When to get assessed
What have you stopped doing because it hurts?
You used to take the stairs without thinking. Now you take the elevator, reach for the railing, or step up with the same leg every time. I’d ask when that started and what made you change. The difference between then and now gives us something specific to look at.
How a workaround can become your default
Changing how you move can help you get through a sore day. If the same movement stays uncomfortable, you may keep taking the easier route. That gives you fewer chances to use the movement you’ve been avoiding. Pain researchers have proposed that shifting how you move or load an area can be protective in the short term and may have longer-term costs. What happens varies from person to person.1
If your routes, workouts, or chores keep getting smaller, that change is worth paying attention to.
When an earlier look can help
I’d start with one activity that has become harder, such as going down the stairs or getting up from the floor. We can see where you change how you move and whether changing support or using hands-on care gives us a more comfortable way to practice it. When that happens quickly in a visit, I can use it to choose what we work on next.
You can bring the first thing you’ve started doing differently. You can come in while it’s still something you’re able to do.
What research says about timing
In one trial of people with recent-onset low back pain, early physical therapy led to a small improvement in disability at three months. The average difference fell below the study’s threshold for clinical importance. Some people describe feeling a change quickly during care. I use the movement retest and what happens between visits to see whether a change is carrying over.2