Maximize Your Results: The Benefits of Short Physical Therapy Exercise Sessions

When it comes to rehab, less is more.

I cringe when I hear patients tell me they are spending 45-60 minutes on their home exercises. I'll pause here for a moment. If you enjoy exercising and this is sustainable for you, by all means, knock yourself out. There are no issues if you can sustain it. The problem is, most folks can't, won't, or shouldn't sustain that.

When I create an exercise playlist, at most it will include 3-4 exercises that take anywhere from 3-5 minutes to perform. I get a lot of inquisitive looks when I prescribe this level of exercise, but after 10 years, this seems to be the sweet spot for the majority. Here's why.

1. It's sustainable.

2. You can fit it into most parts of your day. See #1.

3. Can be used as a supplment and compliment to your current exercise routine. See #1.

Sustainability and compliance is the key. When it comes to preventative medicine, being able to stick with something long term is paramount. So the next time you look at your exercise program, I encourage you to pick the 3 or 4 exercises you feel are most effective for you, and stick with those. You can always mix and match others in for a little variety. Just remember to keep the total around 3-5 minutes in length.

And if this doesn't work for you, forget everything I just wrote :)