Top Flaws With Physical Therapy
Before I begin I would like to make very clear that I am not down-talking physical therapists
It is an amazing profession where good hearted people want to help others who don't know how
Working in an outpatient PT clinic for over 3 years has lead me where I am today... Remaining a certified personal trainer while still focusing on relieving pain and rehabilitation
DPT's have nothing but good intentions, but traditional physical therapy has many flaws.
The top flaws with physical therapy:
1. Insurance companies dictate your treatment
Every time you see a physical therapist utilizing your insurance, the therapist is required to write very detailed notes about everything ranging from the type of pain you're experiencing, when the injury occured, to the progress you make over time.
From there the insurance companies review the notes from your DPT and determine how many more sessions you will be granted along with your weekly frequency.
Why should insurance companies with zero medical education be able to dictate your treatment over the doctor you are working with?
2: You are a number in the system
At the end of the day physical therapy is a business. Clinics have to pay rent, keep their lights on, and pay the therapists. Just like any other business the goal is to help people and make a profit.
3. There is little variation or progression
If a clinic has 10 patients dealing with low back pain, there is a very high chance all 10 of those patients will be given the same exact treatment plan. There is a pool of exercises doctors choose from to create your rehab program and they tend to stay within the box and not vere out to try individualized exercises that can be better for you.
A 25 year old blue collar worker should not be following the same program as a 75 year old woman when they are both dealing with the same type of pain, but in many cases that is the reality.
4. Majority of the exercises are performed laying down on a table
There is nothing wrong with certain exercises that require you to lay down. But physical therapy should be SO much more than glute bridges and leg lifts. Many exercises are easy and non stimulating.
They also do not transfer over to many things you do in your day-to-day life. There's a good chance you feel pain when you are up and moving, not laying down.
5. Using heavy weight is "bad" in physical therapy
Majority of PT clinics will don't have free weights over 25lbs. And very few have a squat rack, or kettlebells. You will rarely see exercises like loaded squats, deadlifts, or pressing movements.
The human body is amazingly resilient and strong. Sometimes there is a need for certain people to increase the load and perform certain movements with heavier weight to stimulate change and relieve pain.
6. Most PT's are overbooked
It is not uncommon for a therapist to see 2-3 patients every hour, and each session is typically 1 hour. How is a therapist supposed to give you enough attention in 1 hour when they are focused on writing notes and working with several other patients at the same time.
Most of the time a therapist will tell you what exercises to do and have you go to them when you're done. They don't see your form or whether or not you're doing the exercises correctly.
You simply do not get the time and attention you deserve when a therapist is dealing with 25+ patients per day.
7. Lack of structure
Many PT's will hand an exercise list to an aide and tell them which exercises to have the patient do. They do not care what order, as long as they get done.
99% of strength exercises performed in PT clinics is 30 reps for all patients. It doesn't matter if you do 1 set of 30 reps, 2 sets of 15 reps or 3 sets of 10 reps. As long as you get to 30 is all they care about.
Most stretches are held for 30 seconds or 1 minute for all patients.
If a patient can do 30 reps straight of an exercise with no breaks why would you not want to increase the intensity or choose a more challenging exercise?
It is not a great idea to randomly go through a workout mindlessly in any order you want. There should be structure and a reason a patient is doing any and every exercise in their routine.
The reality is there is good and bad in every profession. Good doctors, bad doctors, good lawyers, bad lawyers, good cops, bad cops, good trainers, bad trainers...
The goal of this post is not to turn you away from physical therapists. In fact, if you are dealing with pain it is one of the first places you should go, even before seeing your primary care doctor.
But it is up to you to do your own research, talk to friends and family, and take a deeper look than just whoever accepts your insurance. You need to find someone who understands your issue, and who can confidently help.
Many people assume personal trainers are for losing weight or building muscle. But there is much more to the profession. It is not very common, but trainers and businesses like Platinum Training who are trainers solely focus on pain relief
If you live in Edwardsburg or Michiana and are dealing with pain you are finally ready to get rid of, fill out our form below to see if we would be a good fit to work together
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