Physical therapists can help you avoid the need for, and the costs and risks of, surgery. Physical therapists help people manage pain and improve movement problems. Some pain and movement problems can become chronic and lead to surgery. Physical therapy helps to reduce the symptoms of many chronic diseases and conditions. It also can keep many problems from getting worse.
Research shows that physical therapy is as effective as surgery for some conditions, including:
Meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis
Rotator cuff tears
Spinal stenosis
Degenerative disk disease
Before you have surgery, try physical therapy. In some cases, surgery cannot be avoided.