Should You Try Physical Therapy Before Surgery?
By Dr. Shi Feng Lin
If you’re dealing with pain, injury, or limited mobility, you may be wondering: Should I try physical therapy before surgery?
As a physical therapist, I hear this question all the time — and it’s a very important one. In many cases, I believe that starting with conservative treatment like physical therapy can lead to better, safer outcomes than jumping straight into surgery.
Let me walk you through why that’s my approach, what I’ve seen with my own patients, and how you can make a more informed decision about your care.
Here’s a YouTube Video that you can watch encompassing all the contents below and for demonstration purposes:
Why You Should Try Physical Therapy Before Surgery
Physical therapists are trained to treat pain and improve function using movement, hands-on techniques, and targeted exercises to help people heal naturally. On the other hand, surgeons are trained to fix problems through surgical procedures. That doesn’t mean one approach is better than the other — it just means we approach problems differently.
We Physical Therapist, lean toward physical therapy before surgery because I’ve seen how powerful the body can be when given the right tools to recover. And unlike surgery, physical therapy doesn’t carry the same risks, recovery time, or side effects.
When Surgery Needs to Come Before Physical Therapy
Now, I’m not saying that surgery is never necessary. There are absolutely situations where it’s the right first step. If someone’s been in a car accident and has multiple fractures, for example, a surgeon needs to stabilize those injuries before I can begin any therapy.
In those cases, physical therapy comes after surgery to help restore strength and mobility. So yes, there’s a time and place for both — it’s all about the right timing and the right approach for your condition.
What Happens When You Skip Physical Therapy and Go Straight to Surgery
I once had a patient come in with knee pain. She had seen a surgeon who recommended a total hip replacement. She went through with the surgery — but her knee pain didn’t go away.
Why? Because the problem wasn’t in her hip — it was in her knee. That’s a perfect example of why I believe in trying physical therapy before surgery. Conservative care can often uncover the real root of the issue and help resolve it without the need for an invasive procedure.
Why Physical Therapy Before Surgery Makes Sense
Here’s why I tell my patients to try physical therapy first:
- It’s non-invasive and low-risk
- It helps relieve pain naturally
- It strengthens your body and improves mobility
- It may prevent or delay surgery altogether
- You can always choose surgery later — but once you’ve had surgery, you can’t undo it
In short, physical therapy gives your body a chance to do what it was designed to do — heal itself.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for a Second Opinion
If you’ve been told that surgery is your only option, I encourage you to get a second opinion. Find a provider who doesn’t have a financial interest in your decision — someone who can give you honest, unbiased guidance.That second opinion might just point you in a direction that avoids unnecessary surgery altogether.
Final Thoughts: Should you go for Physical Therapy First?
Yes — in most non-emergency cases, you should try physical therapy before surgery. I’d always rather exhaust my conservative options first. If physical therapy works (and it often does), you may avoid surgery altogether. And if it doesn’t, surgery will still be there as a backup plan.
I’m here to help you make that decision — with no pressure and no agenda, just honest care. At Empowerment Physical Therapy in Yonkers, we’re committed to helping you recover safely and effectively — whether that means therapy, referral, or simply honest advice.
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