As I was starting my business, working with my husband to develop a logo, I came up with the line “Respect Your Anatomy”. I felt it was the perfect phrase to describe what I wanted my business to be about and how I personally choose to guide my clients. Physical Therapy has historically been seen as the go-to after injury or surgery. However, if you utilize physical therapy prior to injury, for general upkeep and well-being, surgery can often be avoided, as can the unnecessary use of pain medications, loss of work, inability to participate in your preferred sport, and reduced social participation. I can’t keep track of the amount of times even my family and friends question whether physical therapy is the right path for them. “I’ve been having some terrible neck pain and I don’t know why. Should I go for a massage?” or “I don’t have any pain, but I can’t lift my right arm over my head anymore. Do you think I need a chiropractic adjustment?” Not that a massage or a chiropractor are bad options (I’ll delve into how we can and should all live harmoniously in future posts), but why is physical therapy rarely on the top of anyone’s mind?
I have spent seven years earning my doctorate and then the past 10 years honing my skills. I’m primarily a movement therapist. My approach to care is much like a detective
assessing a crime scene (which is a perfect analogy for some patient’s I have seen!) After a thorough conversation with the client to discuss past medical history and their chief complaint, I observe them moving through space. This observation actually starts immediately upon the client arriving to the clinic. I can often see them get in and out of their car, walk to the door, pull open the door, sit down in a chair, then rise from a chair. I even observe their breathing patterns during these normal activities, because how a person moves their breath is very telling to where they may be restricted in movement. I am all about functional movement as it makes sense to the individual client. While working under the rule of insurance companies, I had to opt for discharge when the patient was “functional” in the company’s eyes. Can they do what they NEED in order to survive? YES? Then you’re out! I’d much rather assist each client in performing what they need, yes, but also what they WANT to do. Run a 5K? Absolutely. Kayak the Delaware River? You bet. Rock your grandchild? No doubt. Movement is LIFE!
Are you beginning to have a better understanding of how physical therapy may work for you? Our bodies are so resilient. If one part of your body isn’t working up to speed, like most things in nature, our bodies find another way of succeeding, albeit, a less efficient way. This gives most people a false sense of security. “I’m not limited in lifting, it just hurts.” or “I can run all I want, I just feel it afterwards.” How about instead of working through faulty movement patterns, you seek the advice of a physical therapist to get back on the right track. Constantly reinforcing poor patterns confuses your nervous system and, though you may feel fine now, it is only a matter of time until your body fatigues, is over stressed, and fails to succeed. Not that you can’t seek PT then, but recovery will take longer and, in the meantime, you’ll be missing out on your life.
RESPECT YOUR ANATOMY. It’s about caring for your body. It’s about maintaining the intricate balance between form and function. It’s about movement and participation. It’s about life. YOUR life. Let’s let go of those preconceived notions that you must be injured to talk with a physical therapist. At Thumann Physical Therapy, I offer free 10 minute consultations. If you’re on the fence, just give me a call and we can set one up.
