Red Flag! It’s Time For Physical Therapy
By: Kelsie Mazur, DPT
Quick Red Flags to Watch For:
You grunt every time you stand up
Your shoulder clicks more than your keyboard
You haven’t touched your toes since high school
You wake up sore…..even if you didn’t work out
You’re skipping exercises because of pain
You’ve got a “slight” limp you pretend not to notice
Your neck or upper back hurts the longer you scroll
You think pain is just part of getting older
Some days your body feels great, other days it betrays you
You have radiating pain down your leg (hello, possible sciatica)
Most people wait until they’re in serious pain before seeing a physical therapist, but your body usually gives you warning signs first. Clicking, stiffness, nerve symptoms, and movement avoidance are all subtle cues that something’s off. They might not be urgent right now, but they often snowball into bigger issues down the line. The good news? Physical therapy doesn’t just treat injuries. It helps optimize how you move, improve joint and tissue health, and get ahead of dysfunction before it becomes pain that limits your life or workouts.
PT is for You If You Want To…
Move without discomfort
Stay active without constantly modifying
Keep doing the things you love (sports, lifting, hiking, life)
Prevent injuries instead of chasing them
Bottom Line: Don’t Ignore the Signals
Whether it’s sciatica, cranky shoulders, or mystery stiffness, your body is smarter than you think. And PT is here to help you listen—and move better.