Rub Some Dirt On It

A common phrase often used as a metaphor to "suck it up", "rub some dirt on it" has recently been considered a no-no in the medical world.

I understand the need for caution as well as the potential ramifications and liability of neglect, but I think in some cases, telling someone to rest, take it easy, or not do ____, might actually be iatrogenic.

Take for example the athlete who comes to the training room on a daily basis complaining of this niggle and that owie. Or the weekend warrior - who's "injury" correlates very little with pain that's reportedly getting worse as the days go by. Coincidentally, this same warrior has been receiving "treatment" by the therapist down the street for the last 8 months.
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What I'm trying to get at is that sometimes we simply need to provide reassurance that they're actually going to be okay. I'm not literally suggesting that we tell our patients and athletes to "rub some dirt on it", but what I am advocating for is the ability to decipher whether or not one's clinical presentation is actually a reflection of their lack of confidence.  Because pain itself is a societal construct:

From "The Birth of the Clinic" - Michel Foucault

And believe me, you don't always have to put your hands on someone to provide a therapeutic intervention.