![]() Physical therapists are movement experts who help people reduce pain, improve or restore mobility, and stay active throughout life. But there are some common misconceptions that often discourage people from seeking physical therapist treatment. It's time to debunk 7 common myths about physical therapy: 1. Myth: I need a referral to see a physical therapist. FACT: A recent survey by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) revealed 70% of people think a referral or prescription is required for evaluation by a physical therapist. However, a physician’s referral is no longer required in order to be evaluated by a physical therapist. The State of Illinois became a direct access state in August 2018 which means you are able to see a physical therapist first to address your pain and improve or restore your mobility. 2. Myth: Physical therapy is painful. FACT: Physical therapists seek to minimize your pain and discomfort—including chronic or long-term pain. They work within your pain threshold to help you heal, and restore movement and function. The survey found that although 71% of people who have never visited a physical therapist think physical therapy is painful, that number significantly decreases among patients who have seen a physical therapist in the past year. We don't necessarily believe in the no pain no gain theory and often the treatment you receive in physical therapy won't be painful at all but instead will be extremely beneficial in managing or alleviating the pain you are experiencing. 3. Myth: Physical therapy is only for injuries and accidents. FACT: Physical therapists do a lot more than just stretch or strengthen weak muscles after an injury or surgery. They are skilled at evaluating and diagnosing potential problems before they lead to more serious injuries or disabling conditions—from carpal tunnel syndrome and frozen shoulder, to chronic headaches and lower back pain, to name a few. 4. Myth: Any health care professional can perform physical therapy. FACT: Although 42% of consumers know that physical therapy can only be performed by a licensed physical therapist, 37% still believe other health care professionals can also administer physical therapy. Rehab technicians are usually unlicensed individuals who are legally allowed to help assist a licensed practitioner in the delivery of physical therapy services. However, at Huntley Physical Therapy you will only be treated by a licensed physical therapist because we don't hire or utilize any unlicensed staff for treatment. Many physical therapists also pursue board certification in specific areas such as neurology, orthopedics, sports, or women’s health, for example. 5. Myth: Physical therapy isn't covered by insurance. FACT: Most insurance policies cover some form of physical therapy. Beyond insurance coverage, physical therapy has proven to reduce costs by helping people avoid unnecessary imaging scans, surgery, or prescription drugs. Physical therapy can also lower costs by helping patients avoid falls or by addressing conditions before they become chronic. If you are unsure about your insurance coverage, we would be more than happy to check your benefits for you! 6. Myth: Surgery is my only option. FACT: In many cases, physical therapy has been shown to be as effective as surgery in treating a wide range of conditions—from rotator cuff tears and degenerative disk disease, to meniscal tears and some forms of knee osteoarthritis. Those who have recently seen a physical therapist know this to be true, with 79% believing physical therapy can provide an alternative to surgery. 7. Myth: I can do physical therapy myself. FACT: Your participation is key to a successful treatment plan, but every patient still needs the expert care and guidance of a licensed physical therapist. Your therapist will leverage his or her specialized education, clinical expertise, and the latest available evidence to evaluate your needs and make a diagnosis before creating an individualized plan of care. If you are interested in setting up a complimentary consultation or would like to schedule an evaluation you can click the link below or call us at (847)582-0050.
26 Comments
3/24/2020 09:08:26 am
It's good that you point out that physical therapy can benefit people who suffer from lower back pain. I have a lot of pain in my lower back, so I'm considering hiring an in-home physical therapist. I'm going to look for a good provider of in-home physical therapy services in my area to use.
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4/7/2020 02:40:45 pm
My shoulder and back have been hurting ever since I started hitting the gym, that's why I'm currently looking for a physical therapist that can help me out. It's great to know that a physical therapist can help minimize my pain and address long term chronic pain. Also, I agree with you that a physical therapist does more than just stretching and strengthening weak muscles.
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7/7/2020 10:47:42 am
It's interesting that you mention that seeing a physical therapist can help improve your mobility after an injury. I hurt my leg playing frisbee last weekend, so I'm thinking about trying physical therapy to help me get back in the game. I'm going to search for a reputable physical therapy provider in my area to use.
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8/19/2020 10:09:38 am
It's helpful that you mention that physical therapy can help relieve chronic pain. I have suffered from chronic back pain for a long time, so I'm considering going to a physical therapist. I'm going to search in my area for a good physical therapist to use.
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9/24/2020 10:49:02 am
Thanks for pointing out that a physical therapist can help you regain mobility after an injury. I sustained a back injury in a car accident a month ago that has made it difficult for me to function, so I'm considering going to a physical therapist. I'm going to look for a reputable physical therapy provider in my area that I can use.
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10/8/2020 12:43:53 pm
Thanks for pointing out that a physical therapist can help you recover your mobility after an injury. I hurt my shoulder while playing soccer two weeks ago, so I'm thinking about going to a physical therapy center soon. I'm going to look for a reputable physical therapy center in my area that I can use.
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10/8/2020 12:44:11 pm
I liked what you said about how therapists can work with a person's pain threshold as they heal so that there is minimal discomfort and pain while restoring movement and function of muscles. My cousin has been thinking about going to see a professional because she was running the other day and she rolled her ankle but now it's swollen so much that she can't stand on it. Getting some help from someone who will be able to help her pace herself and not harm herself while trying to jump back into running could be really useful.
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10/8/2020 12:45:43 pm
Thanks for explaining that physical therapy is just as effective as surgery in treating a wide range of injuries. My brother has been worried he may need to get knee surgery becuase he can no longer walk without his injury affecting him. I'll have to give him a call to see if he's looked into local phsycial therapy treatment as an option!
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10/9/2020 12:51:42 pm
I loved how you mentioned that a physical therapist can help with preventing an injury from getting worse. My sister recently injured her knee while playing soccer a couple of weeks ago, and she was telling me last night about how she was wondering if she should see a physical therapist for it. I'll make sure to pass this information along to her so that she can look into finding one that can help her with her knee.
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10/13/2020 06:33:57 am
I also have same thoughts before consulting one of them. Thank you for sharing such a knowledgeable article. It helps me a lot while writing an article for my assignment submission. Please write an article about army accident awareness.
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10/28/2020 12:29:20 am
My dad's back is aching for days, which is why he's currently looking for a physical therapist that may address this concern. Well, you have a point that this type of therapy will minimize long-term pain. Thank you for also sharing here that the physical therapists are skilled enough to evaluate and diagnose potential problems.
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11/10/2020 06:39:43 am
I read your blog, it’s an excellent blog. It gives us brief description about sports therapy and physical therapy. I recommend this blog and Learnovate if you want to know more about sports therapy and physical therapy.
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12/7/2020 08:19:31 am
It's awesome that you point out that doing physical therapy can help give you more mobility if you have been injured. I hurt my back last week while playing frisbee, so I'm thinking about giving physical therapy a try. I'm going to search for a reputable physical therapist in my area to use.
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2/21/2021 10:03:49 pm
Your post is useful and valuable related to physical therapy that can benefit people who suffer from lower back pain.
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11/1/2021 08:02:20 pm
I like that you pointed out that a physical therapist will be able to leverage their specialized education to treat you. I hope to find one that I can trust now that I really need help with my back pain. It has been like this for the past few weeks which might have accumulated because I sit in front of the computer for too long every day for the past year.
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1/7/2022 10:13:29 pm
I like how you mentioned that a physical therapist can help you without pain. My cousin mentioned to me last night that she is hoping to find a treatment to relieve her back pain and asked if I have any idea what is the best treatment for her. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell her that she can consult a well-known physical therapist as they can answer all her inquiries and will provide proper treatment.
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1/13/2022 04:48:10 am
Thank you for explaining that physiotherapists do a lot more than just stretch or strengthen weak muscles after an injury or surgery since they are also skilled at evaluating and diagnosing potential problems before they lead to more serious injuries or disabling conditions. My sister has been experiencing pain in her shoulder, probably because of the minor car accident she went through. I must advise her to go to a women's health physiotherapist to get proper treatment for her shoulder.
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1/18/2022 10:57:48 pm
It really interests me to read such articles, thanks for sharing. Blogs like yours and info https://njwholehealth.com/ really helps me learn more day by day.
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4/13/2022 01:57:43 am
Thanks for such a nice post about “Myths About Physical Therapy”! This post is really very informative. I really appreciate your efforts. Thank you so much for helping !!
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8/2/2022 02:21:50 pm
Last week, I started working out again, but it causes me back and shoulder pain, and I'm not sure if it's normal or not. It really helped when you explained how physical therapy helps detect injuries before they get worse, so I think I'll find a therapist and make an appointment this week. Thank you for the tips on avoiding chronic conditions by detecting them on time.
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1/11/2023 10:44:15 am
I'm really glad you said that it can help with back pain! My husband has been struggling with severe back pain for the past couple of months, so he wants to look into finding the proper treatment for it as soon as possible. I'll pass this information along to him so he can see if physical therapy helps his pain!
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Gratitude for bringing up that an actual specialist can assist you with recapturing portability after a physical issue. I supported a back injury in a fender bender a month prior that has made it hard for me to work, so I'm thinking about going to an actual specialist. I will search for a respectable non-intrusive treatment supplier in my space that I can utilize.
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2/27/2023 09:46:19 pm
Here we get to know 7 Myths About Physical Therapy in detail. It helps us to decide that which one is best among its types. I enjoyed reading this article and would suggest others it as well. Thank you for this article! This is really very informative for us.
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AuthorEmily Craigen is the owner of Huntley Physical Therapy. She is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and is excited to bring health and wellness to the Huntley community! Archives
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