The answer is YES!
Physical therapy is a total body approach to your issue. Your physical therapist will not only look at your specific pain/problem, but will also dive into any underlying issues that may have caused it to begin with.
I won't bore you with a ton of excerpts from the numerous research articles that have been published on this very question, but I will paraphrase them and list the articles at the end of this post in case you want to do a little extra reading.
What does a physical therapist do?
Physical therapists are movement and anatomy experts. We have been through 3 years of intense in-class learning, hands-on learning, and clinical rotations to earn that title. This learning allows us to see things on a different level and in other ways than other healthcare practitioners. Like mentioned above, this total body approach allows PTs to expertly address any possible ailments that contribute to your symptoms and help your overall function improve.
Why do I need physical therapy?
Because a majority of injuries happen over time, or from "over use" and not from a specific act. These "over use" injuries are often the result of a movement problem, or an anatomical issue. These injuries can be quite painful. Some common examples are:
low back pain
neck pain
patellofemoral (knee) pain
shoulder impingement.
Studies have proven that physical therapy can be at least as effective (if not more effective) as steroid injections at resolving pain and have better long term outcomes for keeping you pain free. Physical therapy can also reduce the short-term and long-term need for opioid medications. Not only is physical therapy a healthier option compared to these medications, but a more cost-effective option as well.
Physical Therapy vs. Surgery
Using physical therapy as a first line treatment can also help you avoid surgery all together. Some injuries can be treated conservatively if treated properly. The worst case scenario with trying physical therapy first is a better outcome after surgery.
I've told many patients in this situation that we may be able to rehab their injury and avoid surgery, but if we can't, then they will be stronger and have better motion going into surgery. This directly correlates to better outcomes after surgery and typically an easier recovery.In the event you have had surgery, you're now in the outpatient orthopedic therapy wheel-house.
Physical therapists have more rehabilitation schooling than other disciplines and it shines through in all phases of recovery after surgery. From pain management to motion & strength recovery, to returning to daily activities, to returning to sport, we got you covered. Physical therapy can help you move better, sooner than trying to do it on your own. Once you are moving more normally, your recovery improves and your need for pain medications decreases. As you continue to progress, we can guide you through returning to activity safely and with more confidence. We only succeed when you do.
What services does Physical Therapy offer?
In an outpatient setting, PT offers:
post-surgical rehab
chronic/acute injury rehab
movement analysis
gait training
home exercise programs
hands on manual interventions
Other modalities such as dry needling or cupping
For athletes, from youth to professional, we can provide injury prevention programs, return to play programs, and in-season/off-season maintenance programs to keep you (or return you to) performing your best.
You don't have to wait until something is wrong to consult with a physical therapist. In the state of Texas a residency/fellowship trained therapist, like myself, can treat you for 15 consecutive business days without a physician referral. Non residency/fellowship trained therapists can treat for 10 days.
I hope I've been able to shed some light on the power of physical therapy. I may be biased, but I think it is a great profession that allows me to really help make a difference in your life. You don't have to live with pain. You don't have to stop doing the things you enjoy doing. You don't have to use the excuse that you're "just getting older" to explain away problems. To see the full range of services we provide here at Hubbard Functional Wellness, just click the link HERE.
Please feel free to reach out if you have other questions I can help with, if there is another topic you'd like me to address, or if you think I'm full of it and you want to set me straight. My email is on the website so I'm always available to you.
Thank you for your time! I hope you were informed and entertained!
Dr. Matt
PS: for those looking for the articles, here you go.
Deyle, Gail et al, Physical Therapy versus Glucocorticoid Injection for Osteoarthritis of the Knee, New England Jour Med. 2020, April 9, 382(15): 1420-29.
Sun, Eric, et al, Association of Early Physical Therapy With Long-term Opioid Use Among Opioid-Naive Patients With Musculoskeletal Pain, JAMA Network Open. 2018;1(8)
Haik, MN, et al, Effectiveness of physical therapy treatment of clearly defined subacromial pain: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials, British Journal Sports Med. 2016 Sep, 50(18): 1124-34
Burge, Elisabeth, et al, Cost-Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Only and of Usual Care for Various Health Conditions: Systematic Review, Phys Therapy. 2016 Jun;96(6):774-86
Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, César, et al, Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of Manual Physical Therapy Versus Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Evidence From a Randomized Clinical Trial, J Orthop Sports Phys Therapy. 2019 Feb;49(2):55-63
Delitto, Anthony, et al, Surgery versus nonsurgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized trial, Ann Intern Med. 2015 Apr 7;162(7):465-73
Frogner, Bianca, et al, Physical Therapy as the First Point of Care to Treat Low Back Pain: An Instrumental Variables Approach to Estimate Impact on Opioid Prescription, Health Care Utilization, and Costs,Health Serv Res. 2018 Dec;53(6):4629-4646
Beutler, Anthony, Musculoskeletal Therapies: Adjunctive Physical Therapy, FP Essent. 2018 Jul;470:16-20
Rhon, Daniel, et al, Comparison of Downstream Health Care Utilization, Costs, and Long-Term Opioid Use: Physical Therapist Management Versus Opioid Therapy Management After Arthroscopic Hip Surgery, Phys Ther. 2018 May 1;98(5):348-356
Calatayud, Joaquin, et al, High-intensity preoperative training improves physical and functional recovery in the early post-operative periods after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial, Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2017 Sep;25(9):2864-2872
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