08/05/2026
The other day, a new client told me their orthopedic surgeon said:
“Physical therapy is a joke.”
After more than 24 years as a physical therapist, I can tell you this:
Physical therapy isn’t the joke. Low expectations are.
Too often, success is measured by patient volume instead of quality of care. Hands-on manual therapy is disappearing, and many patients are led to believe their diagnosis determines their future.
Too often, the approach becomes throwing a collection of gadgets and generic exercise programs at a problem, hoping something sticks. Orthopedic surgeons see inconsistent results and, over time, many lower their trust in physical therapy.
If your treatment session consists primarily of a massage gun, a few modalities, and someone counting repetitions on exercises that could be generated by ChatGPT, you should ask whether you’re receiving individualized care—or simply following a template.
I don’t believe this is the direction our profession has to continue.
With skilled manual therapy, corrective exercise, critical thinking, and a committed client, the body is capable of far more than many people are told.
Every person who walks through our doors deserves more than a protocol. They deserve an individualized plan designed to help them get back to doing what they love.
Physical therapy isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about changing what’s possible.
Have you ever been told you’ll just have to “live
with it”? I’d love to hear your story.
