But there are a few things that you should not say to your physical therapist. Never. Ever. Why? Some things may irk your therapist, and some things may make your physical therapist push you a bit harder than you want to be pushed.
Bottom line: Some things are better left unsaid.
Keep the personal training in the gym, and let your physical therapist handle the rehab.
But try not to call your massage a “rub down.” It sounds icky. And make sure that massage is not the only treatment you receive when you attend physical therapy.
Massage is a passive treatment that does not require your active involvement.
Sometimes the easy exercises and movements are meant to be that way. Your physical therapist is most likely having you perform simple movements so that they are done correctly. Plus, simple movements and exercises that are done repetitively help to ingrain the new movement patterns into your daily, functional life.
Sure, if all of your exercises are too easy and are not helping you get stronger or move better, you should speak to your physical therapist. He or she can make adjustments to your plan to ensure that your program is tailored exactly to your needs.
A score of 15/10 indicates that you should have been to the emergency room hours ago. Your physical therapist understands your pain and that sometimes it may feel like your pain is controlling your life. But try to keep your reported pain level within the zero to 10 scale as instructed.
Your physical therapist may make some general suggestions about how your medication affects your rehabilitation, but any and all questions about prescription medication should be directed at your healthcare provider.
Bonus related question: “Should I have the injection that my practitioner recommends?” (Again, ask your healthcare provider about things like injections. Your PT can tell you what an injection does for your condition, but he or she can’t make your healthcare decisions for you.)
This question is a bit out of bounds if you ask it to your physical therapist at a dinner party, a barbecue, or at church. Most likely, your physical therapist will offer some possibilities as to why something hurts, but save the clinical questions for the clinic.
Some physical therapists work in acute hospital settings, and they must work very hard to help patients transfer from a bed to a chair. This can require quite a bit of physical strength, especially with patients who are severely deconditioned.
Other physical therapists may not have the burden of heavy lifting but are still hard at work making decisions to help develop strategies to help you move and feel your best. And PTs always have a lot of work to do when the patients leave the clinic, documenting progress and communicating with healthcare providers about their patients’ progress.
A Word From Verywell
Being a physical therapist is a great job, and it can be an extremely rewarding career. When working with your PT, be sure to work hard and have fun. Just try to avoid saying something that may irk or bother your PT. Have fun.
