RionLe Meijer

October 7, 2016
Research Section
Physical therapy is the recovery of deformities, injuries, and illnesses that limits a
persons movement by method of physical means. Providing help for different patients of all
ages, often being children with movement disorders, young athletes, and the elderly, physical
therapy has proven to be very beneficial in many cases, if not all. It seems to be a very important
and vital aspect in the medical field for patient recovery. And there are growing amounts of
research showing that it may even be better than surgery in several cases.
Therapeutic exercise [is] beneficial for patients across broad areas of physiotherapy
practice (Taylor, Dodd, Shields, and Bruder). Whether patients suffer from musculoskeletal,
neurological, or other type of disorder, research has shown that physical therapy is a very
powerful tool when relieving or reducing pain, improving mobility, healing from injuries,
recovering from a stroke, avoiding surgery, preventing future injuries, improving balance, and
managing specific conditions, including those that come with old age. Furthermore, research has
found that physical therapy is at its most effective when using custom plans for individuals and
done with relatively high intensity. The activities the patient does with the physical therapist is
all about their well being and to make sure they are well taken care of for the future. For
example, to improve mobility, patients may create their own customizable plan with their
physical therapist taking their best interests and favorite hobbies in mind. The plan may include
simple stretches, strengthening exercises, ultrasound therapy, and the use of assistive devices
such as canes or crutches. Overall health and well being of the patient will be greatly improved
without doing anything drastic or life-changing. This may even make surgery unnecessary if the

therapy proves to work well (Gilbert, Smidt, de Vet, Bouter, Dekker, Taylor, Dodd, Shields, and
Bruder).
Furthermore, research has been done concluding that physical therapy can often be better
than surgery in several different ways. Physical therapy worked well in cases of shoulder
dislocation, spinal stenosis, torn meniscuses, arthritis in the knee, and possibly more. It made
equal if not better results, and in some cases, faster. Not to mention the cost and the huge risk
coming with surgery being avoided. While surgery is around the tens of thousands, physical
therapy is approximately one to two thousand dollars for twelve sessions with a physical
therapist to assist. In terms of risk with surgery, there is a future complication rate of 15% with
many of them being life-threatening. The results from several tests showed that physical therapy
is better long-term, especially for older patients. Their treatment plans included simple exercises
specialized for them. Data was observed from the test groups after a few years and their lifestyle
continued to thrive without as much problems or complications as patients who took surgery
rather than PT. These results have since been used to help guide patients and doctors in choosing
a recovery plan. The study have also noticed that people are not using nonsurgical techniques as
much as they should to get treated. Whether it is because they underestimated its effectiveness,
just wasnt aware of it, or do not like the idea of exercising for several months, it is certain, and
obvious, that physical therapy is a powerful first option for various conditions while surgery
should be left to a last resort (LeWine et al.).

Works Cited
Smidt, Nynke. De Vet, Henrica. Bouter, Lex. Dekker, Joost. Effectiveness of exercise therapy: A
best-evidence summary of systematic reviews. 2011,
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0004951405700362)
Taylor, Nicholas. Dodd, Karen. Shields, Nora. Bruder, Andrea. Therapeutic exercise in
physiotherapy practice is beneficial: a summary of systematic reviews 20022005. 2011,
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0004951407700570?np=y)
Gilbert, Ben. 10 Reasons Why Physical Therapy is Beneficial. 2015,
(http://www.burke.org/blog/2015/10/10-reasons-why-physical-therapy-is-beneficial/58)
LeWine, Howard. Physical Therapy as Good as Surgery and Less Risky in One Type of Lower
Back Pain. 2015, (http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/physical-therapy-as-good-as-surgeryand-less-risky-for-one-type-of-lower-back-pain-201504097863).
Physical Therapy Achieves Faster Outcomes Than Surgery for Common Type of Shoulder
Dislocation. 2015, (http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2015/10/26/ShoulderDislocation/)

Physical Therapys Effects Equal to Surgery for Spinal Stenosis Symptoms. 2015,
(http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2015/4/7/StenosisPTvsSurgery/).
Study Finds Physical Therapy Just as Effective as Surgery in Patients with a Torn Meniscus and
Arthritis of the Knee. 2013, (http://www.apta.org/Media/Release/Consumer/2013/3/21/).
Physical Therapy Equal to Surgery for Spinal Stenosis.
(http://www.moveforwardpt.com/didyouknow/detail.aspx?cid=457c02af-e7ca-4515-9d98d51c9a5805d1)

Mozes, Alan. Physical Therapy Equals Surgery for Some Back Pain." 2015,
(http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20150407/physical-therapy-equals-surgery-for-certainlower-back-pain-study-says)
Labbe, Colleen. Physical Therapy to Treat Torn Meniscus Comparable to Surgery for Many
Patients. 2013,
(http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2013/pt_surgery_meniscu
s.asp)
Physical therapy may be more effective, safer for your patients than surgery. 2015,
(https://www.aureusmedical.com/blog/2015/10/16/physical-therapy-may-be-more-effectivesafer-for-your-patients-than-surgery/)