Does Physical Therapy Hurt?  

Are you wondering, “Is physical therapy painful?” Or are you worried about beginning physical therapy because it might cause discomfort? Have you delayed treatment because of fear? 

While there can be some mild discomfort associated with physical therapy, it’s actually designed specifically to reduce pain. In fact, many people feel much better after a session and nearly everyone feels much better after a full course of treatment.  

While the idea of moving a painful body part after an injury, such as a car accident, fall, or surgery, can be intimidating, physical therapy is not only necessary to ensure the body heals properly but reduces pain, stiffness, and improves range of motion, balance, and strength.  

In every case, our expert physical therapists tailor treatment specifically to your needs, ensuring you never suffer. At ZK Physical Therapy & Chiropractic we ensure both our individual physical therapy sessions, as well as courses of treatment, are built specifically for your needs and never become overwhelming.  

What’s the Difference Between Normal Soreness and Harmful Pain?  

Think of the discomfort associated with physical therapy as the discomfort associated with a light workout — an afternoon in the garden, a trip in a rowboat, some cross-country skiing, or a bike ride on a sunny day.  

While there may be some mild soreness associated with these activities, overall, the benefits far outweigh the positives. Many people actually even seek this soreness out and believe it feels good.  

Normal soreness is mild and temporary. It likely feels like light muscle fatigue and should fade within a day or two. This is what physical therapy usually feels like.  

What physical therapy should not feel like is sharp or stabbing pain, pain that is severe or lasts for more than a few days, or pain that gets worse. Our physical therapists work very hard to make sure our sessions are safe and work to reduce these conditions rather than cause them.  

Feeling Uncomfortable? We’ll Adjust 

In every case, we are here to help. Because of the individualized treatment plans we make for all of our patients, because our physical therapists are so well trained and attentive, and because we want to improve your condition rather than worsen it, if you feel something isn’t working or something hurts, we’ll adjust the treatment plan.  

Treatment is always highly individualized. If a specific exercise isn’t working for you, we can switch it to another. We can also reduce the intensity of the exercise or limit its range of motion. Additionally, we can rest. There are many different options for how we can tailor treatment to you and your specific condition.  

One size never fits all at ZK Physical Therapy & Chiropractic.  

Communication Is Key at ZK Physical Therapy & Chiropractic 

Open communication is mandatory at ZK Physical Therapy & Chiropractic. Keeping communication open between you and your physical therapist, our team and your medical team, and anyone else that may benefit is one of our core principles.  

Communication helps ensure you’re never overwhelmed or in pain. Communication also ensures you understand why we’re performing the exercises we’re performing. Lastly, communication ensures that you notify your physical therapy team that something may be bothering you or what you wish to work on.  

Our individualized treatment ensures that therapy remains on track, helpful, and reduces pain rather than creating it. You can also be assured that therapy progresses gradually, based on each patient’s comfort and ability.  

Tips for Managing Soreness After Physical Therapy Sessions 

If you do become sore after a physical therapy session, there are a number of things you can do to reduce swelling and decrease healing time.  

If your pain is localized, you can apply an ice pack. However, note that you should never place ice directly on the skin, rather, wrap an ice pack or a plastic bag filled with ice in a towel before applying it to the affected area. A hot bath, particularly with Epsom salt, can work wonders as well.  

Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Advil and Tylenol, respectively), work very well on muscle aches.  

You should also drink plenty of water. Moving around helps as well, and taking a walk or doing light exercise, such as gardening (always with approval from your therapist), may help you heal faster and reduce pain.  

Become Pain Free at ZK Physical Therapy & Chiropractic 

Don’t fear a painful experience at ZK Physical Therapy & Chiropractic. On the contrary, we’re here to ensure you leave our treatment center healthier, stronger, and with less pain than you came in with.