When it comes to treating back pain, physical therapy is often the go-to solution. But how long does it take for physical therapy to work? On average, patients can expect to receive physical therapy for six to eight weeks as strength and mobility improve with each session. However, the exact duration of physical therapy depends on the severity of the injury and the patient's rate of healing. In most cases, it takes six to eight weeks for soft tissue to heal, so a typical physical therapy program will last about that long.
But since physical therapy is designed to help you fully recover and resume your normal activities, it's important to set goals instead of setting a date for completing treatment. With the help of your physical therapist, you'll stay focused no matter how long it takes to reach your goals. Your physical therapist will assess your pain and work hard to help you regain full control of the injured body part. They'll also teach you proper body posture techniques for sitting, standing, and lifting objects that reduce the chance of suffering back strains or injuries.
In a typical physical therapy session, you'll be asked to perform exercises that target the affected area and help you build strength and flexibility. For low back pain, the most common physical therapy schedule is four weeks, after which patients can re-evaluate their pain levels and decide if they want to pursue other options. The recovery time for these injuries varies widely, so physical therapy programs can last two to eight weeks. Similarly, the duration of physical therapy for an ankle sprain depends largely on the extent of the sprain. In addition to helping you recover from an injury or illness, physical therapy can also help reduce your dependence on opioids.
According to a research article co-authored by George, “early physical therapy could cause fewer pain patients to become dependent on opioids”. Physical therapists can also help stroke patients recover by helping them overcome the physical effects of a stroke. The job of a physical therapist is to assist you in the recovery process by helping you regain full mobility in the injured body part and by reducing blood flow restriction. Ultimately, how long it takes for physical therapy to work depends on several factors such as the severity of the injury and your rate of healing.
