How long should I give the physical therapy exercises before I give up? It all seems geared toward the elderly and my back isn’t getting better.

According to the Mayo Clinic, roughly 3 million people in the U.S. are affected with back pain. It is a very common complaint amongst not only older adults, but also with working professionals and younger population. Evidence in research shows that most people with acute low back pain regain mobility quickly within the first 2-4 weeks and return to full function in 8-12 weeks. If no improvements are made in 12 weeks of physical therapy, it is recommended that you return to your primary doctor and see if there are other contributing factors.

Open communication is key in healthcare so if you are not obtaining the results you desire, be open with your practitioner(s) and see if they can take a new approach or educate you on what is needed. In many cases the patient for various reasons does not keep up with their part or the PT does not do an effective job of conveying the prognosis, process, etc.

If you are feeling stuck, feel free to give BreakThrough a call or complete the “Schedule A Visit” form online. We provide help and guidance for people worldwide everyday to overcome low back and many other pains.

Lee Kole, PT

Founder of BreakThrough Physical Therapy. Practicing since 1998 and running a one-on-one clinic since 2004: one therapist, one patient, every session.

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