Physical therapy is arguably the single best treatment modality for a variety of conditions to help an individual recover quickly following an injury or surgery. But like a lot of things in life, you can have too much of a good thing. Overdoing it can be just as harmful as skipping required sessions, so it’s important that you find the right balance when it comes to how often you pursue physical therapy.
So how often should you perform your physical therapy exercises to get the maximum benefit? We answer that question and more in today’s blog.
How Often Should I Be Doing My Physical Therapy Exercises?
As you can probably guess, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the above question, but that’s because every patient deserves an individual assessment. A patient recovering after a stroke or an elective surgery is going to have different care recommendations than a soccer player who tore their ACL. So if you came to this blog for an exact answer, you’re going to be disappointed.
That’s why it’s so important to sync up with a physical therapist who will provide a comprehensive analysis of your abilities and set you up with a personalized care plan. They’ll be able to figure out the exact schedule you’ll want to pursue for maximum benefit. Some patients may head to the clinic once a week and perform home-based exercises every other day, whereas others will need more or less of each.
It’s also worth noting that your PT schedule will likely change as you progress through your rehab. As you get stronger and healthier, your physical therapist will begin changing your routine to challenge you more. This is a good thing, because it means you’re making progress and able to take on more of a challenge. With this, it’s likely that your in-clinic or home-based schedule will change. Your therapist may have you perform intense exercises with more days off, or they may add light exercises in between intense sessions. Again, this will vary by patient and will be dependent on their needs.
So while there isn’t an exact answer to the question, the best piece of advice we can give in terms of how often you should perform your physical therapy exercises is to listen to the physical therapist overseeing your program. They’ll give advice tailored to your specific situation, so anything they recommend will take precedence over general advice you’ll find online.
It’s also important to remember that you should be asking questions and having two-way conversations with your physical therapist. If you feel like your routine is too strenuous or you think you can take on more, let them know. They’ll be happy to adjust your schedule as they see fit. Talk to them about your goals and see if a schedule can be developed with these goals in mind.
Odds are you can expect to perform your physical therapy exercises at least a few times per week, but your PT will give you an exact schedule. If you want to connect with a physical therapist who can set you up with the perfect schedule based on your needs, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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