Common Physical Therapy Myths By: Kelsey VanVolkenburg PT, DPT

1. Myth: I need a referral in order to go to physical therapy.

Fact: No you do not! In the state of Pennsylvania, with a certificate of authorization, a physical therapist can see a patient up to 30 days. This is called Direct Access and a therapist must work for 2 full years to acquire a direct access license. Physical therapists have the knowledge and skills to accurately diagnose their patients or refer to other specialists as needed. Another good point is you will save yourself from having to pay another copay at your primary care physician’s office!

2. Myth: I am going to be fixed in one visit when I see a physical therapist.

Fact: After doing 30 sit-ups do you magically have abs of steel? We all wish that was the case! Well, unfortunately, physical therapy works the same way. It is a process that involves both the knowledge and work of the physical therapist and the compliance of the patient in performing their home exercise program. Also, it is common that if you wait and wait and wait for an injury to just go away on its own and then finally decide to seek physical therapy treatment, the longer it is going to take for the injury to heal. Always remember, “Patience is a virtue!”

3. Myth: Physical therapy is like going to a massage parlor.

Fact: We know that everyone would love to come into physical therapy for a 30 minute long massage to their areas of pain, however this is not what we are trained to do. Yes, we are trained to use soft tissue work such as scar massage, trigger point release, etc. to compliment our treatment techniques, however this will not be the spotlight of your treatments. We know when it is an appropriate intervention to seek to, however it is not needed for every patient. There are physical therapists that get certified in training techniques that may include more soft tissue techniques, so every therapist comes from different training backgrounds and may perform more hands on techniques than others.

4. Myth: Physical therapy is not covered by insurance and it is too expensive.

Fact: This is all dependent on your specific insurance, but MOST policies cover some form of physical therapy. Here at Advanced Rehabilitation, if we do not accept your insurance or your policy does not cover physical therapy costs, we do offer a private pay rate. Just call us for more information! As far as the cost of therapy, when comparing it to other services such as injections and MRIs, it is much cheaper! Most patients cannot even get an MRI until they have had 6 weeks of physical therapy because it saves them money and the outcomes are usually positive! To put it in perspective, an average visit may cost from $60-100 (this varies depending on what interventions are performed) and an average MRI is $2,600...that is a total of 26 physical therapy treatments! Physical therapists, especially here at Advanced Rehabilitation, can help prescribe you the appropriate exercises to decrease your pain and improve your function to help eliminate the need for those pricey scans and injections.

5. Myth: Any health professional can perform physical therapy.

Fact: Physical therapy care can only be provided by licensed physical therapists! We are not trainers. This field started as a bachelor’s degree program and has grown to now be a doctoral program in which new graduates receive a doctorate degree in physical therapy. We receive extensive education to diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions, and we are also trained to progress and regress our patients in terms of exercises and interventions when necessary. Physical therapists also have the ability to pursue board certifications in areas such as orthopedic, sports, neurology, etc. This is not to be confused with your orthopedic doctor/surgeon or neurologist.

6. Myth: My therapist is going to fix me.

Fact: Us as therapists sometimes like to think that we have the magic touch to heal our patients, however it is you as the patient that is mostly responsible for your healing. We are here to guide you, progress you and use hands on techniques and modalities as needed, however the patient performing the work is the biggest key to their recovery. They may be at a physical therapy appointment for 60 minutes, give or take, so what about the other 23 hours in a day? This is the patient’s responsibility to listen to what their physical therapist teaches them in order to enhance their recovery process. Trust me, we love to be told that we are magical healers, but you (THE PATIENT) are the actual magical healers!

7. Myth: Physical therapy is only for injuries and accidents.

Fact: A big portion of our clientele do consist of patients that have been injured or been in an accident however this is not the only patient population that we treat. A few examples of other conditions that we can treat are preventative therapy for patients with osteoporosis, lymphedema management, low back pain not related to a specific injury/accident, headaches and even dizziness. This is only a small portion of different conditions that we may treat. You can find more information on what type of conditions we treat on our website under the “services” section.

References:

1. ChoosePT website: https://www.choosept.com/resources/detail/7-myths-about-physical-therapy

2. Integrated Rehabilitation Services. 5 Physical Therapy Myths Busted. 2017.

https://integrehab.com/blog/physical-therapy/5-myths-busted/

3. Tea K. My Physical Therapy Corner. 10 Common Myths About Physical Therapy. 2016. 

https://myptcorner.com/10-common-myths-physical-therapy/