Most of Nesser’s sessions are about 45 minutes to an hour — enough time for rest between activities and conversation. “People improve through having a sense of community,” he says, so he keeps that in mind when designing sessions. “You’ll come in, do a few stretches to warm up, and then we start doing things that are more muscle-specific.” People may start sitting on the table, but he’ll try to get them on their feet, if possible. “I like to get people out into the gym doing more functional stuff,” he says. Depending on the patient’s needs, he usually ends the session with heat or ice. “I like to give them a moment to just sit there, process the session, and ask questions.” Then he gives them a home exercise program to follow until the next session. He usually sees patients for about 4-6 weeks. “That’s how long it takes for lasting strength to build,” he says. Some patients he may only see a few times; others he sees for much longer. The best marker for when therapy is over is whether the patient has met their goals. “If I never see you again, it’s a great thing!” he jokes. Learn more about how to prepare for a physical therapy session.