People value convenience, sometimes too much so at times. For example, online shopping has become more mainstream than in-store purchases simply because you can do it at all hours of the day when it is convenient to you. This logic has spilled over into other aspects of our lives, and in recent years we’ve found that more people were asking us if they really needed to come into a physical therapist’s office or if they could just get by with some exercises they found online.
We understand that googling “Physical therapy exercises for a torn labrum” can provide you with a myriad of exercise options to help rehab your injury, but does this convenience outweigh the benefits you receive from meeting with a physical therapist in person? In our opinion, it’s not even close.
The Benefits Of A PT Versus An Online Therapy Routine
There are a number of reasons why visiting a physical therapist for your rehab sessions is the better route to choose compared to following an online recommendation. Here’s why:
- Personalized – Not only will the physical therapy routine be personalized based on your individual injury and functional assessment, but it will also be tailored to your specific injury. Imagine you’re dealing with a partial PCL tear or specific problems caused by a frozen shoulder. An online guide can provide general therapy techniques for these injuries, but they won’t be able to take into account your capabilities and limitations when developing a specific care routine. A personalized program can provide so much more benefit than a general range of exercise for a certain condition.
- Adjustments – When you’re going through an online routine, it can be tough to know when to increase or adjust your repetitions or exercise level. When you meet with a physical therapist, they’ll perform assessments every time you’re in the office and adjust your therapy program based on your progress or setbacks to ensure you continue to make strides in your rehab.
- Answer Your Questions – Even if you dive into the comments section of an online PT program, it’s unlikely you’ll find the answer to your specific question. If you’re working with a physical therapist in house, they’ll be able to answer all of your questions and give you the confidence you need moving forward.
- Ensure Exercises Are Performed Correctly – A lot of people assume they are doing an exercise correctly, but without a second set of eyes on them while they perform them, it can be tough for an individual to perform an accurate self assessment. You may think you’re squatting just fine, but we can see how one knee is compensating more than the other and the corrections that need to be made so that you get the most out of the exercises. We’re not just here to help develop a therapy routine, we’re here to help guide you through it so you can have the best healing possible.
- Equipment – A lot of online therapy programs just provide you with exercises that are available with equipment that you might find around your home, like chair or wall-based exercises. At our clinic, we have a wide range of equipment and machines that can help you perform exercises and movements that would be impossible at home. This equipment, along with our biomechanical feedback machines allow us to take your rehab to the next level and improve functional outcomes.
We could go on and on, but we think we’ve proved our point. When it comes to your health and recovery after an injury, good enough just doesn’t cut it, and that’s what you’ll get with a generalized online routine. Instead, sync up with a physical therapist at their clinic and get the most out of your rehab. For more information or to set up that first appointment, reach out to OrthoRehab Specialists today.
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