what is physical therapy?

This can be a tricky answer because there are many iterations of what people think of when they hear “Physical Therapy”. Traditionally, I believe Physical Therapy is thought of as something that is needed to recover from surgery or possibly from a bad injury. Within that same mindset, it is commonly described as what is needed to re-establish proper ROM (range of motion) and strength through the affected area. Along with this are the use of common modalities such as E-stim, TENS, Ultrasound, Hot Pack, Cold Pack, and more recently Dry Needling and BFR (blood flow restriction). This is also the majority of what is taught in school to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Its no wonder we do not have the respect we deserve. Because while the above interventions may be required at some point in time, Physical Therapy is so much more than stretching, strengthening, and modalities. If so far this sounds like the rehab you have experienced then let me be the first to apologize because I promise you there are better and brighter options out there.

In school, I was told we are the Movement Specialists. We are who the people come see when they need help with function and improving their ability to do what they love or need to do. I was pumped to hear this because as an athlete I have always been curious about how and why some athletes have the ability to move so fluid and easily through space when competing compared to the ones that have to try so hard to keep up. What is it that sets them apart? So I thought finally I am going to understand the answers to my questions… secretly hoping this could also help myself if I’m being honest.

Instead we learn how to measure almost every joint in the body, how to strength and length test every muscle, where the muscles attach in isolation to each other, “special tests” that only help confirm a million other tests, and finally, how to use E-stim and Ultrasound. This seemed like so much information at the time… and it was. Only for me to later realize that the majority of it is relatively useless if you want to see a person as a whole and not just an individual joint.

Now all this ranting aside, I do believe there is a time and a place for the majority of what we learned but very much in moderation. It should not be used and the be all end all to establish a diagnosis for the sake of establishing a diagnosis to then just stretch the pecs and hamstrings and get stronger glutes and scapular retractors.

After graduation, I realized quickly that if I wanted to learn about movement, I was going to have to seek that information out because I clearly did not get it in school. Thus began my journey that has led me to many different thoughts on movement and I am still trying to piece everything together. There are so many different systems out there that teach movement in various ways from FMS/SFMA to FRC to Postural Restoration to so many others. Each have both positives and negatives because they are all trying to fit a human being into a model which is impossible because we are all individually created by God therefore all different in some way.

Understanding movement should be about understanding the interconnection of how bones and muscles interact with each other. Of how our organs help position us and affect our ability to expand and compress. Of how our breath can limit or allow for movement. Of how our neurology controls and has the ability to override most everything. Postural Restoration Institute does the best job to this point of tying it all together in my opinion and much of my understanding of movement is thanks to them.

So if you have read this far, well done. I say all this to say that Physical Therapy can and should be so much more than stretching and strengthening areas. That is so reductionist and will only give minimal help for a short amount of time if not possibly make things worse.

The goal of Physical Therapy should be to understand where your limitations are and how they affect your inability to do what you love. Whether this being because of an operation/injury, or because you can’t play well with your kids without paying for it the next day, or just because you don’t feel like you are running as efficiently as you could. This should be a process that is constantly being tweaked and adjusted based on how you as a person respond to certain interventions, always working towards the goals you have set with your therapist to begin with.

If this is not what is occurring with your current or future rehab situation, I implore you to explore other options and find a PT that is better suited for you.

What is Physical Therapy? Hmmm better question. What should Physical Therapy be? Answer: Your journey to moving well and feeling better with someone trained to help guide you along the way.

-Jay