Physical Therapy

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy (PT) is a healthcare profession focused on helping people improve movement, manage pain, and restore function. For chronic pain, physical therapists use exercise, manual therapy, education, and other techniques to help reduce pain and improve quality of life. PT is recommended as first-line treatment for many chronic pain conditions.¹

Why PT for Chronic Pain²

Exercise is among most effective pain treatments
Addresses physical deconditioning
Corrects movement patterns
Reduces fear of movement
Empowers self-management
Low risk of side effects

What PTs Do

Assessment

Evaluate movement and function
Identify impairments
Assess strength, flexibility, posture
Understand your goals

Treatment Approaches³

Therapeutic exercise
Manual therapy
Education about pain
Modalities (heat, ice, TENS)
Movement retraining
Home exercise programs

Types of Physical Therapy

Orthopedic (musculoskeletal)
Neurological
Pelvic floor
Aquatic therapy
Vestibular
Sports rehabilitation

What to Expect

Initial evaluation (45-60 minutes)
Follow-up sessions (30-60 minutes)
Frequency varies (1-3x/week common)
Duration depends on condition
Home exercises assigned

Finding a Good PT

Look for experience with your condition
Ask about treatment approach
Certified specialists available (OCS, etc.)
Should focus on active treatments
Good communication important

Maximizing Benefits

Do your home exercises
Communicate about pain levels
Ask questions
Be patient—progress takes time
Provide feedback on what's working

When PT May Not Help

If only using passive treatments
If not doing home exercises
If PT isn't addressing your specific issues
May need different PT or approach

References

Geneen LJ, Moore RA, Clarke C, et al. Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;4:CD011279.
Booth J, Moseley GL, Schiltenwolf M, et al. Exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain: a biopsychosocial approach. Musculoskelet Care. 2017;15(4):413-421.
O'Sullivan P, Caneiro JP, O'Sullivan K, et al. Back to basics: 10 facts every person should know about back pain. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(12):698-699.