Health Benefits Of Physical Therapy

Helps Patients Avoid Surgery

Physical therapy can help some patients avoid surgery, and even if patients do need surgery eventually, doing physical therapy beforehand can sometimes improve the efficacy of the surgery. The role physical therapy plays in a patient's surgery or lack thereof will vary depending on their circumstances. Some individuals who suffer from lower back, knee, and shoulder pain can avoid surgery through physical therapy. If patients have a small to medium-sized rotator cuff tear, a physical therapy regimen might render surgery unnecessary. Physical therapy has also been proven effective enough for arthritic knees that many patients may not need surgery. In cases where the arthritis is degenerative, physical therapy may prolong the amount of time before surgery becomes necessary. Meniscal tears in the knee can also be improved with physical therapy, provided the tear doesn't cause catching or locking in the knee. Physical therapy can also be used to manage spinal stenosis to avoid surgery or prolong the time before surgery.