Physical therapy is a conservative approach that is effective in reducing the need for risky surgeries and helping people get back to function faster after an injury does occur.

In general, the expected recovery is to address the injured tissues, restore range of motion, then gradually strengthen to return to full function. The timeline depends on the severity of the injury as well as the chronicity of symptoms. Tissues have plasticity – meaning they are capable of changing. There is also neuroplasticity, which refers to changes in the nervous system. These changes can be both positive and negative. Positive because we are capable of healing, negative because we adapt quickly to pain and injury with compensatory mechanisms. The longer we compensate, the longer it takes to recover – not just with atrophy and decreased strength, but also with fascial remodeling and our brain’s ability to activate the correct muscles!  

Oklahoma allows 30 days of direct access to physical therapy, meaning a doctor’s referral is not needed for an initial evaluation and treatment. This eliminates the waiting period of trying to get in to see your doctor, then waiting again to get in to see a physical therapist.