Jason Bloom, DPT, CSCS
Your Body is Worth It
I recently saw a poster that said, “Instead of saying that’s too expensive, try saying my health is just not worth the investment”. I first chuckled at it, but then realized how true the statement is. Your body and your health are the most important investments that you can make in your life. There are many examples of how physical therapy can be a very wise and successful investment.
Example #1:
You are 50 years old and injure your knee playing tennis. At this point, you have a few options. You can ignore the problem, it may get better, or you may put yourself on the fast track to a knee replacement a few years down the road. You could go to a doctor, who may give you an X-ray, MRI, Injections, or possibly suggest surgery, again making you more susceptible to knee replacement down the road. The third option is you can get into physical therapy. You can rehabilitate your knee, improve your motion, your strength, your balance, your stability, which will improve your quality of life and potentially hold off that need for a knee replacement. You will have to pay some fee for your physical therapy, but that is a nominal fee to pay now, compared to fees of x-rays, MRIs, knee replacement and possible disability in the future.
Example #2:
You are 70 years old and have been feeling a little unsteady and weaker on your feet than normal. Your doctor suggests that you go to physical therapy, but you do not want to spend the money on the copay from your insurance. You continue to be unsteady, and unfortunately suffer a fall and break your hip. You must undergo hip surgery, spend time in rehab facilities, and once you can get around on your own, go to that physical therapy office that could have prevented your fall in the first place.
Example #3:
You are a high-level high school athlete, being recruited by many division 1 colleges. You have been having a nagging knee or shoulder pain, but do not want to make the time or financial investment to resolve the issue. You blow out that knee or shoulder in the last game of the season because the joint has become severely unstable due to the injury. You now lose your scholarships to college, and have no prospects in your future due to your health uncertainty.
These are only a few of the many examples of why going to physical therapy cannot only be a money saving investment, but a life investment as well. If you feel like something is not right, contact your local physical therapist and see how they can help you.
You are worth it!
Your health is worth it!