Our daughter was deployed to Iraq but came back home on disability with a back injury. She is required to attend daily physical therapy and exercise sessions. We’re concerned that what she really needs is rest. Should we say something?

It wouldn’t hurt to ask your daughter this question. She is the best one to gauge her back pain, function, and level of ability/disability. Study after study has shown the benefit of physical activity and exercise for low back pain. There is even some evidence that exercise is the one treatment that can keep an acute back injury from becoming a chronic condition.

Physical therapists (PTs) are trained to evaluate each patient and identify a plan of care that is individual to each one’s needs. Military PTs are especially attuned to the needs of soldiers and civilians alike.

No specific exercise has been proven most effective in treating back pain. There are some subgroups of patients who seem to do better with one method over another. The therapist must look each patient over carefully and determine which treatment protocol is most likely to benefit him or her.

Your daughter will likely be carefully progressed through a series of treatments. This may include manual therapy, joint mobilization, stretching, and patient education. An exercise program of flexibility, aerobics, core-training, and strength-training will be added when she is physically ready for it. With daily care, her rehab and recovery should go very smoothly. The therapist will be able to quickly adjust the program to accomodate any changes that occur in her progress.