Does Physical Therapy Work?

Physical therapy (PT) is a type of rehabilitation medicine that seeks to prevent, manage or treat a physical injury or dysfunction. Physical therapy is often used alongside other medical treatments, although it can also be used as a standalone therapy to restore a patient to pre-injury condition. How does physical therapy work? It involves exercises, stretches and movements to restore physical functionality.¹

Does physical therapy work for patients? The effectiveness of PT is backed by science. Medical associations and scientific studies both assert that it can be effective at rehabilitating sports injuries, managing pain, reducing complications of pelvic floor dysfunction and accelerating recovery from surgery, among other benefits.²

In This Article: 

• Benefits of Physical Therapy 
• When Physical Therapy May Be Ineffective 
• Effective Physical Therapy Modalities 
• What Can a Physical Therapist Do?  
• Earn Your Exercise Science Degree at GCU 

What does a physical therapist do, exactly? Patients may be referred to a PT provider for many reasons. For example, PT professionals can treat medical issues such as:^1,2 

• Sports injuries 
• Stroke 
• Concussions 
• Hip, knee, neck or back pain 
• Arthritis 
• Pelvic floor dysfunction

As diverse as these issues are, they have one thing in common — people recovering from any of them can benefit from physical therapy. A physical therapist uses a variety of treatment modalities to manage pain, improve movement and increase strength and flexibility.¹

PT has been shown to help patients recover better and more quickly from surgery.^1,2 Even if a condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, is incurable, physical therapy can help significantly by reducing pain and improving function.⁴ This may allow patients to get through their daily activities with minimal strain.

Although science backs the effectiveness and benefits of physical therapy, it might not always work for every patient. When PT patients fail to demonstrate progress, it may be because the patient isn't adhering well to the treatment recommendations. For example, they may not be following their exercise, stretching and movement plan at home between PT sessions. Physical therapy has been shown to be beneficial and successful by research, however not all patients will benefit from it. It's possible that PT patients aren't following therapy guidelines to the letter when they don't show improvement. In between PT appointments, for instance, they might not be adhering to their home exercise, stretching, and movement regimen.

Other possible reasons PT may not work include: 

• Failure to keep appointments consistently 
• Incompatibility between physical therapist and patient (e.g., the patient doesn’t “buy into” the PT’s recommendations) 
• Unreasonable expectations

Recovery doesn’t always mean popping a pill — it may take hard work. When patients are committed to working toward their recovery, physical therapy can help them improve strength, manage pain, increase flexibility and maintain mobility.¹

A physical therapy provider will first do a thorough assessment of a patient’s medical issues, relying on medical records from the patient’s primary care doctor and other providers. The PT provider will also observe how the patient moves and ask questions about the patient’s physical functioning and limitations. A physical therapist can use passive or active stretches and exercises to improve flexibility, strength and range of motion.

Then, the PT provider will develop a results-oriented treatment plan that may include any of the following treatment modalities: 

• Cryotherapy: Cold packs are typically used within the first two to three days of an injury to decrease inflammation and manage pain. 
• Heat therapy: After applying cryotherapy, the PT provider may use heat therapy to further reduce pain, relax muscle tension and support healing. 
• Ultrasound: Ultrasound machines are not just for diagnostic purposes — they can also help relax tight muscles and enhance the healing process. 
• Phonophoresis: This treatment combines a medicated gel with ultrasound therapy. 
• TENS: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation uses electrical impulses to reduce pain.

Does physical therapy work? It absolutely can, and the proof is in its many success stories. As an example, consider the story of Jose Miguel Cabrera, an accomplished batter in Major League Baseball. During his 2017 season, Cabrera’s batting average mystified fans by taking a nosedive.³

Late in the season, Cabrera was diagnosed with two herniated discs. The injury was caused by the extreme rotational force applied to the spine every time the batter took a swing.³

Cabrera decided not to get an epidural injection for the pain. “I don't want to get an injection because I don't want to put a Band-Aid on my injury," he said.

Instead, he chose to heal it through physical therapy. He opted for a six-week program of corrective stretches, exercises and other treatment modalities from his physical therapist. After Cabrera returned to the league the following season, his skyrocketing batting average proved that his physical therapy program had indeed worked.³

Physical therapy is a delicate, often long-term process that promotes recovery in patients with a wide range of injuries. Cabrera’s story is just one story that speaks to the power of physical therapy and the hard-working professionals who provide it.

If you are passionate about helping others improve their well-being through physical therapy, consider exploring pre-physical therapy opportunities at Grand Canyon University. The Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy can help prepare you to work toward applying for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program by teaching you foundational knowledge in human anatomy, kinesiology, exercise physiology and other key topics. Complete the form on this page to learn more.