Hey Reader

As humans, we’re wired to seek relief from suffering. We want a fix. An answer. A cure. And Fast!

As a physical therapist, people often come to me hoping I can “solve” or “fix” their problems right away.

I understand that. I want the same fix when something goes awry in my own body. But healing doesn't work that way. For me to claim I can "solve" someone's problem distorts my relationship with them.

Most musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are not infections that can be cured. They’re part of a complex, adaptive system that responds to load, stress, recovery, sleep, nutrition, beliefs, overuse and fear.

The system rarely needs a cure; rather, it needs mainentance.

Your body is less like a broken machine, despite how healthcare frames it, and is more like a garden.

The Garden Analogy

Even after the weeds (the symptoms or pain) are cleared, the soil (the body) still needs tending. The roots still need water and care as the seasons change.

With Insurance-based physical therapy, therapists are required to discharge a patient when they are no longer making progress or are functional enough to no longer need care, despite if their pain has improved or not. To “discharge” someone as though the work is complete can unintentionally suggest the body is fixed and immune to fluctuation.

But biology doesn’t work that way.

The promise of a cure feels... final, comforting, and clean.

I wish it were that simple. It’s not.

This train of thought can also create fragility, leading people to believe that if symptoms return, something has failed or they're broken.

A more honest framing is this: most musculoskeletal issues, just like your garden, require ongoing attention, especially if you want to remain active for decades.

This is the primary reason I choose not to take insurance. Insurance should not dictate what treatment you receive or for how long. Your maintenance and care is always needed, especially as your seasons change.

Your body needs stewardship: Load management. Strength training. Cardiovascular training. Novel movement. Fueling. Recovery. Periodic deloads. Self-awareness. Care.

Imagine a system that manages your care with you. One that doesn't have to be started over again every time you hurt or desire maintenance or change seasons.

What I Tell My Clients

I don’t promise cures or a quick fix. I promise an alliance to give them the tools they need to make themselves feel better. I promise to be there to help them and guide them as they need.

And my most consistent advice remains simple:

Take care of yourself; in order for the garden to thrive, it will always need work.

Not because something is broken, but because you’re alive.

And living systems require tending.
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Dr. Lizette Sunde, PT, CFL-1, OCS, CSCS Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist Level 1 & Level 2 Certified Gait Training Analyst Certified in Blood Flow Restriction Training SFMA Certified

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