Viewing entries tagged
physical therapy
The Knowledge Trap
We are all shaped—and constrained—by our knowledge base. What we believe to be important or “central” often correlates directly with what we have studied the most.
As a new graduate physical therapist, one of my most deeply held convictions was that the musculoskeletal system was the most important system in the body. It wasn’t an overtly stated belief, but a functional one: it guided my assessments, my interventions, and the questions I asked (or failed to ask).
People often ask me about visceral mobilization/manipulation. They often ask questions like What the heck is that? Aren’t you a PT? Is it like Reiki? Are you going to rearrange my internal organs?
Much like the case with chronic pain, when experiencing leg pain we often want a single, simple answer. Unfortunately, it is often more complex.
Trauma can significantly contribute to chronic pain through complex mechanisms. Psychological trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can heighten the perception of pain, leading to chronic pain conditions. Additionally, physical trauma, injuries, or accidents can result in tissue damage and altered neuromuscular responses, potentially leading to persistent pain.
