Why Choose Physical Therapy?
When it comes to managing pain, recovering from injury, or improving performance, people are often faced with many choices: chiropractic care, massage therapy, personal training, injections, medications, or even surgery.
But what makes physical therapy (PT) a unique and highly effective option? Let’s break down why choosing physical therapy is often the smartest, most evidence-based approach to improving your health and getting back to doing what you love.
Physical Therapists Are Highly Educated Movement Experts
The Level of Education Required
Most people don’t realize the depth of education required to become a physical therapist. In the U.S., PTs must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. This includes:
3-4 years of undergraduate education
3 years of doctoral-level education focused on anatomy, biomechanics, neuroscience, pharmacology, pathology, and clinical reasoning
After graduation, PTs must pass a national board exam and are required to complete continuing education every year to maintain licensure.
Many PTs also pursue advanced certifications in:
Orthopedics
Sports Rehab
Dry Needling
Golf Rehab (like TPI Certification)
Manual Therapy
Pelvic Health
How Physical Therapy Differs from Other Treatments
Physical therapists treat the whole body — not just the symptom. PTs perform a full assessment to find the root cause of your pain or dysfunction, often identifying limitations in strength, mobility, stability, or movement patterns.
For example:
Knee pain may stem from hip weakness or poor foot control
Shoulder pain may result from limited thoracic mobility or posture issues
Low back pain may be driven by poor core control or tight hips
The goal of PT is not just pain relief but long-term improvement and prevention of future injury.
Physical Therapy vs. Other Treatment Options
| Treatment Type | Focus | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapy | Treats root cause, long-term improvements, education, individualized care | Requires active participation from the patient |
| Chiropractic | Joint mobilization and adjustments, sometimes combined with exercise | May vary by provider — not all models address full-body strength/mobility |
| Massage Therapy | Soft tissue work and relaxation | Does not typically include corrective exercise or movement retraining |
| Medications/Injections | Temporary pain relief | Does not address underlying biomechanical issues |
| Surgery | Structural repairs | Expensive, higher risk, longer recovery — often avoidable with PT |
PT is Backed by Research
Research consistently supports physical therapy as an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions.
Low Back Pain: PT reduces the need for imaging, opioids, and surgery.
(Qaseem et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2017)Shoulder Impingement: PT is more effective than steroid injections over the long term.
(Crawshaw et al., JAMA, 2010)Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: PT is as effective as surgery in many cases.
(Delitto et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2015)
Benefits of Choosing PT
Addresses the root cause of pain
Improves strength, flexibility, and stability
Individualized, one-on-one care
Education for long-term self-management
Helps prevent future injuries
Reduces reliance on medications or surgery
Why Choose Back Nine Physical Therapy?
At Back Nine Physical Therapy in South Berwick, ME, we believe that movement is medicine.
We specialize in:
One-on-one personalized care
Golf-specific rehab and performance training
Manual therapy and dry needling
Movement assessments to uncover the root cause of pain
Injury prevention and performance optimization
We don’t just treat pain — we help you move better, feel better, and stay active doing the things you love.
Sources:
Delitto, A., et al. (2015). Annals of Internal Medicine.
Crawshaw, D., et al. (2010). JAMA.
Qaseem, A., et al. (2017). Annals of Internal Medicine.
