Common Misconceptions

A common misconception is that identification of the condition/problem (eg. rotator cuff tendinopathy, DeQuervain’s tendinopathy, patella-femoral pain syndrome) allows for a simple treatment recipe to be followed.

In most cases, identifying the painful area (anterior knee, lateral elbow, shoulder, etc) is only one part of the assessment.  Keep in mind that it can be very difficult to reliably identify the anatomical cause of the pain in some cases (eg. low back pain). An essential part of the assessment involves determining all the factors that influence the condition/problem in order to design an appropriate treatment plan.  This is always the case when the pain has not been caused by acute trauma (ie. a sudden injury).  Many of the conditions/ problems we treat are overuse problems that have a variety of different causes and contributing factors.

A second misconception is that the treatment plan involves a solution that doesn’t require the involvement/commitment of the client.

All treatment solutions are more effective if the client is actively engaged in the process. While passive treatment techniques such as dry needling (IMS/IMT, acupuncture), soft tissue work (massage, ART, Graston, etc), and manual therapy (mobilization, manipulation) may be important aspects of your treatment plan, appropriate activity modifications and exercise prescription are always important components in the treatment plan.