Does Physical Therapy Work?
If your problem is pain, then yes, physical therapy works.
Benefits of PHYSICAL THERAPY
Relieves pain with NO Drugs, NO surgery, NO needles
Provides immediate and long term results
Lowers possibility of surgery
Leads to better sleep
Improves flexibility, mobility, and stability
Keeps you active and maximizes injury prevention
When physical therapy "doesn't work":
1. Failing to do your homework
Often a big part of recovery is a following a home exercise program. If you fail to complete the assigned exercises in between sessions, it will be a set back. Your homework is a physical therapist's "medicine", and your compliance is crucial to your overall progress.
2. Doing things on the "no-no" list
Your therapist will give you a list of things you should not be doing during your recovery. We know it is hard to rest (especially for athletes), but continuing to push your body can re-injure the area and may require more therapy.
3. Skipping Appointments
During your initial evaluation, the PT will tell you how many visits you need to complete each week. The frequency of treatment can be the difference between being in therapy for 3 weeks versus 6 weeks. A patient that comes once a week but was instructed to come 3 x/wk, will not recover as quickly.
4. Quitting Early
Life is busy, but you will only recover if you make yourself a priority. Often healing builds on itself, so you may not get the results you hope for if you terminate treatment prematurely.
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