Please note: This information is educational and not a substitute for medical advice. Check with your provider before starting a new exercise or self-care routine, especially if you have a heart or lung condition, recent surgery, osteoporosis, or are pregnant.
What it is
A physical therapist (PT) is a licensed movement specialist. For back, neck and joint pain, PT usually combines exercise, education, hands-on techniques and a home program you do between visits.
Many GSMC patients start physical therapy before or alongside other treatments. Your physician can recommend whether PT is a good next step.
How it may help
The American Physical Therapy Association explains that physical therapists design programs to reduce pain, improve movement and teach you how to manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups.[1]
Exercise therapy, which physical therapists often supervise, is recommended in guidelines for chronic low back pain. Your active participation in the home program is a big part of the result.[2][3]
Results vary from person to person. These approaches are meant to complement, not replace, the care plan from your provider.
Starter routine
1. Evaluation
The therapist asks about your pain, goals and daily activities, then checks posture, movement, strength and flexibility.
First visit, about 45–60 minutes
2. Your plan
Together you set goals, such as walking 20 minutes or sitting through a movie, and agree on how often to come in.
Often 1–3 visits a week
3. Treatment visits
Visits may include guided exercise, hands-on techniques, posture and lifting training and education about pain.
Each visit builds on the last
4. Home program
You get a short set of exercises to do at home. This is where much of the progress happens.
Most days, 10–20 minutes
Illustrations move gently between positions. If your device is set to reduce motion, they stay still.
Safety tips
- Bring a list of your medicines, past imaging and any questions.
- Wear comfortable clothes you can move in.
- Tell your therapist honestly how exercises feel, during and the day after.
- Check your insurance for visit limits or referral requirements; our staff can help with referrals.
Stop and call your provider if you notice:
- New weakness, numbness or tingling in a leg or arm, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs
- Loss of bladder or bowel control (call 911 or go to the emergency department)
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting
- Sharp pain that is clearly worse during or after the activity and does not settle within a day or two
- Fever, unexplained weight loss, or pain after a fall or injury
Mild soreness that fades within a day is common when starting something new. Sharp, spreading or worsening pain is not.
Watch and learn
Video: “Back Pain Tips from a Physical Therapist” from ChoosePT on YouTube. It loads from youtube-nocookie.com only when you press play. Shown for general education; GSMC did not produce it. Watch on YouTube
Video: “FAQ What is my responsibility in physical therapy” from ChoosePT on YouTube. It loads from youtube-nocookie.com only when you press play. Shown for general education; GSMC did not produce it. Watch on YouTube
Video: “HSS: Optimizing Spine Care with Physical Therapy” from Hospital for Special Surgery on YouTube. It loads from youtube-nocookie.com only when you press play. Shown for general education; GSMC did not produce it. Watch on YouTube
Captions: press the CC button in the video player to turn on captions. Some captions are generated automatically by YouTube and may contain errors.
Conditions this may help with
Sources
This information is educational and not a substitute for medical advice.