One of the common questions a physical therapist will answer is: “how long should I do home exercises after finishing PT?” This is a great question and is generally specific to an individual patient’s needs. For example, a 19-year-old athlete with a rotator cuff surgery will have drastically different limitations and needs than a 69-year-old with a rotator cuff surgery. That being said there are some general guidelines a physical therapist will consider when answering this question
General GuidelinesA general rule of thumb is that complete post-surgical exercise routines typically will last at least six months, and often significantly longer. The older an individual having surgery, the more likely they will need to do upwards of 12+ months of rehabilitation exercises. Take the example of the 19-year-old and 69-year-old rotator cuff repairs above. The 19-year-old may be back to playing baseball within ten months post-op, having achieved full range-of-motion and strength. At ten months the 69-year-old may still be 15% shy of their full overhead motion with notable weakness when reaching overhead. The 69-year-old may need to continue their shoulder exercises for 18 to 24 months in total to achieve their full potential. Realistic and AchievableOne of the most important factors to consider when making a long-term exercise plan--whether PT related or not--is that it needs to be realistic and achievable. I know I can’t tell a patient they will need to do seven-day-a-week exercises for the rest of their lives; it’ll never happen! I tend to explain to patients that muscle strengthening happens effectively with as little as two resistance workouts per week and that strength maintenance can occur with only one workout a week. Based on these guidelines, I help the patient to determine what is a reasonable home exercise program moving out of PT. For the 69-year-old rotator cuff repair patient, they could continue one-day-a-week exercises for 15 minutes or they may opt to continue a five-day-a-week program, depending on their goals and motivation. Like most questions a PT gets asked, this question does not have a one-size-fits-all answer. Certain injuries will heal and a patient will be 100% better within a few months requiring no further exercise regimen. Some surgeries or large injuries will require six plus months of rehab exercises. Other injuries--my own low back pain included--can be nagging and need addressing weekly or as needed during a flare up. Speak to your physical therapist if you need clarity on your home exercise program and how long to continue it after discharge from PT. Author
7 Comments
Rebecca Ulmer
11/16/2020 04:40:23 pm
Though exercise is usually my answer to many things in my life, realistic guidelines are good to hear! I tend to over do, but am thankful for all the suggestions.
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11/24/2020 05:16:34 am
Thanks for letting me know that typical exercises after surgery take about 6 months. This information will be useful to my brother, who just underwent a knee replacement surgery last week. I guess it's time for me to look for physical therapy clinics that offer telehealth services.
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Michele Mahmood
12/2/2020 10:38:49 am
We're glad we could help with some general recommendations! Altitude offers telehealth services for anyone in the state of Colorado if that's helpful :).
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1/27/2021 04:04:52 pm
I had no idea that forever exercises can be suggested by a therapist. That would honestly drive me crazy. But, I understand that it is worth it so that my body works properly.
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Eric Hanyak PT
2/3/2021 07:18:16 pm
Hi Chris,thanks for your comment. I think many patients would agree that "forever" seems a little crazy. I try to make the forever exercise idea as reasonable as possible so patients don't find themselves doing PT exercises seven days a week. Often these forever exercises can be done as little as 1-2x/week for a few minutes to maintain gains. Also, patients can always try weaning from exercise regimens and then coming back to it as needed with the minimum dosage required to feel good.
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4/5/2021 10:24:31 pm
It is wonderful that this post underlined that one of many benefits of hiring a physical therapist is that they will be able to guide us on the proper exercises and forms. My wife mentioned that she has excruciating backaches. I will definitely recommend her to seek a physical therapist.
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AuthorsChristina Bateman, PT, DPT |