How Often Should You Go to Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a vital part of the healing process for many injuries. You should plan on making an appointment with a physical therapist if you have been injured as soon as possible. If you have been struggling with an ongoing issue, you should also plan on making regular appointments.

Read on to understand how to make the most of your physical therapy by Phoenix appointments and how often you should schedule them.

What Happens During Physical Therapy?

Therapy is a medical treatment that helps people recover from injuries and manage chronic conditions. During physical therapy, patients work with therapists to regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Physical therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including back pain, arthritis, stroke recovery, and more.

Our Wichita patients typically visit a physical therapist one to three times per week, depending on the severity of their condition. During each visit, patients will participate in exercises and activities designed to improve their overall condition. Most patients see improvements after just a few weeks of therapy from Wichita’s Physical Therapy by Phoenix.

What Are the Types of Physical Therapy?

• Pre- and Post-Operative Therapy – If you have a pending surgery, your doctor will likely recommend that you begin physical therapy before the procedure. It can help to improve your range of motion and muscle strength. It can also help reduce swelling and pain after the surgery. Post-operative therapy is also essential. It can regain your strength and range of motion. You may have to go for a minimum of three weekly sessions for the first six weeks. After that, you will probably be able to reduce the number of visits.

• Orthopedic and Neurological Conditions – These include Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy. You will need to go to physical therapy for these conditions for the rest of your life. You will probably need to go to therapy sessions more frequently in the beginning, and then you may be able to space them out more as you improve. Your Wichita physical therapist will work with you to devise a schedule that works for you.

• Chronic Pain – Chronic pain may happen due to an injury, but it can also develop over time due to arthritis. You may have to attend weekly sessions to keep the pain at bay and improve your quality of life. It depends on the pain. For example, pain in the early stages of arthritis may only require you to come in a few times a month.

Physical therapy can help improve your chronic pain by:

• Reducing inflammation
• Improving range of motion
• Stretching and strengthening muscles
• Increasing blood flow
• Releasing endorphins, which are natural painkillers

• Accident or Injury – If you’ve been in a severe accident or suffered an injury, you may need to attend physical therapy several times a week. It is especially true if you’ve broken a bone or tore a ligament.

Physical therapy can help improve your pain and range of motion by:

• Using heat or cold to reduce inflammation
• Using electrical stimulation to reduce pain
• Stretching and strengthening muscles
• Improving range of motion

If you want the best pain management treatment, call Physical Therapy by Phoenix. We will help you get your life back on track.