Let’s be honest — you’ve probably done this

You’re in the middle of a busy work week, juggling deadlines, carpools, and commitments, and your first thought when experiencing pain or discomfort isn’t to call a professional –

It’s to Google it.

In less than two seconds, you’ve typed, “shoulder pain when lifting” or “tight lower back remedies,” and now you’re 30 minutes deep into a rabbit hole of contradicting advice, alarming diagnoses, and YouTube stretches from someone who may or may not even be qualified.

Sound familiar?

If so, you’re not alone — but it’s time to stop!

As a physical therapist serving health-conscious adults in the Wood River Valley, I’ve seen the negative impacts this “Google-first” approach can create: delayed recovery, worsening pain, and leading people further away from the pain-free, active life they want to get back to.

Let’s break down why using Google for your symptoms is risky, what you should do instead, and how EmPower Physical Therapy can help you avoid setbacks, eliminate confusion, and get real results, fast.

Google Is A Worst-Case-Scenario Machine

When you search your symptoms on Google, you’re not getting a nuanced medical evaluation.

You’re getting algorithms.

And these algorithms are designed to show you engaging content, not necessarily accurate or appropriate information. In other words, Google is more likely to show you articles with scary headlines like:
• “When shoulder pain means cancer”
• “5 signs your back pain is something serious”
• “Why numb fingers could mean a stroke”
Suddenly, what was probably a mild overuse injury from your Peloton ride becomes a terrifying possibility that sends your stress skyrocketing — and stress makes pain worse.

The truth?

Most pain that shows up in active, health-conscious adults between 35–65 is mechanical in nature. It’s more often related to movement patterns, posture, strength imbalances, or sports-related strain than anything life-threatening.

But you won’t get that perspective from the first page of Google.

What you need is context.
And that’s exactly what a trained physical therapist like myself provides; an expert set of eyes that can see the whole picture not just a symptom.

YouTube Can Offer The Wrong Solution To The Wrong Problem

No, I’m not anti-YouTube.

But when you’re in pain and searching blindly, you’re probably not selecting the right exercise for your unique issue — you’re guessing.

Let’s take back pain for example. You search “lower back pain relief” and find a video recommending some particular kinds of stretches, which might be helpful for someone with a muscular concern, but if your back pain stems from disc irritation you may make things a lot worse.

We’ve had countless patients tell us:

“I followed a stretching video and it helped at first, but then the pain came back worse.”

Why?

Because a stretch that feels good in the moment can aggravate the underlying issue. Without a skilled evaluation, you don’t know if you need to strengthen, stabilize, mobilize, or just rest.

Unlike generic advice, professional therapeutic exercise is prescribed based on your body, your movement patterns, your goals, and your pain. It’s not random. It’s targeted. And when used properly, it leads to lasting relief — not short-term fixes.

Misdiagnosis = Wasted Time, Money, And Motivation

For active professionals, time is everything.

I work with high achievers -people who prioritize exercise not just for aesthetics, but for energy, mental clarity, stress management, and overall vitality. They don’t have time to be sidelined by nagging injuries, and they certainly don’t have time to waste on ineffective solutions.

We’ve seen patients who’ve spent months doing rotator cuff rehab videos only to find out the problem wasn’t their rotator cuff at all — it was referred pain from the neck . Or others who were treating tight fascia, when the real problem was poor hip control during running.

These misdiagnoses not only waste time — they delay healing and often make the problem worse.

As a physical therapist trained in functional movement systems I can:
·    Identify the true source of your pain (often not where you think it is)
·    Eliminate the guesswork through movement analysis
·    Prescribe precise interventions that work with, not against, your body

Your Symptoms Are Not Your Diagnosis

Here’s a simple but important truth: Two people can have the exact same symptoms but need completely different treatments.

For example, “knee pain with stairs” could be caused by:
·    Tendinitis
·    Meniscus (cartilage between thigh and shin bones) irritation
·    Hip weakness
·    Ankle mobility problems
·    Or even poor control in your core

A YouTube video will never know which one applies to you.

But a comprehensive physical therapy evaluation will.

Pain Isn’t Always The Problem — It’s The Signal

Pain gets a bad rap. But the truth is, pain is your body’s way of saying, “Something’s not right. Pay attention.”

If you ignore that message — or worse, try to “shut it up” with random stretches or unqualified advice — you’re not fixing the issue, you’re just masking it.

The more you push through it with the wrong approach, the more compensations your body creates. And over time, those compensations can lead to more serious injury, chronic pain, leading to time away from the workouts and activities that keep you energized.

Google Won’t Follow Up With You — But I Will

One of the most overlooked benefits of professional physical therapy care is accountability.

When you rely on Google, there’s no one checking in . There’s no feedback loop. No adjustments when things change. No encouragement when progress slows.

When you work with me you get a dedicated expert  – because it’s a relationship, not a search result.

Your Time Is Too Valuable To Waste On Guessing

I don’t guess. I professionally, conscientiously assess and evaluate.

I’ll help you get back to your life, stronger than before.

With a complimentary, no charge discovery session, I’ll listen, answer your questions and guide you in determining if functional exercise, manual therapy, laser or micro current is the right solution to help you get back to doing what you enjoy — pain-free.

Your health deserves more than impersonal search results.

Let us help you today!   Phone 208-309-0281