Why Surgery Doesn’t Have to Be Your Only Option
Do you suffer from a painful orthopedic condition such as spinal stenosis or osteoarthritis? Many think surgical intervention is the only way they’ll ever find relief. However, you have another option: physical therapy at IMG Physical Therapy!
There’s no denying that surgery is a significant decision–and one that brings with it several risks, including blood clots, infections, and more. That’s why most doctors will encourage you to consider your options before booking a surgeon. For orthopedic concerns, that means looking to physical therapy.
In fact, physical therapy is actually a frontline treatment for several musculoskeletal conditions, from arthritis to ligament injuries, meaning you absolutely should try it first! Regular physical therapy treatments can help delay your surgery–and, in some cases, avoid it altogether.
If you feel you may be on the path to needing surgery, don’t hesitate to give our team a call. We’ll provide specific information about how our physical therapists can help you avoid or delay surgery.
Conditions That Respond Well to Physical Therapy
People opt for surgery to reduce pain and improve their functionality and mobility. The good news is that physical therapy can do exactly that for several different musculoskeletal conditions, including the following:
Osteoarthritis: People with severe osteoarthritis often resort to total joint replacements to address their symptoms. But if you can begin physical therapy early on, you can slow the condition’s progression.
Partial Ligament Tears: While a full ligament tear typically requires surgical intervention, less severe ligament injuries respond well to physical therapy.
Spinal Stenosis: This condition causes a painful narrowing in the spinal column, but you can manage your pain and mobility restrictions with gentle, targeted exercise.
Degenerative Disc Disease: A common side effect of aging, physical therapy is more beneficial for treating DDD than surgery in most cases.
Herniated Discs: This is another condition that physical therapy can generally resolve more easily than surgery.
Physical Therapy vs. Surgery: Here’s What We Can Offer
The exact details of your physical therapy treatment will vary based on several factors, including the condition or injury, your current health status, and your overall goals. Our team will work closely with you to develop a customized plan that meets your needs.
Generally speaking, we’ll begin with an extensive evaluation to help us get to the root of your discomfort. From there, we’ll pull from several different techniques to help you manage pain, eliminate restrictions in your range of motion, and improve your overall function.
At IMG Physical Therapy, our physical therapists tailor treatment plans based on your condition, health status, and goals. Here’s why physical therapy can be a smarter choice:
Lower Costs:
- Surgery involves hospital stays, anesthesia, and extended rehabilitation costs.
- Physical therapy offers effective care at a fraction of the cost. Studies estimate surgery can cost at least twice as much per year compared to physical therapy.
Less Downtime:
- Surgery requires weeks or months of recovery.
- Physical therapy promotes gradual progress without invasive procedures, helping you return to daily life faster.
Decreased Risks:
- Surgery comes with risks like blood clots, infections, and reliance on pain medications.
- Physical therapy provides non-invasive, drug-free pain relief with minimal risks.
Improved Long-Term Outcomes:
- Early physical therapy strengthens muscles, improves mobility, and supports joint health, leading to better long-term results.
Why Physical Therapy Saves You More Than Time
Beyond health benefits, physical therapy significantly reduces overall expenses. Here’s how:
Fewer Complications:
- No surgical risks mean fewer unexpected costs.
Shorter Recovery Periods:
- Time off work is reduced, lowering indirect expenses.
No Need for Post-Surgical Therapy:
- Since physical therapy is part of your primary care plan, you won’t need additional rehabilitation.
Stay Active for Better Results
Starting physical therapy early provides the best chance to avoid surgery. Our team will develop an exercise plan tailored to your lifestyle, helping you stay active and healthy. Consistent movement is essential, especially for degenerative conditions. If surgery becomes necessary later, your body will already be stronger, leading to a faster recovery.
If you have a painful musculoskeletal condition, don’t resort to surgery – visit IMG Physical Therapy first to find out if physical therapy might be a better solution for you. Call us today to get started.
Sources: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2705186, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27385156/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6252248/
Hello All,
I hope your summer is going well and you are able to get out and enjoy some of the warm weather, but also not get too overheated. Remember to hydrate and get in the shade or inside when you need to, don’t over do it. My family is enjoying the few weeks we get off in late July and August from sports, before everything ramps up again for my daughters’ sports schedules and we are back in the swing of soccer, softball and wrestling activities.
For many of you who enjoy sports and recreation activities, or just day to day activities, and have been in the situation where there is a nagging knee that clicks with every step, back pain that makes getting out of bed feel like a chore, or a shoulder that just won’t let you throw and ball, or work in the yard or garden anymore. When pain starts to take over your daily routine, it’s easy to feel stuck.
Often, when we finally decide to see a doctor, the “S-word” gets brought up, Surgery. While surgery is absolutely necessary and life-changing for certain severe conditions, it doesn’t have to be your only option—or even your first. For many common joint, muscle, and tendon issues, physical therapy is not just a detour on the road to the operating room; it is the destination.
There are several reasons why starting your recovery journey at IMG Physical Therapy might help you avoid a possible surgery down the road. First, many people assume surgery is a “quick fix” that guarantees 100% recovery, while physical therapy is just a temporary band-aid. In reality, medical studies consistently show that for common conditions like meniscus tears, rotator cuff issues, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease, targeted physical therapy yields long-term pain relief and functional recovery that matches surgical outcomes—without any of the surgical risks. Second, if you have knee pain and get surgery, the structural issue might be cleaned up, but why did it start hurting in the first place? Was it a weak hip? Poor ankle mobility? An uneven stride? A surgeon fixes the structure. A physical therapist fixes the movement. At IMG Physical Therapy, we look at your body holistically. We evaluate your balance, strength, and walking pattern to find the root cause of your pain. By strengthening the muscles around your joints and correcting your movement patterns, we prevent the wear and tear from coming back.
Sometimes, a joint is simply too damaged, and surgery is indeed the best path forward. If you end up needing an operation, starting PT beforehand (known as Pre-Hab) is one of the best things you can do. Entering surgery with stronger muscles, better joint mobility, and a healthier cardiovascular system drastically speeds up your post-op recovery. You’ll navigate your rehab faster, safer, and with less pain.
Before you schedule an MRI or book a surgical consultation, let’s see what your body is capable of achieving naturally. At our Fleetwood clinic, our highly trained physical therapists specialize in hands-on, personalized treatment plans designed to get you back to the activities you love—whether that’s running on the soccer field, working in the garden, or playing with your kids. Don’t let pain dictate your choices. Give us a call or visit our website to schedule your assessment today!
You Had Surgery–But You’re Still Struggling with Pain!
Many people mistakenly believe that surgery is a cure-all: that once they work through their rehabilitation, they’ll be back to their old selves. While this is true sometimes, other times, people find that they’re still struggling with pain or limited mobility after a surgical procedure.
If this has been your experience, then know that physical therapy may be the tool you need to find lasting relief. Just as the team at IMG Physical Therapy can help people avoid or delay surgery, we can also ensure your surgery provides you with a successful outcome. What can we do?
- Manual therapy helps with pain and range of motion restrictions. These hands-on techniques can gradually help restore your mobility over time.
- Mobility exercises take things a step further in terms of restoring your range of motion.
- Strengthening exercises will help build muscular strength and endurance to provide support and stability to the affected joint.
- Functional training will help you relearn movements you thought you’d lost. We can also help improve gait or balance and help you perform day-to-day activities like going up or down stairs more easily.
If you’re still struggling with pain and mobility after an orthopedic surgery, call us to schedule an appointment. We’ll work together to find a plan that suits your needs and goals!
August 2026 Events
Exercise of the Month
Clamshells (Exercise Band)
(Hips, Glutes)
Lie on your side with your knees bent and feet together. Position an exercise band above your knees. The side you want to exercise should be on top. While keeping your feet together, lift your top knee away from your bottom knee. Slowly return to the starting position. (Materials needed: exercise band) 3 Sets, 10 Reps.
Asparagus With Fried Eggs & Sizzled Paprika Croutons
There are several reasons to keep this speedy, supremely satisfying meal in your rotation: It’s a lifesaver on nights when you’re tired to cook. It’s also a new way to highlight asparagus.
Ingredients:
- 3 large slices crusty bread, torn (crust and all) into bite-sized pieces (yielding about 3 cups in total)
- 3 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed (or substitute 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika, plus additional for sprinkling on eggs
- 1 bunch asparagus (1 pound), tough ends trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 pinch kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 pinch black pepper, plus more to taste
- 4 large eggs
Instructions:
- In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, and garlic cloves over medium heat. Add the smoked paprika (it will gently sizzle), then mix in the bread. Stir until each piece is evenly coated in the paprika and fat. Saute for about 3 minutes, or until the croutons are lightly toasted and starting to crisp around the edges (lowering the heat, if needed, to not burn the butter or paprika).
- Move the croutons to the edges of the skillet. In the middle, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the asparagus. Season with salt and black pepper, then stir to integrate with the croutons. Saute, stirring frequently, until the asparagus is crisp-tender and the croutons are nicely crisp yet soft in the middle, about 4 minutes (time may vary based on the spears’ thickness). Adjust seasoning to taste. Give the garlic cloves a quick chop and stir into the asparagus, or save for another use.
- Either in a separate skillet, or in the same skillet (with the asparagus and croutons transferred to another dish; no need to clean the skillet), heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Crack eggs into the skillet and season with salt, pepper, and a few pinches of smoked paprika evenly sprinkled over the eggs. Fry until the whites are golden brown and crispy at the edges, and yolks are still runny, about 2 to 3 minutes (or longer for yolks on the medium or well side).
- To serve, transfer the asparagus and croutons to plates and top with the fried eggs. Serve warm.
Patient Spotlight
“I completed PT prior to my knee surgery and it made a huge difference after surgery. Staff concentrated on my area of difficulty. Tailored my rehab to me specifically.” – KH
“When I hurt my leg, I was scared of having to go to surgery. After talking with Chris, he told me my hamstring was torn, no surgeries – just therapy and let it heal. I came back to IMG-PT after rotator cuff surgery and had excellent progress. I trust what Chris told me. Again, excellent progress. Thank you all for my progress – you all had a hand in it. I will tell all others where to go if they need help in some way. God bless you all!!” - RR
Call Us Today
No matter your specific needs, IMG PT is here to help you manage your symptoms. From personalized guidance to targeted exercise programs, we’ll find solutions that work for you.
Call us to schedule your initial consultation.
