Isn’t exercise supposed to hurt?

Caitlin TrakaloArticles & News

Shouldn’t exercise hurt when I do them? Isn’t it weird that this doesn’t hurt me?’

I am always fascinated by the perspectives my physiotherapy patients have. I am always equally perturbed by the inaccuracy of their hypothesis, because it’s always more inflated, scary, and intimidating than it needs to be.

It’s of course, no fault of their own. I believe that the goal of seeking information – regardless of its truth – is sought out because people need answers. People don’t want to hurt. People want to get better. Who can blame them? I would do the same if i didn’t have the knowledge.

It’s a result of the remarkably vast amount of inaccurate information that is circulated online, and ideas and thoughts that have been passed on through what seems like generational lineages.

‘They’ said this should hurt. ‘They’ said tomatoes are bad for you. ‘They’ said I have arthritis. ‘They’ said my grandmother had a bad back and I’m worried she has passed it onto me.’

(These are all real conversations I’ve had with patients)

My affection to ‘they’ is similar to ‘The Jones’s’. I can’t stand them, I have no idea who they are, and I don’t want to keep up with any of them..or it…whatever.

One of the best parts of my job is sifting through the muck of click bait, weekend wannabe professionals, fear mongering, and and inaccurate myths, and I take a lot of pride in taking the extra time to do so.

I’m curious to know what your challenges are with patient communication. What are your thoughts on navigating your patients to a road of recovery and clarity?