Your PT is wrong
This is not medical advice.
I saw this post recently on social media. I think it is an interesting read, and teaches us that it’s ok to do your own research, and be your own advocate. And I’m including myself in this statistic, the lowly assistant. Let’s be charitable and say we are wrong 30% of the time. That’s still alarming.
I'm thirty and have been to physical therapy at different places for mid back pain (chronic and acute), shoulder pain (acute and recurring after a sport injury, both sides), and broken ankles (both sides). Every time I've gone to see a new PT for a problem I've had, whether it healed then re-tweaked or never found relief, I get told different things. I have a routine that takes almost an hour to do now and I'm not sure if I'm just wasting my time.
For example, one PT told me to do the simple rubber band shoulder exercises (90 degree rotation inwards and outwards) while another told me those don't help and to use a broom to stretch overhead/side and do isometrics. The only time I've been given an x'ray was for my broken ankle and I've never been offered an MRI so I don't know what my shoulder or back pain "injuries" are even called.
Then I check out youtube and get even more conflicting advice, like Bob and Brad recommending a few things, El Paso Manual Physical Therapy recommending some but not others and then Corexcell Sports Training and Rehab saying all of those things are useless and do these totally different exercises instead. And the list grows with channels like squat university, E3 rehab, Jeremy Ethier, Spinecare Decompression and Chiropractic, and on and on.
The same goes for my mid back pain; some people say a supine twist is something I should do and other PTs have said not to.
How am I supposed to know who to actually listen to? Why is there so much conflicting advice even between in person PTs?
Most of the comments between all these young Doctors of Physical Therapy was to start arguing that their opinion was correct, and this study said this, and everyone else is a poopy head.
I think the points should have been, listen to multiple opinions, and find what works best for your situation.
Whole heatedly agree. The truth is an approximation based on our current understanding. It's always evolving. PT's are in a difficult spot when clients come to them expecting them to have the fix to their problems. I think it's easy to develop the 'bad habit' of projecting confidence and certainty when perhaps this feels like what is expected of you. It makes sense to me though that remaining humble and honest are probably the best ways to put yourself on a path that will lead to helping the most people.
So true Mike. I've been in the game for 20 plus years and I don't think we should have a fixed opinion because we're always learning. That means what we used to know might change again as science/experience shows us a better way. But be open and humble to change, even if an expert.