17 Jun Is Physical Therapy as Effective as Surgery

With the numerous advances and improvements being made in the medical world, surgery is becoming a common way for people to treat and fix their injuries. Because of this, people are quick to choose surgery over other options, such as physical therapy.

Although surgery is a more standard choice (sometimes the only option for certain injuries), physical therapy can be equally as effective in treating injuries.

Several studies have been done to show that physical therapy is a reasonable alternative to surgery. In 2013, a study was done to show that physical therapy was an effective treatment for patients suffering from osteoarthritis and meniscal tears. Patients were randomly assigned to either undergo surgery or standardized physical therapy. After six to twelve months, those who were treated by physical therapy showed similar improvements in functional status and pain as those who underwent surgery. Because there were no differences in the results of these two groups, physical therapy was shown to be an equally effective alternative to surgery. Another study in 2015 showed that physical therapy was just as effective as surgery in treating lumbar spinal stenosis, a lower back condition. Of a group of 169 participants, 87 were assigned to surgery and 82 to physical therapy. After two years, both groups saw similar reduction in pain and other symptoms, leading head researcher Anthony Delitto to conclude that “Physical therapy should be fully considered as an equally effective, less risky, and much less costly first treatment option in patients who are candidates for decompression surgery.

Lake Country Physical Therapy & Sportscare PC offers the very best physical therapy in Ontario County. We treat all your wants and needs with our trusted and experienced Physical Therapists and staff. To begin to feel pain and stress free, start your Physical Therapy journey today and schedule your evaluation by calling (585) 396-1400.

In general, there are many benefits to doing physical therapy as well. Physical therapy can help improve your ability to move freely without discomfort and pain as well as reduce the risk of injuries. Physical therapy can also improve a person’s balance and prevent him or her from falling. Another point to consider is that physical therapy is tailored to meet every person’s individualized needs; physical therapists can monitor each individual’s progress as well as design a program to correct improper habits and movement patterns.
So if you are considering surgery to treat an injury, don’t forget that physical therapy can also be a beneficial and effective option instead!