4 Myths about Physical Therapy

29 Dec 4 Myths about Physical Therapy

This October we want to celebrate Physical Therapy Month by educating people about the benefits of physical therapy. Physical therapy is treatment of a disease or injury by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise. It improves mobility which is necessary for every part of life, helps avoid surgery and prescription drugs which are often over prescribed and gives people the confidence to participate in their own recovery through individually tailored treatment plans.

Unfortunately, many people have misunderstandings about what physical therapy is and what physical therapists do. To help clear up some of the confusion, the American Physical Therapy Association has done some mythbusting and tackled 7 of the most common misconceptions about physical therapy. We’ve listed four of those myths for you below.

Myth # 1
I need a physician’s referral to see a physical therapist.

Fact
All 50 states allow patients to be evaluated by a physical therapist without a physician’s referral.

Myth # 2
Physical therapy is painful.

Fact
Your physical therapists will work within your pain threshold.

Myth # 3
Physical therapy is only for injuries and accidents.

Fact
Physical therapy is a diverse health care practice that helps prevent injury and pain and promotes mobility, health and wellness.

Myth # 4
I can do physical therapy myself.

Fact
Only a licensed physical therapist with specialized education and expertise can develop a physical therapy plan of care.

To find out what the other three most common myths are and what percentage of the population believes them check out this cool infographic put together by the American Physical Therapy Association.

http://www.moveforwardpt.com/Myths/Infographic/Default.aspx#.Vemx5hFVhBd