GBU S2-E31: What are the three types of patient's we see.... and which one are we failing???

Every physical therapist treats three types of patients.The post-surgical patient who needs structure and milestones.The acute injury patient who needs guidance, reassurance, and a plan.And the patient who is already getting better.In this episode, we argue that the third group—the patient who’s improving on their own—is the one physical therapy is quietly failing.Instead of recognizing progress and supporting momentum, too often we go searching for dysfunction, chasing impairments, or inventing problems that don’t actually matter. We pathologize normal healing. We complicate what should be simple. And in doing so, we shift the focus away from helping patients confidently move forward.This conversation challenges a core habit in modern physical therapy: finding what’s wrong instead of reinforcing what’s right. We explore why this happens, how it affects patient trust and outcomes, and what it would look like to truly help someone along their recovery journey—without overmedicalizing it.If you’ve ever wondered whether physical therapy sometimes does too much instead of just enough, this episode is for you.