More Than Massage

your comments that every moment is a teaching moment and as PT's we need to constantly take the opportunities to advance to the public, what we do and how we are the best source for wellness, rehab and training out there especially as massage therapists are handing out exercises and taking physical therapy continuing education courses to use with their clients. Keep up the good work

The issue here isn't just the public perception of what PTs do. For those who really do know what PTs do, one of the issues is that there has been a major paradigm shift in treatment (more specifically, I'm referring to back pain) over the last ten years.  

The public's perception is that you go to PT to have things "done to you"...passive treatments: not just massage, but ultrasound, e-stim and mobilization/manipulation.  We have failed to educate the public that active treatments still outsine all passive treatments.  Furthermore, we continue to push the pathoanatomic disease model.  In the model of back pain, we know that this is frequently flawed.  

Patients are getting horribly upset when the come to PT saying that US and massage helped them last time, but question them on as to why they are back again and they get very defensive.  The perpetuation of manual therapy has been a mixed message in my opinion.  PTs with manual therapy certifications are getting overly anxious about putting their hands on a patient without first ever seeing what the patient can do themselves and/or what pain education they need.  Don't get me wrong, many people do need hands on manip/mob., and there is good evidence to support that treatment, but are we jumping the gun in many cases?  Next month, a colleague of mine will present a paper to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (I think that were he is...but whatever) how self directed direction specific exercise (aka "McKenzie method") can trump the CPR for manipulation. In other words, even though the patient met guidelines for CPR, he was able to eliminate the problem himself without any hands on treatment...in other words, empowering him to treat himself.  

In conclusion, I reiterate that not only has the perception of what PTs do become misconstrued, but we have been partly to blame by not educating the public about how active treatments are preferred over passive ones.  I can't wait until insurance compaines stop paying for ultrasound and e-stim.  

funny, this happened to me today.  It was a CNA who wanted a massage to her knee because "Your in physical therapy and isn't that what you do"

I guess the HUM attitude will never die.  It is up to all of us and especially those who are new/recent grads to really educate the public about what we do.  

I have been a PT for the past 42 years and am disappointed that John Q public continues to refer to us a "massage therapists".  I don't have an answer to your question as to why this continues, however, it appears little has changed over the years!  Even with the establishment of "independent practice" and recent graduates achieving "Doctoral" status, we as a profession have been remiss in educating the public about our profession.  Perhaps more learned in our profession can address your question in more detail.  Keep the faith and practice your profession proudly!