pain… it is about SO much more than that. This may sound controversial, but keep reading. [...]
Most patients come to my clinic wanting nothing more than for the pain to be gone. And that’s something we can all understand – pain is absolutely terrible. But the most common misconception about physical therapy is that ALL physical therapists do is take away the patient’s pain. That just isn’t true.

Let me explain. If all a patient really wanted was for his lower back pain to be gone, or for her knee pain to disappear, then he/she would simply take a painkiller. And in my experience, many of the patients visiting my clinic have ALREADY done that. And the pain is STILL there when they first come to see us. So, getting rid of the pain isn’t the only issue the patient is facing. If pain relief is the only thing that’s required, the painkillers or the injection would have worked… but they haven’t.

The unfortunate truth is, many people see pain as the problem, not the symptom. And it is this precise disconnect that defines what a physical therapist does: physical therapy finds the CAUSE, so as to heal the problem, thereby getting rid of the pain. The intensive physical therapy undergone by an athlete to rehabilitate his leg is NOT only so that he will not be in pain, but so that the root cause of the problem is healed, thereby promoting maintained health. Similar is true for the mother suffering from lower back pain: her physical therapy doesn’t start by healing the pain, but rather tackles the root cause in order to eradicate pain permanently. So, in other words, though physical therapists love to get rid of pain, we do so in a way that treats pain as the cause, not the problem. Our aim is provide lasting health, not temporary comfort.

That having been said, physical therapists therefore do not participate in pain management. That’s right. Physical therapy is about removing pain completely, not just managing it. That’s why seeing a physical therapist is hands-on, thorough, and oftentimes for the duration of a couple of sessions. I see the same thing happening in my clinic all too often, that is, after a session or two with a physical therapist the patients feels great – his/her pain has dissipated, and life is back to normal. The problem is, he/she then stops coming to physical before completing the recommended number of sessions, and the pain returns.  

It is this common scenario, too, which casts physical therapy under a cloud of misunderstanding. As we do not deal with the management of pain so much as the HEALING of the problem, patients often assume that if their pain is gone there is no need for further treatment. The truth is, physical therapy isn’t a painkiller – and thank goodness for that. Though a session or two might ease the pain, it’s imperative to continue seeing a physical therapist for the suggested duration of your treatment in order to attain PERMANENT health and a pain free life. Physical therapy is the most effective way of healing the CAUSE, and the happy truth is that, along the way, the pain will dissipate.

So, based on the above, here are some things that physical therapist actually do:

  • We make sure that we treat the root cause of the problem, rather than the symptom of the problem.
  • By treating the root cause, we get rid of pain in a way that is sustainable and healthy.
  • We continue treatment UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED, even if that means the patient no longer feels discomfort a few session into the treatment. We love to help people, and we do not want to see our patients experience the same pain later on.
  • We tailor-make a plan to suit you: we give you stretches, advice, fitness routine, and so much more – all this so that you are capable of MAINTAINING a pain free life.
  • We give you the best possible chance of achieving a sustained, permanent pain free life.
  • We keep you out of the doctor’s office and away from the painkillers: we treat the ROOT CAUSE, not the symptom.
  • We do not treat pain, but rather ensure that the easing of pain is a byproduct of treating the root cause of the problem.

Physical therapy is, of course, useful for eradicating pain. But, the truth is, a common misconception lies is precisely HOW we do that. We do not offer temporary solutions to a permanent problem, rather we tackle the root cause of the problem so as to heal the patiently effectively.

So, there you have it: the most common misconception about physical therapy, namely, that physical therapist only treat pain. We do so much more than that, and with the proper, hands-on, unique treatment that physical therapy provides, a patient who does the required sessions, and commits to the therapy prescription, will ultimately maintain a pain free, active life. Stop the painkillers, stop the injections, and stop the visits to the physician: physical therapy is by far the most effective way to achieve and MAINTAIN a pain free life, healthily.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    David Curtis | Physical Therapy

    David Curtis

    "Helping on-the-move Mom's, Dad's and busy executives in Fairfield County, CT return to a pain free, active lifestyle without the use of medications, injections, surgery or unnecessary trips to the physician's office"

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018

    Categories

    All
    Aches
    Achilles Tendonitis
    Active During The Holidays
    Active Rest
    Active Rest In Work Out
    Active Rest Meaning
    Adhesive Capsulitis
    Ankle Injury
    Ankle Injury Prevention
    Ankle Pain
    Avoid Sciatica Pain
    Back Pain
    Balance
    Best Physical Therapist Fairfield County
    Best Physical Therapy On Your Area
    Best Tips For Scialtica
    Carpal Tunnel Physical Therapy
    Carpal Tunnel PT
    Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    Cause Of Ankle Pain
    Concussion
    Cope With Pain While Sitting
    Core Strength
    Covid Symptoms
    Cracking Neck When In Pain
    Craniosacral Therapy
    Diet
    Difference Between Physical And Massage
    Difference Between Physical Therapy And Massage Therapy
    Don'ts In Backpain
    Do's And Don'ts In Back Pain
    Do's On Back Pain
    Dr Google
    Dr Youtube
    Exercise
    Exercise During Pregnancy
    Exercise Routine
    Feeling Pain After An Evaluation
    Feeling Pain After Physical Therapy
    Finding The Right Therapist
    Find The Right Physical Therapist
    Fix Scar Tissue
    Food Pyramid Still Relevant
    Foot Pain
    Frozen Shoulder
    Frozen Shoulders
    Gardening With Back Pain
    Gardening With Neck Pain
    Gardening With Shoulder Pain
    Get The Most Out Of Physical Therapy
    Golf Pain
    Google For Medical Advice
    Headache
    Healthy
    Healthy Diet
    Healthy Habits
    Heel Pain
    Hiking Injury
    Hip Pain
    Holiday Season
    How To Cope With Pain
    How To Find The Best Physical Therapist In Fairfield
    How To Increase Mileage
    How To Increase Mileage Safely
    How To Prevent Knee Pain
    Improve Long Covid Symptoms
    Increase Mileage While Running
    Injuries
    Injury
    Injury Prevention
    Is Is Safe To Exercise During Pregnancy
    Is It Safe To Crack My Neck
    Is It Unsafe To Exercise During Pregnancy
    Is Mri Imaging Appropriate
    Is The Food Pyramid
    Jobs
    Joint Pain In The Cold
    Knee Pain
    Knee Pain On Work From Home
    Knee Pain When Working From Home
    Managing Back Pain
    Managing Neck Pain
    Managing Pain Through Gardening
    Managing Shoulder Pain
    Meaning Of Active Rest
    Migraine Andheadache
    Migraines And Headaches
    MRI During An Evaluation
    Mri Imaging During An Evaluation
    Muscles
    Neck Pain
    Need To Make Doctors Appointment
    Need To Visit The Chiropractor
    New Year's
    New Years Resolution
    Not Sleeping Well
    Obstacle Awareness
    Overuse Training Syndrome
    Pain
    Pain After Physical Therapy
    Pains
    Pain While Sitting
    Personalized Care
    Physical Therapist
    Physical Therapy
    Physical Therapy For Carpal Tunnel
    Physical Therapy For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    Physical Therapy For Headache
    Physical Therapy For Headaches
    Physical Therapy For Migraine
    Physical Therapy For Migraines
    Physical Therapy Is Feeling Pain
    Physical Therapy Right For Me
    Physical Therapy Vs Massage Therapy
    Physical Vs Massage
    Physical Vs Massage Therapy
    Pinched Nerve
    Piriformis Syndrome
    Plantar Fasciitis
    Posture
    PT For Carpal Tunnel
    Pt For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    Pt For Headache
    Pt For Headaches
    Pt For Migraine
    Pt For Migraines
    Pulled Muscles
    Reasons Youre Not Sleeping Well
    Recovering Inury
    Resting
    Right Physical Therapist
    Running
    Running Injuries
    Running Pain
    Safe To Crack My Neck
    Scar Tissue Effects
    Sciatica Pain
    Shoes Causing Ankle Pain
    Shoulder Pain
    Signs Of Adhesive Capsulitis
    Signs Of Frozen Shoulder
    Signs Of Frozen Shoulders
    Sleep
    Sleep Habits
    Snow
    Stay Active During Holidays
    Stick To Your New Years Resolution
    Stress
    Stretching
    Struggling With Plantar Fasciitis
    The Best Physical Therapist In Fairfield
    The Food Pyramid
    Theories Behind Winter Joint Pain
    Tips For Back Pain
    Tips For Travelling
    Tips To Avoid Sciatica
    Tips To Avoid Sciatica Pain
    Travelling With Back Pain
    Trouble Sleeping
    Upper Back Pain
    Value Of Personalized Care
    Warming Up Before Exercise
    Warming Up Is Important
    Ways To Sleep Well
    What Can I Do With Pinched Nerve
    What Is Pinched Nerve
    Why Crack My Neck
    Why Food Pyramid
    Why Not Food Pyramid
    Why Not Google For Medical Advice
    Why Not Sleeping Well
    Why Not Youtube For Medical Advice
    Winter Joint Pain
    Work Out
    Wrist Pain
    You Need To Know About Plantar Fasciitis
    Your Shoes Causing Ankle Pain
    Youtube For Medical Advice

    RSS Feed

Locations:


​
6 Crockett St
Rowayton, CT 06853


Service Area:
​Fairfield County

Phone Number:
(203) 247 2143


Office Hours:

"I am available when YOU are available"
​
​
Mon. - Fri. : 8 AM - 6 PM
Sat. & Sun. : 10 AM - 2 PM 


​
​21 Charles St, Suite M
​Westport, CT 06880


Service Area:
​Fairfield County

Phone Number:
(203) 247 2143


Office Hours:

"I am available when YOU are available" 
​

Mon. - Fri. : 8 AM - 6 PM
Sat. & Sun. : 10 AM - 2 PM 


Privacy Policy (click here) 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:
All information on this website  is intended for instruction and informational purposes only. The authors are not responsible for any harm or injury that may result. Significant injury risk is possible if you do not follow due diligence and seek suitable professional advice about your injury. No guarantees of specific results are expressly made or implied on this website. 
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by PT Website Secrets
© David L. Curtis P.T. All Rights Reserved