As an experienced runner I know that the right way to come back from injury is to build up slowly, back off, build up slowly, back off and rest.
Whenever I have committed to physio I have usually re-injured myself. For example, I became strong enough to do single leg glute holds for over a minute for multiple reps. I ended up re-straining an old injury, the adductor attachments, as the tension was too strong.
I have had physios having me do split squats and squats with weight, only to end up straining my glutes and hamstrings because it was too much. I would be in pain the next day when trying to run, even though I went into the physios gym pain free. Incredibly frustrating.
So back on go the compression sleeves, the self massage and more rest days are taken. Sometimes I run if the injury isn't bad enough as I find running loosens the muscles.
For me personally, I would never go back to a physio. It is too risky. Youtube videos are OK, but a lot of it is filler.
Most all PT routines are the same for the same injuries and you can find it all online.
I think PT was invented as a way to reduce workers comp. claims, and move people from being "disabled and unable to perform their job duties" to back to work. If the insurance company makes this person go to PT 2-3x week AND has someone documenting their progress or lack thereof, they can weed out the slackers and hucksters.
Personally I have been sent to PT for carpal tunnel after filing a workman's comp claim. PT is a joke, the only thing that helped was wearing a wrist brace while manipulating my mouse. They sent me to a specialized workman's comp PT clinic filled with people hanging around and collecting short term disability money. Lots of blue collar looking dudes hanging out with exercise bands dangling off their hands and feet in an air conditioned PT clinic, beats working outside in the heat.
Eventually my company paid me $5k to get surgery, I just pocketed the money and continued to wear my wrist guard while working.
I'm in my late 40's and have been running for a few decades. I can't say I have ever had a particularly good PT experience for a specific injury. It's funny to me because nearly all PTs I have seen think they have the right solution to every injury but at least in my case I think they were wrong. I am not sure where this overconfidence comes from. I doubt it is from actual patient experiences.
The other thing that I always find amusing is that nearly all of them examine you looking for tightness or weakness and as soon as they find it they are like "aha, that's the problem!" I am sure everyone has these "weaknesses" if you search hard enough.
As a PT I kind of chuckle at this thread. Not because I'm offended but because so much of it is truth. There are several different "types" of out patient PTs out there.
You got your "wanna be" Dr. PT. He is the guy (always a guy) that is into "mobilization" "adustment", usually a pretty good bullsh!tter, and is always happy to tell you which ortho doc he is playing golf with that weekend.
Then you got your "guru PT". He/She is usually into Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy and all kinds of quasi new age stuff. This PT convinces you that they are going to "cure you" and they develop sort of cult following of needy patients.
* Both of these types are big into the "dry needling" thing. The Dr. PT because it makes them feel more like real Dr.'s and the Guru because it makes them feel like an acupuncture expert.
The next kind is the "Shoulda been a nurse PT". This type is full of empathy as they listen to your complaints and toss you on a hot pack or give you an ultrasound.
Then you have your "Triathlon" Therapist. Totally into their own thing. They may be like one of the other types but when you see them all you are going to do is hear about their latest race. They'll toss you on an exercise bike and then hop on the next one over.
The final basic type was the type I was. A glorified trainer. Usually used modalities after I worked you out pretty hard if you weren't in acute pain. If you were (or claimed to be in acute pain...) I would kind of read you and treat you in a fashion like one of the other therapist types depending on what I thought.
And mind you, this is only out patient therapists I'm talking about. I'm not including Acute care, Rehab, wound care, skilled nursing types of therapists that are out there.
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I'm not opposed to the concept of physical rehabilitation as such, but the quality of services offered by most professionals in the field today seems deplorable. Every time I have been to a PT, the "therapy" has focused on modalities like heat, ultrasound, ice, etc. Totally apart from the fact that these treatments seem to have absolutely no value whatsoever, it seems that therapists are just trying to "milk" your insurance by administering as many modalities as it will pay for. The actual rehabilitative portion of the services I have recieved has always been a complete and utter joke, things like drawing figure eights and picking up marbles with my feet, or moving my limbs through space against either minimal resistance (little pink stretch bands) or no resistance whatsoever. They'll also prescribe the most generic 8th grade gym class stretching routines even though stretching has been proven to be worthless. I don't know why, but it seems that the physical therapy establishment is intellectually bankrupt, and that practitioners seem to believe that anything is beneficial just because they administer it and charge it to your insurance. Has snyone else had this experience with PTs?
PT is primarily a profession designed to make your glutes feel inadequate.
I was in a coma for three weeks. PT taught me to sit upright, start waking, climbing my stairs. For big health events, it is necessary,
I appreciate this post as I spent a good portion of my career in rehab. Why? Because I thought it was legit.
The thing about rehab is that you really don't need a "therapist" to actually do that work despite the fact that the Rehab is legally required to provide someone qualified. That type of work simply requires someone who is willing to get in there and physically work hard with the patient. I used to joke that the only reason that we were really needed to do rehab is because we had malpractice insurance in case somebody were to fall.
That being said even in school and continuing education they have all kinds of hocus pocus they try to teach you such as PNF and NDT styles of treatment.
I'm stunned at these responses. My PT has taken me from I'd be happy to walk without pain, to running again. It's a new lease on life. I might donate to the place for some equipment.