21/01/2026
Your scan is not your future.
Imaging is a valuable tool, but it is often misunderstood.
MRI and X ray findings are frequently treated as direct explanations for pain when the research shows a far more complex picture.
Many people with significant imaging findings are pain free.
Others with normal scans experience ongoing pain.
Pain is not simply a tissue issue.
It is a protective output influenced by movement, stress, sleep, beliefs, confidence, and prior experiences.
At Northwest Physiotherapy, we regularly support people who were told they were “too damaged” to return to meaningful movement and activity without any change in their imaging.
The difference is education, graded movement exposure, nervous system regulation, and rebuilding trust in the body.
A scan is information.
It is not a prediction of your future.