How Long Should You Continue Physiotherapy? Pain Relief Isn’t the Finish Line

Why This Question Matters

Most patients ask the same question during treatment:“How long do I need physiotherapy?”

A common misconception is that treatment can stop once pain disappears.However, stopping PT at the pain-free stage is one of the biggest predictors of recurrence, chronic issues, and flare-ups. Pain relief is only the first layer — not the final goal.

Pain Relief ≠ Full Recovery

Research consistently shows that pain often decreases before the underlying tissues, movement patterns, and neuromuscular control are fully restored.

Why pain fades early:

• Reduced inflammation

• Temporary unloading

• Pain-modulating effects of manual therapy & exercise

• Central nervous system adaptation

👉 But none of these guarantee full strength, mobility, or movement stability.

How Long Does Tissue Healing Actually Take?

The healing timeline varies based on tissue type:

Soft tissue (muscle & tendon): 6–8 weeks

• Supported by studies on muscle regeneration and collagen remodeling phases.

• Pain may improve in 1–2 weeks, but tissue strength continues to recover for several additional weeks.

Ligament healing: 8–12 weeks (minimum)

• Even grade I–II sprains require progressive loading to regain tensile strength.

Movement pattern retraining: 4–12+ weeks

• Motor control adaptations require repeated practice and graded exposure.

📌 Conclusion: Pain disappearance is often weeks earlier than tissue recovery.

How Often Should You Attend Physiotherapy?

Another myth is that more frequent visits automatically lead to faster recovery.

Evidence-Informed Recommendation:

• 2–3 sessions per week for hands-on treatment + supervised exercise

• Daily Home Exercise Program (HEP) for neuromuscular retraining and load tolerance

Multiple clinical guidelines emphasize that long-term outcomes depend more on adherence to the home program than high-frequency clinic visits.

Professional Guidelines Supporting This Approach

Below are reliable, peer-reviewed recommendations:

1. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Clinical Practice Guidelines (2020–2023)

   • Emphasize progressive loading, neuromuscular control, and adherence to HEP as primary drivers of recovery—not clinic visit frequency.

2. JOSPT Clinical Guidelines (2020, 2021)

   • Pain often improves early, but functional recovery requires prolonged, structured rehabilitation.

3. BMJ Review of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (2021)

   • Consistent home exercise participation significantly increases long-term success and reduces recurrence.

4. Steuri et al., Musculoskeletal Science & Practice (2021)

   • Pain reduction and function recovery follow different timelines; premature discharge increases reinjury risk.