What if I told you everything you think you know about PT is WRONG and there are lots of physical therapy myths out there. It’s not your fault, there are even people who work in healthcare who don’t know everything that PTs do. That’s why for today’s post, I’m going to bust some common physical therapy myths— and add in a little holiday fun, 12 days of Christmas style!
On the first day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 1 empowered and healthy body
We are all about empowerment here. Did you know that PT care isn’t only for helping you after surgery or major injuries? That’s actually a physical therapy myth. PTs can help with ANY problems with movement and living life! This includes things like:
- Tension in your neck, shoulders, and jaw
- Headaches and migraines
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Knee pain (including runner’s knee)
- Tendonitis
- Leaking pee
- Painful sex
- Tight hips
- Feeling stiff all over
- Nerve problems (sciatica, pinched nerves, disc problems, neuralgias)
You don’t have to “just live with it” if you’re experiencing any of these problems. Here at Empower Physio and Wellness, we do PT differently and help you achieve an empowered and healthy body!
On the second day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 2 shoulders without tension
Let’s be real here, every single one of us has experienced tension, knots, and tightness in our shoulders. You know those knots you always have your massage therapist or S.O. work on, but they always come back to say hello (not cool). It’s one of the most common things I hear and contrary to popular belief, they can be alleviated with PT.
At Empower Physio and Wellness, we use dry needling, cupping, and trigger point release to ease the pain and release those tight muscles. But we don’t stop there–we also teach you what stretches and exercises to do, how to release stress with mindfulness, and correct your posture so those pesky knots don’t keep coming back with a vengeance.
On the third day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 3 neck stretches for my headaches
Did you know that lots of headaches actually come from the neck? I’ll give you a sec to recover from your mind being blown. Calming tension and getting the neck moving better can fix many headaches and we see it here at our office all the time!
This happens because muscles and joints in the neck can refer pain into the base of the head, ears, eyes, and forehead…the exact places people feel headaches. Check out my favorite technique for relief here! (bonus, all you have to do is lay down and relax!)
On the fourth day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 4 pain-free miles
Believe it or not, running should not be painful. Yeah, sometimes your muscles are sore from working so hard, and you might feel that run the next day every time you stand up or go up the stairs. That’s normal. But sharp pains or anything that alters your gait or makes you limp is not okay.
Here at Empower Physio and Wellness, we love helping runners feel STRONG and efficient. When you get your body moving well, running can feel effortless. Whether you’re new to running or are a seasoned marathoner or half-marathoner, PT can help you feel like a strong and powerful runner.
On the fifth day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 5 deadlifts
Do you have pain in your low back, neck, hips, or knees that you can’t seem to shake? What if I told you that proper deadlifting is the solution (and that you’re already doing this every single day). Picking up kiddos, groceries, or boxes from the ground? That’s actually a deadlift. Giving your kiddo or dog a bath? Kinda like holding a deadlift for a long time. Getting something off the low shelf in the pantry or lifting kids out of their crib? Also a deadlift.
We love deadlifts here at Empower Physio and Wellness because they help people move better in everyday life. They sneak their way into most clients’ personalized exercise programs. We teach you how to do a proper deadlift, then give you weight so get really freaking strong. This is one of the most important movements to master to alleviate low back soreness.
On the sixth day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 6 needling sessions
Does dry needling sound scary? You guessed it: That’s another physical therapy myth. A lot of our clients end up loving dry needling, or how they feel afterward. It’s a technique that involves inserting a teeny-tiny needle into a muscle to help it release. This allows you to move better, feel stronger, and have less pain. (For more info check out our blog post where we tell you everything you need to know about dry needling.
On the seventh day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 7 nights of snoozing
Did you know that PT can do more than just help you move better–it can help you sleep better too! We can achieve this a few different ways (and a combination is even more effective):
- Sleep hygiene: We talk about things like what you do before bed, what time you wake up, calming the spinning in your brain that won’t let your brain shut off to go to sleep, and creating a great bedtime routine.
- Reducing pain: When you’re not in pain, you can sleep a lot better! By treating areas that bring you discomfort, we can help you get a sound night of sleep. We can also talk about pillows and sleeping positions to make you more comfortable.
- Getting active: Sleep is so important for recovery, but YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO RECOVER FROM. When you aren’t active during the day, your body doesn’t have much to recover from, which can make it hard to sleep.
Sleep is such a critical part of overall health and feeling your best. In fact, Sleeping well actually helps you live longer!
On the eighth day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 8 hours of work that don’t wreck you
Calling all my desk workers! Your 9-5 desk job doesn’t have to wreck you, and PT can help! As I discovered during COVID when I saw all my clients on telehealth, sitting all day can make you feel BLAH.
Whether it’s your back, hips, neck, or shoulders that feel it most after a day in the office (or home office), there are simple strategies that can help you feel better once 5:00 pm comes around. Low back support and the proper ergonomic setup are our areas of expertise.
On the ninth day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, feeling 9 years younger
What we would do to have our 20-year-old bodies back, right?
Let me tell you, all is not lost. Just because we’re all getting older doesn’t mean we are destined to feel old. There are people in their 80s running marathons, so it is possible to move well and feel young regardless of age!
Of the thousands of people we’ve helped over the years, we have seen people age gracefully into their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. Their secret? They all moved consistently throughout their lives.
This wasn’t anything crazy. Think things like walking 3 miles several days per week, going to the gym with friends on a weekly basis, or having an active job.
PT can improve your mobility, increase your strength, and make your body more resilient to the demands of daily life to keep you feeling youthful!
On the tenth day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, a 10-minute at-home workout
MYTH: Physical therapy is for short-term injuries only. Actually, the underlying reason most people need PT is a movement compensation that over-stresses a body part and makes it painful. To feel better, you need to correct that compensation and keep working at it long-term.
It’s like caring for your teeth. You brush your teeth twice a day for your whole life! You don’t stop after one good report of no cavities from the dentist, right? The trick with PT is to incorporate a few good exercises into your daily or weekly routine. This doesn’t have to be an hour routine. At Empower Physio and Wellness, we like to give people a 10-minute routine so it fits in with their schedule!
On the eleventh day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 11 jumps for joy
After completing PT care with us, our clients are jumping for joy (sometimes literally!) because they feel so good. And we love jumping for joy with them! We truly care about our clients, their lives, and their goals. When you win, we are so happy and bask in the glory with you!
On the twelfth day of PT-mas Dr. Steph gave to me, 12 pain-free days
It is possible to live a life not limited by pain. Let me repeat that: It is possible to live a life not limited by pain. Lots of our clients achieve that, plus they learn what to do if aches or pains start creeping back up again. We are human, it can happen. But when you know what to look for and act quickly, you can get back to feeling your strong and limber self in no time.
Did these physical therapy myths surprise or inspire you? Thinking “Where can I find physical therapy near me?” We would love to help you live a life not limited by pain! Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you and enjoy the holidays!
