12/19/2025
When Should You Seek Outpatient Occupational or Physical Therapy?
Many people think therapy is only for major injuries or surgery recovery—but that’s not true.
You may benefit from outpatient occupational or physical therapy if pain, weakness, or balance issues are starting to make everyday life harder.
👉 Consider Physical Therapy if you:
✔ Have ongoing back, hip, knee, shoulder, or neck pain
✔ Feel stiff, weak, or unsteady when walking
✔ Have had a fall or near-fall
✔ Are recovering from surgery or injury
✔ Want to stay active but pain is holding you back
👉 Consider Occupational Therapy if you:
✔ Struggle with dressing, bathing, cooking, or household tasks
✔ Have hand pain, weakness, or trouble with buttons or jars
✔ Feel fatigued during daily activities
✔ Need safer or easier ways to do everyday tasks
✔ Want to stay independent at home
💡 You don’t have to wait until it gets “really bad.”
Early therapy can help reduce pain, improve balance, prevent falls, and often avoid surgery or long-term medications.