Recently, on a personal note, my wife and I decided to give up television. We came to this decision for many reasons- to spend more quality time with each other; to participate in more active pastimes; to be proactive about what we choose to allow into our minds; etc.
Near the top of the list of reasons to give the “boob tube” the boot was a desire to reduce our exposure to advertising. I’ve often agreed with what the early 20th century comedian and social commentator, Will Rogers, said about advertising. “Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don’t have for something they don’t need.”
Of course as the owner of a small, home-based business, I understand how important advertising can be as a way to inform and educate the public regarding what is available.
Over the past few months I’ve seen several advertisements that have drawn my interest. The common thread was, at the start of each, they could have been advertising the services of a physical therapist. But alas, they were not.
One advertisement offers those with arthritis the opportunity to move better with less pain. It was a pharmaceutical company. It seemed that all the benefits physical therapy would confer to a person with arthritis could be had by taking a pill. How can I compete with that? Easily. All I had to do was look at the remainder of the ad- the part that lists all of the things that can go disastrously wrong as a result of taking the medication: serious skin reactions; stomach and intestine problems; heart attacks; stroke; and even death.
Physical therapy empowers people to move better with less pain and without all the negative side effects! In fact, physical therapy has many positive side effects: improved overall wellness; improved mood; and even improved relationships with loved ones.
Another advertisement asks if you have fallen in the past year. If so, you can have Medicare pay for a motorized scooter. The message is that if you have fallen and are thereby at risk for falling again you should walk less and sit more!
How many people who obtain a scooter become dependent on it for mobility and weaker as a result? How many people weigh the option of a course of physical therapy to improve their safety and mobility?
Physical therapy can often prevent those who are at risk for falling from suffering a catastrophic injury, all while improving strength, mobility, and their ability to perform enjoyable activities.
Last but not least, there is the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” cadre of commercials. These advertise home alert monitoring that allows people to call for help when needed. I have no qualms with these services. I have no doubt that they have brought needed aid when otherwise a person may have struggled alone for hours if not days due to injury. I have no doubt that they have saved many lives.
However, these commercials do not address the fact that so many falls are easily preventable. Take a look at our past blog, Autumn Thoughts on Fall Prevention, for ideas of things you can do to keep from falling. Better yet, if you are concerned that you or a loved one may be at risk for falling, call and schedule a free Falls Risk Assessment.
I urge you to consider physical therapy as the first choice in your quest to move better and feel better. In many cases, physical therapy can improve your mobility and motion, reduce pain without medication, and even help you avoid surgery! Remember, it’s your body and your choice.
Most states allow for direct access to a physical therapist, meaning that a physician’s referral is not needed. You may find a Physical Therapist through the APTA’s “Find a PT” link. Medicare and some insurance companies do require a physician to certify a physical therapy plan of care; however, the majority of commercial insurance companies do reimburse for physical therapy services without a referral.
