If you’re thinking of getting knee, hip, shoulder, or any other joint surgery; you may want to think again. A NY Times article cites a study in the British Journal of Medicine that says there is “no strong, high-quality evidence base (that) shows that many commonly performed elective orthopedic procedures are more effective than non-operative alternatives”.

This means that surgery alternatives such as physical therapy are just as effective as having the surgery. So even if you go through the pain and recovery from surgery, the results, in the end, won’t be any different.

Researchers looked at common orthopedic surgeries that included the hip, knee, spine, wrist, and shoulder. They found there was little advantage over exercise, physical therapy, weight management, or medications.

What I’ve found with clients is that surgeries only address the joint, but do not take into account how that joint integrates with the rest of the body. Our body doesn’t just move one joint at a time, and we never just use one muscle at a time. We’re a system of systems, an interconnected web of muscle, joints, nerves, tissue, fascia, etc.

If you don’t address the system as a whole, then you won’t see the best results.

So if you’re contemplating surgery of any kind, try physical therapy first. Get assess and see how you can improve your body first before going under the knife.

For more information, contact PAR 5 Physical Therapy in Randolph, NJ to speak to a specialist.